Theme: Seeking the kingdom of God (7) 9/9/23
Topic: The Price for the Kingdom is all
Memory Verse: Matt 6:33-34
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. NKJV
Today’s Reading: Mark 10:17-23
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good — except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'” 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” NIV
Words of the Ministry:
Today as we conclude our lesson on seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, we come to the story of a man who also wanted to inherit eternal life which is the kingdom of God (vs 23). The account said he came running to Jesus, kneeling before him and calling him good. All of that didn’t matter to Jesus as the man in question although wanted to inherit the kingdom of God but still held tenaciously to the riches of this life. To him, they were his riches, they were very great and losing them would mean a lot to him. Infact one could say he probably lived righteous to ensure he had those things intact and secure as his eventual disposition suggests. The bible said, this man was religious, he lived right based on the law and Christ wanting us to know his CV and that as good as that may be among men, it doesn’t qualify the entrance into the kingdom firstly made a list of them and to all of them, the man passed as he kept all from his youth.
Then Jesus presented the gospel to him which was losing all to gain Christ, he was expected to give all he loved and had and depend on the provision from God. On hearing this the rich young man left sorrowfully because his confidence was in his riches. We learn from here that the problem wasn’t the riches but that he loved them, his heart was fixed on them and not necessarily the kingdom as Jesus told him go sell all you have and you would have treasure in heaven, the treasure in heaven being God, another way of putting it is losing sight of all you have and seek God and his kingdom with all your love and your heart. The bible says only those that seek him with all their heart would find him (Jer 29.13). Jesus further explaining it in verse 24 said how hard is it for those who trust in riches to seek the kingdom.
Saints we can see that love of earthly riches and the trust in riches is a major stumbling block to our growth in Christ. If we don’t focus our love and trust in God and his kingdom, our fate would be like the rich young man. We must never see ourselves as to be independent of God because of our wealth, while the bible is not against earthly riches as even the bible highlights that some were rich in the Church, Paul further advised them to live soberly, not high-minded but liberal towards the needy saints and by this would be laying up treasures unto eternal life. May the Lord grant us light.
Bible in one year: Ezekiel 29-32
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