Treasure in Heaven
Mark 10:19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
The young man wanted to know how to be saved. Jesus answers with what most Jews thought was their way to the kingdom of God. Have you done all these things? Have you Kept the commandments?
Mark 10:20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
He thought that he was saved by keeping all the law. In his own eyes he thought he had, but God sees with perfect eyes, unclouded by sin.
Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
He put his finger on the one sin that the man had that he did not want to give up, trusting in riches, covetousness. Jesus then told him the way: deny yourself and follow Jesus. Take up your cross, put your sins and self will to death, and follow and obey Jesus.
Mark 10:22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
He could not go past the first requirement, he could not keep the law and could not give up his trust in his own riches. He could not go any further. The law could never be kept, but following Jesus in faith, that we should be able to do.
Mark 10:23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
We can't trust in riches and also Jesus. We must give up one for the other. If we choose Jesus he adds all we need to our account. Often a Christian will equate wealth with God's favor. The young rich man did this. He was unwilling to choose between his own riches and Jesus. He would not give up his treasure on earth and start a treasure in heaven.
Prov 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.
Mat 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Do we have sins that keep us from trusting completely in Jesus? We give them up and follow him.
1 comment:
I fear that possessions is the lust of most American Christians. If they have many possessions they think they are blessed by the Lord God. The truth of the matter is that they have never learned to trust the Lord for all things. It is a delight to watch God fill all our needs, Trust in Him is so relaxing, it takes the fear of loss completely away from our minds. Hiram.
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