Being rich, who in their right mind wouldn't want to be rich? Let's ask this particular rich man…
Dressed in his finest clothing, he gathered his small entourage- some friends but mostly vultures disguised as people picking at his still living carcass to snatch riches from him where they could. He knew the vultures were there in disguise but it didn't matter, he had enough wealth to keep them happy so they didn't outright kill him to gain access to everything he owned. Hurrying through the crowds gathered, his people made way for him through the throng without his garments being soiled by a single touch of another.
At last he was there, he'd reached his destination and there before him was the most famous man in the land, at least in this moment. Fame was fickle and turned on a coin often. This wasn't the first famous man he'd met with but it was the first he'd gone to and not enticed to come to him.
"Good Master!" He called out to him loudly, happily, he'd been planning this meeting for a few days. For a slightly impatient, somewhat indulgent man that was a long time.
The man he called to turned to face him, it was definitely the famous man but to all appearances there was nothing outwardly extraordinary about him.
Knowing he only had moments to speak, having been told this famous man rarely spoke more than a few words to those who unexpectedly accosted him, albeit, they were always words that went straight to the point, even if they weren't always readily comprehended.
"Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
You see, the rich man had everything else but that was one thing that eluded his coin pouch, eternal life. Having the best of the best already he knew that he, like all men, would one day perish in death- no amount of money ever prevented death from ultimately robbing a person of life. When he'd heard there was a man, famous for his words, and that his main message was eternal life, yes, that's when he knew he had to talk to this man. He wanted eternal life and he was going to find out how to get it.
The famous man gazed directly at him, and spoke a bit of drivel before getting to the answer he wanted. He said something about why did he call him good. It was a respect he was paying him, why not, if he could tell people how to obtain eternal life he had to be good, right? Of course saying, that none but God is good, he wasn't going to dispute him. This man might have a few skeletons in his pockets that he didn't want to own up to, or maybe he just wanted to defer goodness to God, leaving himself unaccountable? Who knew, he'd ponder that later because the next thing the famous man said had him asking another question of him.
Saying that if he would enter into life; and he had to be talking about eternal life because that was the current topic of conversation. He said if he would enter into life, keep the commandments.
How silly was that? Or was it? Maybe the famous man knew something more about the commandments he didn't know. He had to make sure they were talking about the same commandments. "Which commandments?" He asked. There, now he'd know for sure.
When the famous man started quoting from their Royal Law, the Ten Commandments, he was nodding the entire time, waiting for him to finish making his point. He didn't quote them all but enough so that the Rich man knew what he was talking about.
Smiling wide, the rich man was so happy in that moment! He kept all those commandments, always! But, maybe… and his smile slipped a bit. Maybe there was something more, he had to know.
"All these things I have kept from my youth till now, what do I lack?" The rich, young man asked his question quickly.
When the famous man spoke to him this time there was a bit of sadness in his expression that hadn't been there a moment before. He told him if he would be complete, meaning if he really wanted eternal life, that he had to go and sell his riches and give them to the poor, and then his treasure would be in heaven and he could come and follow him.
Shocked, that's what he was. Not in a million years could he have predicted what he'd just been told. He was young, he was rich, he was a commandment keeper, he gave to the poor already, he took care of those around him, he wasn't stingy, he used his wealth for many good things. If he sold everything and was left with nothing at all he'd be nothing more than another poor person following a famous man. It was trickery, somehow what this famous man was telling him to do was a trick. He'd snatch up his riches for himself, taking them from the poor maybe… but that made no sense! Would following this man give him eternal life? Would being poor give him eternal life? He wanted eternal life, but to give up all his riches, it was sheer lunacy. He couldn't do that!! Did this famous man even know how very rich he was?! He had more wealth than most people! He was one of the wealthiest. Sell it all, give it to the poor? And just what guarantee would he have then that he had eternal life, other than the word of this…this man. Why should he follow him? Was he going to lead him to eternity? And if he couldn't be rich in eternity, did he really want to go there? What if it were an eternal life of being poor?
The rich young man had a million thoughts running through his head and at last he simply turned and walked away more depressed than he'd ever been in his life. He just couldn't do what this man wanted him to do, famous or not, truth or not, it was too much to ask of him. He wasn't going to be getting guaranteed eternal life that day like he'd hoped, why couldn't he have been told to give a bit more than he was, or maybe even half of what he owned? So many questions, all of them just deepening his sorrow.
After the rich young man left, the famous master spoke again to those still around him having witnessed the encounter. "Truthfully I'm telling you, that a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again, I'm telling you, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
The people around him were a bit shocked, they all had riches of a sort didn't they? Well, not all of them, but how much did one have to have to be considered rich? They had to ask, "Who then can be saved?"
The famous man, Jesus, looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Then answered a disciple named, Peter, and said unto him, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"
Of course those who had given up everything to follow Jesus wanted to know they had eternal life, they'd done this thing, they'd given up their all.
And Jesus said unto them, "I'm tell you truthfully, that you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."
Such mystery! In the regeneration? Judging Israel? There was a promise in among all the confusing words that they would inherit everlasting life one day. Wanting to know more, they weren't to be disappointed, Jesus went on and told them more about the kingdom of heaven. He talked about laborers in the vineyard.
But back to the question raised, who wouldn't want to be rich? Asking a rich young man who had just been told he wouldn't have eternal life unless he gave up those riches, well, for a moment there he understood that his great wealth was meaningless it couldn't buy him eternal life. Still, he wouldn't give up those meaningless riches, the here and now, the life he was going to live until death took him, would have to be enough, and no more.
*******
Christ has unsearchable riches! Christ has riches of His glory! Christ has the riches of his grace! These riches belong to those who long for eternal life, more than they long for anything else. A wise man realizes that all the riches in the world, every single one will give him only temporary, fleeting, happiness. As his death bed is readied for him- whether young or old- and he's lying there upon the bed he'll die in, he will know the richest man in the world has a death bed too. We all have death beds waiting for us and we have no clue when we will lie down in them. One thing is sure, this life in all its horrors, and all its pleasures, is temporary. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. The richest man in existence is the one who has the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Eph 3:8 …the unsearchable riches of Christ
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Dressed in his finest clothing, he gathered his small entourage- some friends but mostly vultures disguised as people picking at his still living carcass to snatch riches from him where they could. He knew the vultures were there in disguise but it didn't matter, he had enough wealth to keep them happy so they didn't outright kill him to gain access to everything he owned. Hurrying through the crowds gathered, his people made way for him through the throng without his garments being soiled by a single touch of another.
At last he was there, he'd reached his destination and there before him was the most famous man in the land, at least in this moment. Fame was fickle and turned on a coin often. This wasn't the first famous man he'd met with but it was the first he'd gone to and not enticed to come to him.
"Good Master!" He called out to him loudly, happily, he'd been planning this meeting for a few days. For a slightly impatient, somewhat indulgent man that was a long time.
The man he called to turned to face him, it was definitely the famous man but to all appearances there was nothing outwardly extraordinary about him.
Knowing he only had moments to speak, having been told this famous man rarely spoke more than a few words to those who unexpectedly accosted him, albeit, they were always words that went straight to the point, even if they weren't always readily comprehended.
"Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
You see, the rich man had everything else but that was one thing that eluded his coin pouch, eternal life. Having the best of the best already he knew that he, like all men, would one day perish in death- no amount of money ever prevented death from ultimately robbing a person of life. When he'd heard there was a man, famous for his words, and that his main message was eternal life, yes, that's when he knew he had to talk to this man. He wanted eternal life and he was going to find out how to get it.
The famous man gazed directly at him, and spoke a bit of drivel before getting to the answer he wanted. He said something about why did he call him good. It was a respect he was paying him, why not, if he could tell people how to obtain eternal life he had to be good, right? Of course saying, that none but God is good, he wasn't going to dispute him. This man might have a few skeletons in his pockets that he didn't want to own up to, or maybe he just wanted to defer goodness to God, leaving himself unaccountable? Who knew, he'd ponder that later because the next thing the famous man said had him asking another question of him.
Saying that if he would enter into life; and he had to be talking about eternal life because that was the current topic of conversation. He said if he would enter into life, keep the commandments.
How silly was that? Or was it? Maybe the famous man knew something more about the commandments he didn't know. He had to make sure they were talking about the same commandments. "Which commandments?" He asked. There, now he'd know for sure.
When the famous man started quoting from their Royal Law, the Ten Commandments, he was nodding the entire time, waiting for him to finish making his point. He didn't quote them all but enough so that the Rich man knew what he was talking about.
Smiling wide, the rich man was so happy in that moment! He kept all those commandments, always! But, maybe… and his smile slipped a bit. Maybe there was something more, he had to know.
"All these things I have kept from my youth till now, what do I lack?" The rich, young man asked his question quickly.
When the famous man spoke to him this time there was a bit of sadness in his expression that hadn't been there a moment before. He told him if he would be complete, meaning if he really wanted eternal life, that he had to go and sell his riches and give them to the poor, and then his treasure would be in heaven and he could come and follow him.
Shocked, that's what he was. Not in a million years could he have predicted what he'd just been told. He was young, he was rich, he was a commandment keeper, he gave to the poor already, he took care of those around him, he wasn't stingy, he used his wealth for many good things. If he sold everything and was left with nothing at all he'd be nothing more than another poor person following a famous man. It was trickery, somehow what this famous man was telling him to do was a trick. He'd snatch up his riches for himself, taking them from the poor maybe… but that made no sense! Would following this man give him eternal life? Would being poor give him eternal life? He wanted eternal life, but to give up all his riches, it was sheer lunacy. He couldn't do that!! Did this famous man even know how very rich he was?! He had more wealth than most people! He was one of the wealthiest. Sell it all, give it to the poor? And just what guarantee would he have then that he had eternal life, other than the word of this…this man. Why should he follow him? Was he going to lead him to eternity? And if he couldn't be rich in eternity, did he really want to go there? What if it were an eternal life of being poor?
The rich young man had a million thoughts running through his head and at last he simply turned and walked away more depressed than he'd ever been in his life. He just couldn't do what this man wanted him to do, famous or not, truth or not, it was too much to ask of him. He wasn't going to be getting guaranteed eternal life that day like he'd hoped, why couldn't he have been told to give a bit more than he was, or maybe even half of what he owned? So many questions, all of them just deepening his sorrow.
After the rich young man left, the famous master spoke again to those still around him having witnessed the encounter. "Truthfully I'm telling you, that a rich man will hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again, I'm telling you, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
The people around him were a bit shocked, they all had riches of a sort didn't they? Well, not all of them, but how much did one have to have to be considered rich? They had to ask, "Who then can be saved?"
The famous man, Jesus, looked at them and said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."
Then answered a disciple named, Peter, and said unto him, "Behold, we have forsaken all, and followed thee; what shall we have therefore?"
Of course those who had given up everything to follow Jesus wanted to know they had eternal life, they'd done this thing, they'd given up their all.
And Jesus said unto them, "I'm tell you truthfully, that you which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."
Such mystery! In the regeneration? Judging Israel? There was a promise in among all the confusing words that they would inherit everlasting life one day. Wanting to know more, they weren't to be disappointed, Jesus went on and told them more about the kingdom of heaven. He talked about laborers in the vineyard.
But back to the question raised, who wouldn't want to be rich? Asking a rich young man who had just been told he wouldn't have eternal life unless he gave up those riches, well, for a moment there he understood that his great wealth was meaningless it couldn't buy him eternal life. Still, he wouldn't give up those meaningless riches, the here and now, the life he was going to live until death took him, would have to be enough, and no more.
*******
Christ has unsearchable riches! Christ has riches of His glory! Christ has the riches of his grace! These riches belong to those who long for eternal life, more than they long for anything else. A wise man realizes that all the riches in the world, every single one will give him only temporary, fleeting, happiness. As his death bed is readied for him- whether young or old- and he's lying there upon the bed he'll die in, he will know the richest man in the world has a death bed too. We all have death beds waiting for us and we have no clue when we will lie down in them. One thing is sure, this life in all its horrors, and all its pleasures, is temporary. The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD. The richest man in existence is the one who has the unsearchable riches of Christ!
Eph 3:8 …the unsearchable riches of Christ
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.