Pilate View of the Cross 2

Matthew 19:16-22

Many years ago our two sons and I went to Tae Kwon Do classes each week to get in shape and work on our focus. It was the policy of the gym that anyone could come in and be part of an entire class for free, to see if it was something they would like to do. There were many classes where a guest would come in and take part, but there were very few who ever came back.

I think part of the problem was the difficulty of the classes. I am certain there are many who want to learn martial arts and be like Bruce Lee or Jackie Chan, but they quickly find out it takes a lot of work and effort.

Jesus is confronted by a person of wealth and asked about eternal life. What is Jesus’ advice in verses 17-19? What else is needed? How does the rich man respond?

A common reaction to this story is the thought that the rich young man is not a very good person. But in fact he is very obedient to the laws of Moses and the commandments of God. Setting aside the comment of Jesus in verse 17, he would be considered a “good” person in our society and our church.

What does he lack? He lacks the complete commitment that a true and faithful believer should have. He lacks the energy and drive to go all the way with his faith, to immerse himself in it, and truly be a blessing to the kingdom of God. Too much was required of him so he walked away.

Our faith journey is more than sitting in a pew on Sunday or bringing a covered dish to every church dinner. Our faith requires commitment from us, commitment to know God better, to be more obedient to the Lord, and more sacrificial in our living. And one key element is that it is our responsibility to build our own faith. No one can do it for us. We must be willing to commit to the discipline of living a good and holy life.

The rich young man knew what he was supposed to do but walked away from it. There are many “good” Christians who know what they are supposed to in their faith but they often walk away from it.

DAILY CHALLENGE: How would you rate your level of commitment to your faith? Can it go deeper?