In the Bible, in the Gospel written by Luke, we find two rich men. They are pitted against each other in chapters 18 and 19 with only the story of a blind man healed to separate the two. I never considered them having any relation before, but now I wonder.
The first rich man is a religious man. He’s followed God’s laws his whole life. He’s led a good life. He is most likely very respectable amongst his community. He himself says that He’s never committed adultery, never murdered, never stolen, never lied, and honored his parents since he was a child. He is a good man.
And he’s asking Jesus what he needs to do to get into heaven.
Seems like his spot should already be secure, right? He keeps all the rules. He tries to live a good life.
Jesus tells him there’s only one thing left that he needs to do: sell all he has, give the money to the poor, and then come and follow Him. The good man turns away sad. He loves and trusts his money more than Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t stop him but comments to his disciples that it’s very hard for rich people to enter God’s Kingdom. Only with God’s help is it possible.
Jesus continues on His way, stops to heal a blind man, and runs into another rich man. This rich man is not a good man. He’s extremely wealthy and well-connected politically. He’s made his fortune off the taxes of the working class and the poor, people from his own community. But this man is up a tree (literally) when Jesus passes by.
This rich man is desperate to see Jesus. Jesus stops and invites Himself over for lunch. The people who hear about it are upset. They are mad that Jesus would associate with someone of his kind. (Perhaps they’re tweeting and posting their displeasure about the situation.)
But the love of Jesus undoes this rich man. He is completely transformed. He agrees to give half of his wealth away to the poor and pay back anyone he’s stolen from, 4x over. He discovers that Jesus is the treasure for whom everything should be given up.
Jesus assures this rich man that salvation has come to him that day.
Two rich men. Two different responses.
It’s not about keeping the rules. It’s not about trying to be nice and good. It’s not even about trying to live a decent life. It’s about how we respond to Jesus.
The first rich man was doing good things in order to get into God’s Kingdom. The second rich man was doing good things because of an encounter with God’s Kingdom. Or more correctly, an encounter with the King.
How are we responding to Jesus? Are we still trying to keep the rules, thinking they will save us? Or have we found the One who gives real life?
Are we willing to give ourselves up completely to Jesus? We can trust that whatever He asks of us will only be replaced with all that is Good. All that is Joy. All that is Life.
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