Greatness: Matthew 14-20ਨਮੂਨਾ

People often look for a quick fix. Technology and gadgets claim to make life easier. Looking around my house, I have a robot vacuum cleaner, a dishwasher, and things purchased through online shopping. These are not necessarily bad, but are they setting me up for always expecting a quick fix?

The rich young ruler had this question for Jesus: “What good deed must I do to have eternal life?” Maybe he was after a quick fix. What one good deed must I do? Surely there is one thing I can do or buy to ensure eternal life. We want life to be easy and are attracted to instant gratification.

Jesus makes it clear that the way to eternal life is not a quick fix, and it’s not easy to obtain. It requires us to give up everything and follow Jesus.

The rich man was “sorrowful” when he heard Jesus’ words because he loved his wealth. “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils” (1 Timothy 6:10, ESV). Money can give us a sense of security while on earth, but we cannot take it with us when we die. In fact, it makes it harder to follow Jesus. Jesus said, “only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 19:23, ESV). Jesus is where our security must be.

It’s not that Jesus wants us to live in poverty, but that He wants us to see the eternal riches that we have in Him. He wants our hearts to love Him more than material wealth: “everyone who has left houses… for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29, ESV).

Today, ponder this: How might you surrender your life and possessions to follow Jesus today? Do you trust that He will provide so much more for you than money can?