Prayer: Father, I pray that you bless this study and make it a blessing for the readers. Bless them, Lord, and send them the Holy Spirit that will help them understand Today's message. In Jesus' name. Amen.
**Read Matthew 19:16-30 and Romans 16:17-27
I. Jesus and the Rich Man
- In
Matthew 19:16-30 , a young rich man approached Jesus asking Him how to receive eternal life. Jesus told him to obey the commandments of God and if he wants to be perfect, to sell all his belongings and follow Him.
- The rich man was a good man. He obeyed God's commandments, helped his fellowmen, and also had the desire for salvation. When he asked Jesus what else he needed to do, Jesus told him to give up everything and follow Him. Because he had so many earthly possessions, he could not bear the fact of giving all those away. In truth, he was blinded by all his riches. He could not imagine losing all his money and luxuries in life. He was too attached to all these material things that chose them over God. Following Christ is a lifelong commitment We can not just give a part of our life. We need to devote our entire life of living a Christian life and following His ways. We tend to endure suffering in order to collect riches here on earth. These things have no value in heaven and it is only through our repentance of our sins, our acceptance of our savior, and the grace of God that will give us eternal life.
- In verses 23-28, Jesus told His disciples that it is "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God". They might be good, have different charities, help other people, but all these does not give you a free ticket to heaven. They love their money and their riches so much that they start to worship them. Money is not evil. It is the love of money that gets us in trouble with God. Sometimes, when God had blessed us with everything we need, we still asked for more. We tend to focus on our riches and our fame so we can build our names here on earth that we forget that what really matters is the riches that we build in heaven. When we love money so much, we forget to thank God, praise Him, and worship Him, and we start to glorify ourselves and the "great things" that we did to get where we are at. We forget to glorify God and share the blessings that He had showered upon us. Money and earthly possessions are not everything. Some people always ask God why they did not bless them like the rich people. We, sometimes, feel jealous of how prosperous they are. What we do not know is the same people, even though they have everything that they want, are the ones who are depressed, suffer from anxiety, have family problems, and are not liked and loved by the people around them. People go to them because they have the money and not because they really want to associate with them. I'll rather be loved by my family, friends, neighbors, and by God than be super rich and be lonely. I'll rather have eternal life through our savior Jesus Christ and the grace of God than to have eternal cash that we can't take with us in His Kingdom. Remember in Matthew 6:24,
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."
II. Avoid Divisive People
- In Romans 16:17-27, Paul warned us to be vigilant and look for those who cause division. Watch out for those spreading false teachings that are not in the Bible. The Bible is God's Word and we must follow what is written by the apostles who were inspired by God. A common tactic of the enemy is to deceive people by adding to the scriptures. They talk of new laws, new promises, new prophets, and new messages.
Deuteronomy 4:2 says " You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you".
"Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it." - Deuteronomy 12:32
" Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Do not add to His words, Lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar." - Proverbs 30:5-6
"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this book." - Revelations 22:18-19
- We need to know the truth and to know this, we have to devote our time in studying the Word of God. With the help of the Holy Spirit we can discern false teachings and be closer to God. We can learn of God's promises and God's love. Let us not trust mere human beings but trust God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit that He will reveal to us the message, not according to man, but through His revelation. The message is very simple, we need to repent of our sins and trust the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the only mediator, and the only "intercession" that we need to build a relationship with our Father.
"For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" - 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6
III Proverbs for Today/ 10:5
He who gathers in summer is a wise son;
He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
Additional Old Testament Reading:
Leviticus 7:28-38, Leviticus 8, Leviticus 9:1-6, and Psalms 37:12-29
