The Rich Young Ruler Who Asked Jesus How to Succeed in Eternal Life
Do you know why this rich man’s name is not mentioned in the Bible?
In fact, he was a person who came to Jesus and asked him how to get close to God. When Jesus told him to share his wealth with the people and follow me, the man did not follow Jesus and turned away because he loved his wealth more than the closeness of God. That is why his name is not mentioned because he did not follow Jesus and did not become disciples. The only mention of him is that he came to Jesus and asked a question. If he had obeyed Jesus, his name would have become clear.
Introduction
There is a mention in the Gospel about a rich man who was very rich. He had the immense wealth of the world. Once he came to Jesus and began to question him. He asked what a person should do to achieve good in the Hereafter. So Jesus said that only those who obey the commandments of God can be successful. The man said that I worship God and have been doing it since childhood. Jesus told him that it is very good that you worship God, but instead of just physical worship, God should be included in the heart and in the spirituality. Therefore, you should dedicate all the things that you love in the way of God, and then you can get close to God.
Verse
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? ”Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. You shall not defraud. Honor your father and mother.” (Mark 10:17-19)
Verse
Then someone came to him and said, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is one who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” (Matthew 19:16-17)
The man was very rich. Jesus knew his weakness. Jesus told him to devote his dearest thing to the cause of God. Jesus realized that wealth is very dear to him. In order to tempt him, Jesus asked him to give away all his wealth to the poor and devote his life to the path of God so that he can gain closeness to God. Jesus said this; the man decided that he could not give up wealth. He loved wealth immensely. He preferred to go to riches instead of to Jesus and left Jesus for riches. This shows that wealth is a great temptation and to get closer to God we have to meet this test. God has placed many tests in the world by which He tests the faith of His servants to see who is the best. A person who fulfills this test, he gets the best life in the hereafter.
Verse
You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother.’ ” He replied, “I have kept all these since my youth.” (Luke 18:20-21)
Verse
He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. Also, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 19:18-19)
Money as a Trial
Wealth is a test. It is one of the greatest pleasures among worldly desires and it is a matter of great courage to sacrifice this pleasure in the way of God. Jesus also said the same thing; he said that it is easy to pass a camel through the eye of a needle, but it is very difficult for a rich man to let go of his wealth as this young man did. Instead of making the best of his last life, he chose the world’s most despised thing, wealth.
Verse
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25)
Verse
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. (Mark 10:21-22)
Verse
When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” But when he heard this, he became sad, for he was very rich. (Luke 18:22-23)
Answer of Jesus to Disciples Questions
Jesus, speaking to his disciples, said that there are many who are first but will be last because of their deeds and there are many who are last but will be first because of their deeds. Jesus said that if a person leaves his home, wife, children or the world for me, he will be rewarded many times more. Therefore, sacrificing one’s self and desires in the path of God is a great sacrifice.
Verse
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it. (Matthew 19:23-24)
Verse
They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:26-27)
Verse
Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” He replied, “What is impossible for mortals is possible for God.” (Luke 18:26-27)
Lesson From The Story of Rich Man
A person can be perfect in the path of God only when he puts an end to the desires of his self and sacrifices himself in his path. Wealth is a great test and we can get an idea of it from this rich young man. He had been doing prayers since childhood but still he did not sacrifice to perfect his spirituality. Therefore, it is very important that if you want to get close to God, you have to leave the worldly possessions. It is a test and it can be a hindrance to God. When Jesus was giving the parable of the camel, it was not difficult for God to make the camel pass through the noose. This teaches us that nothing is impossible for God. Therefore, one should rely on His mercy for success in the Hereafter and not on the abundance of one’s actions.
Verse
Sell your possessions and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Luke 12:33-34)
Verse
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains. (1Timothy 6:10)
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
From the story of this young man, we learn the lesson that we should always strive to get close to God. This includes offering sacrifices of worldly things along with worship. Nothing is impossible for God. Therefore, the attainment of heaven should be based on the mercy of God instead of our actions. Worldly things can affect the spirituality of a person, so instead of giving importance to worldly things, we should follow God’s orders.
Verse
Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the good newsho will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:28-30)
Verse
And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my name’s sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.(Matthew 19:29-30)
