Lesson 108 - Elementary

Memory Verse

"My God shall supply all your need" (Philippians 4:19).

Notes

Treasure in Heaven

A richly-dressed young man came running to Jesus one day and threw himself at Jesus' feet. "Good Master," he cried, "what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" Jesus knew that this young man was very much in earnest " he really wanted to go to Heaven someday. Jesus said to him, "Why callest thou me good?" Then Jesus told him what some of the commandments were: he should not kill anyone, nor steal, nor tell lies; he should honour his father and mother.

What do you suppose the young man answered? He looked straight into the kind, sweet face of Jesus and said that he had kept those commandments ever since he was a little boy. Jesus looked into this clean, wholesome face and saw as clearly way down into his heart as you and I would look into a mirror and see our own image. He saw that the young man spoke the truth. How Jesus loved him! But Jesus could see that there was yet one thing that the young man lacked. Jesus said, "Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Selfishness and Sadness

This made the young man very sad, for he was very rich. This was the "one thing" that he lacked " he did not want to give up all the fine things he had. He did not want to share his riches with the poor people; he did not want to buy food and clothing for the poor little children who were hungry and cold. This was a very hard thing the "Good Master" was asking, he thought. Well, Jesus did not need the riches of this young man. But He wanted him to be willing to say, "Yes, Good Master, I will do anything you tell me to do that I may someday go to Heaven." After all, it was Jesus who had given the young man all he had. Jesus had given him the health and strength so that he could work hard and earn the money. Everything good we have comes from God.

About a year ago we studied about a man named Job who loved God very, very much. He had much cattle, sheep, asses, camels, and sons and daughters. But there came a time when he lost all he had " even his children were killed. But Job still loved God. He said, "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." The Lord saw that Job loved Him with all his heart, and later He gave him more than he had ever had before.

This young man was sad and went away from Jesus very unhappy. How differently did he behave from the little man named Zacchaeus, about whom we shall soon study. When Jesus called Zacchaeus to come down out of a sycamore tree, Zacchaeus said, "Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold." Zacchaeus was so happy that Jesus had given him a chance to get saved, that he was willing to do anything; he was willing to give away half of his goods and to make all his wrongs right.

Love for Jesus

Jesus wanted to teach the young man to love Him, but Jesus would not force him to sell what he had and give to the poor. Jesus never drives or forces anyone to come to Him. He helps us to be sorry for our sins, and gives us faith to believe in His promises and be saved. We must do our own repenting and believing. Just think of the opportunity the young man lost when he went away! He may have had a beautiful home and many good things in this life, but it would be only for a few short years. Then he must die and leave all he had. If he had given his heart to Jesus and obeyed Him, the young man would have gained a wonderful home in Heaven. He could have walked on those beautiful, golden streets. He could have been forever-more singing around the Throne, where there is no sorrow, no trouble, no pain. The rich young man could have lived forever with God " if he had obeyed Jesus.

Those Who Trust in Riches

We believe Jesus was very sad after the young man went away. No doubt it made Him feel sad to think that this young man loved his money more than he loved Jesus. Jesus looked around at His disciples and said, "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!" Then He explained that statement by saying that it is hard for those who trust in their riches to go to Heaven. Then He gave a wonderful promise: "I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my sake, and the gospel's but he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life." This man need not have been sad, because he could have had much greater riches. Jesus never takes away any good thing from us, but gives us even more and better things than we had. However, He wants us to be willing to share with others the good things He gives us.

The Bible does not tell us whether the young ruler ever came back to Jesus and did as he was told that he might inherit eternal life. Perhaps he never did. What a sad ending to the story of his life! How happy he could have been if he had done what Jesus told him to do and had stayed with Jesus!

Questions

1. What made the young ruler sad? [MAK:10:22].

2. What did Jesus say the young man lacked? [MAK:10:21].

3. What commandments had he kept ever since he was a lad? [MAK:10:20].

4. Jesus said it was hard for them that trust in riches to do what? [MAK:10:24].

5. What disciple said, "Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee?" [MAK:10:28].