ONE THING YOU STILL LACK!
When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “you still lack one thing, sell everything you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow Me” ( Luke 18:22).
Deep down in the heart of every man is an ever burning desire to know God. At the bottom of his mind
lies an unexplained longing to explore the mysteries surrounding his very own existence. He even longed to
understand the mysteries lying beyond the borders of his physical domain. Often times, as Mr. Armstrong had
said, he would ask himself, “Who am I? What am I? and why am I?” That’s the way it was when a young man
encountered Jesus as He was approaching Jericho on His way to Jerusalem.
“And behold one came and said unto Him, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have
eternal life?” And He said unto him, “Why callest thou Me good? There is none good, but One, that is God: but
if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” He saith unto Him, “Which?” Jesus said, Thou shalt do no
murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not
bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” The young man
said unto Him “All these have I kept from my youth up, What lack I yet?” (Matthew 19: 16-20).
“What lack I yet?” In answer to his question about what other things he needed to do in order to inherit
eternal life apart from observing the Ten Commandments, Jesus told him that he still lack one thing.
The three biographers of Christ, Matthew, Mark and Luke vividly described this dramatic incident. The
account was somewhat simple but emotionally filled though a bit awkward. When the young man heard that
Jesus was passing by he came running and knelt before Him (Mark 10: 17). He asked Him a question that in a
manner of speaking carried some sense of urgency. He got no prior appointment. He did not even consider
whether the interview will be granted. Somehow, somewhere at the back of his mind he knew that it was an
opportunity he could not afford to miss. His chance had come and it was only right to get something off his chest
of the questions that has been nagging him for so long.
All three of the gospel writers pointed out that this man was wealthy. Clearly, money was not lacking in
him. John Paul Getty, once among the riches in the world used to say that when you know how much money you
have, you aren’t very rich. But one thing we know, for sure, people with lots of money do not run. They are used
to simply snap their fingers and give orders to people under their command to do the running.
Aside from that, it would be a shame, a disgraceful humiliation for a man of his stature to run and kneel
down before another. But out of desperation, he swallowed them all. He run and knelt before the Messiah in the
rough and dusty road of Jericho unmindful of the curious onlookers around.
Secondly, as a man of great wealth he certainly must have been able to obtained a higher level of
schooling. Without any doubt, he was a man of education and culture. It was obvious from the way he spoke that
he came from a family of good bearing. As a young man in his tender years he already knew that even with all
his money, he did not find true happiness that God alone can offer. Without God in his life, everything is lost.
Janet Lim Napoles, queen of a ten billion peso scam in the Philippines found this out too late. Accused
of Plunder, a none billable offense, she now languishes in jail. With the connivance of greedy and corrupt
government lawmakers and officials, she was able to siphon the people’s money through the Development
Assistance Program intended for the lowly farmers in the country side.
Alone and forsaken, she remembers that she was once society’s center stage. Whenever she had a party,
the elite of the so called upper strata, the members of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives and
other high rankings government officials were her usual invited guest. They took pride in being identified with
her until the time when the scandalous anomaly ruled the newspaper headlines. By then, they disappeared like
a passing cloud gone by.
In her cell, the lingering feeling of loneliness and abandonment set in. Her health deteriorated and she
had to undergo surgery. Eventually, she confessed that peace of mind eludes her. She regretted everything that
she had done. Now she knew money is not all that matters in this life.
Another thing that the rich young man did not lack was power and influence. Luke, a medical practitioner
by profession described this young man as a “ruler” ( Luke 18:18). The biblical account, however, does not
clearly say how it was so. Possibly, he was a leader in the community or maybe a leader in the synagogue, an
important position that carried with it a considerable degree of authority, respect and influence. The Father of
the Atomic Bomb J. Robert Oppenheimer, a German born Nobel Prize scientist had them all. Yet, according to
reliable sources he died frustrated and unfulfilled. Speaking of his extraordinary achievement he said, “They
leave on the tongue only the taste of ashes.”
Lastly, this young man did not lack in the area of moral goodness. By his own admission, he was a
zealous observer of the Ten Commandments. Since the early years of his youth up to the time of the encounter
he was an abiding man of the law.
He was not a murderer nor has killed anyone. He was not an adulterer. He honored his father and mother
and loved other people around him. Apparently, he was a man you would have wished to occupy the house next
door. Yet Jesus told him that he still lacked one thing. “sell everything you have and give to the poor and you
will have treasure in heaven, then come and follow Me” (Luke 18:22).
Of the three New Testament Apostles who covered the story, only Apostle Mark mentioned something
that the two other Apostles failed to notice. When the young man answered Christ, “Master all these have I
observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him” (Mark 10:20-21).
To behold is to look or gaze intently at someone’s face. A look that conveys an intense feeling of
sympathy and loved. Jesus knew that the man was sincere but the material possession he had accumulated
through the years was a solid stumbling block that stood in his way. The man turned and walked away in sorrow
because his wealth meant much more to him than having a relationship with God.
Earlier, Jesus said to His Apostles, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of
heaven. Again I tell you, 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” (Matthew 19: 23-24).
In his book, “365 Moments to Cherish,” Robert Strand mentioned a number of men and their notable
achievements including what happened to them 25 years later.
Charles Schwab was the president of the largest independent steel company in the world. Twenty five
years later, he was living on borrowed money and died penniless. Incidentally, he was the first man in American
history to draw an annual salary of $1million.
Arthur Cutten, the greatest and most successful speculator, died abroad in dire poverty. Leon Fraser,
President of the Bank of International Settlement , ended his life by committing suicide. Ivar Kreuger, head of
the world’s then – greatest monopoly, put an end to the misery of his life by committing suicide.
All of these men, Mr. Strand added, were in their own time considered the epitome of success. They have
learned how to make money and lots of it but in the final analysis, not one of them have really learned how to
live. Jesus said, “Take heed and beware of covetousness for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the
things which he possesseth” (Luke 12:15).
What comes first in your life? Your money, your power, your positions, or your God? Today, many of
us go through the same struggle. Truly, it is really hard to depart from the glitters of gold.
But Jesus wants to come first in our lives. He said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and
with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment” (Mark 12:30).
It is high time to set our goals and priorities in order. “God already knows what we need even
before we ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). If God takes care of the birds in the air and the lilies in the field how
much more will he look after his own children (Matthew 6: 25-32). Finally, let us set our hearts on the
things above “Looking ahead to the glorious city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is
God” (Hebrews 11:10). “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The invitation still holds. It is offered
to us with open arms. Jesus said, “......Come, follow Me” (Luke 18:22). ☜
Romeo Samudio
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AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST
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Being a ambassador means, we do not take part in the government of this world. Ambassadors are to be
an example to others and pray for God’s Kingdom to come to this earth. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done
in earth, as it is in heaven”(Matt 6:10). And we find the “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the
earth”(Matt 5:5).
In Psalms 37, we are told five times that we would inherit the earth if we follow and trust God and His
Son, Jesus the Christ!
ONE.
Psalm 37:3-9;
“Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. Delight thyself also
in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him;
and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the
noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of Him who prospereth in His
way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not
thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit
the earth.”
TWO
Psalm 37:11;
“But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”
THREE
Psalm 37:22;
“For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”
FORE
Psalm; 37:29
“The righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.”
FIVE
Psalm 37:34;
“Wait on the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off,
thou shalt see it.”
We as God’s called know that with God, who can not lie, we will receive these promises if we put God first in
our lives!