Loved, Not Used

Errant Perspective

An interesting philosophical question: is it possible to do anything that is truly selfless? Put in a more religious context, can we ever truly be “good” or “pure”?

Revisit the Rich Young Rule in Matthew 19:16-22

Matthew 19:16–22 CSB

16 Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he asked him. Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself. 20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?” 21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

Let’s focus on the first 2 verses...

“There is only one who is good” or “No one is good but one - God”.

Followed by “keep the commandments”.

Implies that the only one who can keep “the law” is God

Paul explains that all who try to live according to a standard of “Good” are cursed… Galatians 3:10-13

Galatians 3:10–13 CSB

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, because it is written, Everyone who does not do everything written in the book of the law is cursed. 11 Now it is clear that no one is justified before God by the law, because the righteous will live by faith. 12 But the law is not based on faith; instead, the one who does these things will live by them. 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.

Read the first verses in the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Matt 19:16-17. Notice how Jesus connects two points: (1) only God can be good, and (2) to be good, you must keep all the commandments. What is the obvious implication here? Read what Paul says of those who attempt to “live good” in Galatians 3:10-13. Paul goes on to explain that the law isn’t to “make us good” but instead of show us how we fall short of God’s glory (which allows the presence of God’s glory to be that much more obvious). How does realizing our own limitations help us see the goodness of God? How would thinking we COULD be “good enough” to find favor with God potentially lead to a much less peaceful and content life?

What Makes Your Identity

Continuing the story, we see the limitations of worldly perspectives. (Matt 19:18-22)

Matthew 19:18–22 CSB

18 “Which ones?” he asked him. Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself. 20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?” 21 “If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

CONTEXT IS KEY: This isn’t about money; notice the connection to works.

Christ connects the man’s “goodness” with his ability to give away his possessions

Christ mentions the last 6 commandments in verse 18… Focus is on LOVING OTHERS

The Ruler treated the commandments like a checklist of works INSTEAD OF A COMMANDMENT TO LOVE OTHERS.

Another interpretation: You did all the words that the Bible tells you to do without pursuing the heart of it, so your works are useless!

Christ explains his reaction in Matt 19:23-26

Matthew 19:23–26 CSB

23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who can be saved?” 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Once again, NOT ABOUT WEALTH BEING INHERENTLY BAD… CONTEXT, PEOPLE! CONTEXT!

Disciples also had difficulty seeing the pathway to salvation… “Then who can be saved?”

Christ’s answer: no one… but God can do the impossible.

DO NOT MISS THIS: It is not possible to be justified; God’s love overcomes the impossible

Flip to who we are as practicing Christians: we are not defined by what we do, but by how God loves.

Challenge for us: Are trying to define our relationship in Christ by how we act, by how we serve, and by how we speak … or are we allowing Christ to define our relationship by His love?

Read the next few verses of the story in Matt 19:18-22. The young ruler said he “did all the things” the Bible said, but that wasn’t enough. He treated the Bible like a checklist of “good things” instead of as a prescription for the broken heart. How is this reflected in how many Christians treat their spiritual journeys today? In Matt 19:23-26, Jesus explains his reaction. He presents the impossible standard of “good” that only God can serve, then counters the disciples’ concerns by stating that “with God, all things are possible”. How do well-meaning Christians try to act, study, and serve their way into “being righteous”? What is the difference between behavior taken “for the purpose of being good” compared to behavior taken “because the one who is good still loves me”?