Go Sell

The Problem

Mixed up priorities.

Is there any purpose in my life? People everywhere long to know the purpose for their lives. Yet for many, that sense of purpose seems elusive. As is true to life, one of Shakespeare’s tragic characters sought his purpose through power. Macbeth murders the King of Scotland, seizes the throne, but swiftly descends to his doom. While ghosts from the past haunt him, civil war rages, and his wife dies of insanity. In despair, Macbeth utters these dark thoughts about the lack of purpose in life:

Out, out, brief candle!

Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player

That struts and frets his hour upon the stage

And then is heard no more. It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing.

(Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5)

Life, however, is not a Shakespearean play … an hour upon the stages and then heard no more. God created your life to have a supernatural purpose. As amazing as it may sound, you were created to reflect the Lord.… If you are a true Christian, you will increasingly be transformed to be like Christ.

“We, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

(2 Corinthians 3:18)

June Hunt, Biblical Counseling Keys on Purpose in Life: Pinpointing Your Priorities (Dallas, TX: Hope For The Heart, 2008), 1.

The problem in the world today is that people have there priorities mixed up, but what are priorities? The fact or condition of being regarded or treated as more important than others. for example ‘the safety of the country takes priority over any other matter’ https://www.lexico.com/definition/priority

Paul describes the world in this way, But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), 2 Ti 3:1–5.

This sounds like we humans have our priorities all wrong and it led to the ills that pervade in our society. there comes a point in people’s lives when they want more out of life; there is this sense that there is more to life and living, even for the Christian. that’s what this rich young ruler ponder that is why he came running to Jesus.

Good teacher! he said what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 19:16.

You don’t use the word good to describe to anyone in those days unless you believed that this was God. It was obvious that this same Jesus was no ordinary man; this same Jesus fed five thousand men plus women and children with five loaves and two fish; this same Jesus cast out demons; This same Jesus healed great multitudes from sicknesses and diseases; this same Jesus cleanse the leapers; this same Jesus made the dumb man talk and lame man walk He also made the blind man see. this same Jesus walked on water and when the winds and waves were rocking the boat this same Jesus simply commanded peace be still. this same Jesus has the authority to call the dead back to life. You don’t use the word good unless you believe you are addressing God.

This young ruler knew that he needed something more. He kept the commandments from he was a youth so much so that “he had a high estimate of his own righteousness. He did not really suppose that he was defective in anything, yet he was not altogether satisfied. He felt the want of something that he did not possess. Could not Jesus bless him as He blessed the little children, and satisfy his soul want?”

Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 518.

Jesus read his heart and loved him and He hungered to give him that peace and grace and joy which would materially change his character. “One thing thou lackest,” He 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.”

Ellen Gould White, The Desire of Ages, vol. 3, Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1898), 519.

The Bible says 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. His priorities were mixed up.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 19:22.

Like many of us today we have not properly prioritized; God should have been first but he’s not, God should be in every decision we make but He’s not. God’s commandments should be kept to honor God but they are not. Oh we’ve got our priorities all twisted.

The First Christian Primer: Matthew Contextual Insights for Verses 13–15

19:22 “he went away grieving” Jesus loved this man but would not lower the standards of the Kingdom. The Bible is silent on this man’s salvation. This is shocking when we realize that (1) he came with good motives, (2) he came to the right person, (3) he came with the right questions, and (4) Jesus loved him (Mark 10:21).

The Solution

Sell what you have. Whatever it is that stand between you and God sell it get rid of it put, it in its proper place, and that is second to Jesus. Nothing between my soul and the Savior, Naught of this world's delusive dream: I have renounced all sinful pleasure

Jesus is mine! There's nothing between.

The First Christian Primer: Matthew Contextual Insights for Verses 13–15

“go and sell all your possessions” See Luke 14:33. This shows the radical nature of the Christian’s faith. It is a total commitment. For this man the choice was in the area of possessions. This man’s possessions possessed him! This is not a requirement for all believers, but a radical, ultimate commitment to Jesus is!

But our Lord’s reply did not focus on salvation. He forced the young man to think seriously about the word good that he had used in addressing Jesus. “Only God is good,” Jesus said. “Do you believe that I am good and therefore that I am God?” If Jesus is only one of many religious teachers in history, then His words carry no more weight than the pronouncements of any other religious leader. But if Jesus is good, then He is God, and we had better heed what He says. We must do what Jesus says.

The New King James Version Chapter 20

20 And God spoke aall these words, saying:

2 b“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, cout of the house of 1bondage.

3 d“You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 e“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 fyou shall not bow down to them nor 2serve them. gFor I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, hvisiting 3the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but ishowing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 72.

you see it is God alone that is good. God is our example of what it means to be good. it is not the so-called good people that live in this world. the arm of flesh will fail, but Jesus never fails.

Go sell what you have because the treasures of this world will perish because they are only temporary, but the treasures of heaven are eternal. Whatever a man loves more than he loves Christ, makes him unworthy of Christ (see on Matt. 10:37, 38). Even the most important earthly responsibilities take second place to following Christ in the pathway of discipleship (see on Luke 9:61, 62). Paul “suffered the loss of all things” in order to “win Christ” (see Phil. 3:7–10). To secure possession of the heavenly treasure or to purchase the pearl of great price (see on Matt. 13:44–46), a man must be ready to sell “all that he hath.” But this, the rich young ruler could not bring himself to do. Here was his cross, but he refused to bear it

Francis D. Nichol, ed., The Seventh-Day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 5 (Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1980), 458.

Here are some points to consider:

1. It is time for an emphasis on faithfulness. Not simply on competence, or skills, or methods, or strategies, but on good, old-fashioned faithfulness. Not even on charisma, charm or leadership style; just on plain faithfulness—hanging in there, staying by, sticking with it. Harold L. Lee and Monte Sahlin, Brad: Visionary Spiritual Leadership (Lincoln, NE: Center for Creative Ministry, 2005).

2. We have been afflicted with a kind of Athenian neology. “All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.” (Acts 17:21, NIV Harold L. Lee and Monte Sahlin, Brad: Visionary Spiritual Leadership (Lincoln, NE: Center for Creative Ministry, 2005).

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2) This is what John Houseman calls doing it “the old-fashioned way.” This is the biblical emphasis, and we must keep reminding ourselves that we are servants of Christ… ibid.

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6–8) “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:11) And then there is the word from the wise man: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might.” (Ecclesiastes 9:10)... Ibid.

The Transformation

The rich young ruler lacked committment and faithfulness. His took precedence over faithfulness to God.

Do we lack the same thing today? yes we do, we are all not good. We don’t have any righteousness of our own. All our righteousness our right doing our good deeds are worthless; they don’t guarantee our salvation. We need Gods’ grace, we need to surrender our will to God. we need to surrender our possessions to God. we need to yield to Gods’ authority and there is no day like today to do it. Is there a bad habit? surrender it today. Is it your marriage surrender it today. God is longing to take over your life, He is hungering to save you today give your life to Him. He’s waiting.