Come Be Complete.wps

*COME BE COMPLETE

Matthew 19:16-22

1

Intro: Read Edison illustration. Looking for ways to successfully live life.

*I. The rich young ruler.

A. Wanted eternal life.

*He had a good life. He was rich. He was young. He referred to as a ruler.

He came to One who he recognized as good.

He wanted more. He wanted eternal life.

Only God is eternal.

Why is he seeking eternal life? Maybe all these things he had did not fill the hole in his soul.

*B. “What am I lacking?”

*Jesus told him to obey the commandments. Notice the young man asked which ones.

Notice Jesus only lists the ones which deal with man’s relationships to man, not to God.

He says this I have done, what more do I lack? What made him think he still lacked? The ache within his soul.

Did he keep all these? Were there not neighbors he could have aided with his wealth?

*C. “Come be complete.”

*Jesus says, “If you want to be complete, give up this world’s things and attach yourself to me.”

The word “perfect” refers to spiritual maturity or development in godliness, in contrast to the man’s admitted inadequacies

Jesus had identified the inadequacy haunting this young man, but the man was not yet willing to obey Jesus, become perfect, and obtain eternal life.

Following Jesus would have led him to see that he was not keeping the first commandments which have to do with a man’s relationship to God.

He went away sorrowful. Evidently eternal life was not worth temporary riches. It came at too high a cost.

*II. Us.

A. We want what is good.

*The world offers many counterfeits.

*B. We want what is eternal.

*Looking for permanence; for some that lasts.

*C. We are looking for what is worth our life.

*We are looking for something that is worth living for?

*III. Truth for us.

A. Only God is good.

B. Only God is eternal.

C. Only God is worth everything.

*Come follow Christ. To the foot of the cross.

Following Christ means self must die that we might live for Him. Here the rich young ruler stumbled. What are you stumbling over?

• Read Edison illustration. Looking for ways to successfully live life. *I. The rich young ruler.

A. Wanted eternal life.

*He had a good life. He was rich. He was young. He referred to as a ruler.

He came to One who he recognized as good.

He wanted more. He wanted eternal life.

Only God is eternal.

Why is he seeking eternal life? Maybe all these things he had did not fill the hole in his soul.

*B. “What am I lacking?”

*Jesus told him to obey the commandments. Notice the young man asked which ones.

Notice Jesus only lists the ones which deal with man’s relationships to man, not to God.

He says this I have done, what more do I lack? What made him think he still lacked? The ache within his soul.

Did he keep all these? Were there not neighbors he could have aided with his wealth?

*C. “Come be complete.”

*Jesus says, “If you want to be complete, give up this world’s things and attach yourself to me.”

The word “perfect” refers to spiritual maturity or development in godliness, in contrast to the man’s admitted inadequacies

Jesus had identified the inadequacy haunting this young man, but the man was not yet willing to obey Jesus, become perfect, and obtain eternal life.

Following Jesus would have led him to see that he was not keeping the first commandments which have to do with a man’s relationship to God.

He went away sorrowful. Evidently eternal life was not worth temporary riches. It came at too high a cost.

*II. Us.

A. We want what is good.

*The world offers many counterfeits.

*B. We want what is eternal.

*Looking for permanence; for some that lasts.

*C. We are looking for what is worth our life.

*We are looking for something that is worth living for?

*III. Truth for us.

A. Only God is good.

B. Only God is eternal.

C. Only God is worth everything.

*Come follow Christ. To the foot of the cross.

Following Christ means self must die that we might live for Him. Here the rich young ruler stumbled. What are you stumbling over?

1 Philippians 3:12-14 - 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 1 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 1 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Conclusion: Today, is there something that is separating you from Christ? Is there anything in the way that is keeping you from Him?

• Today, is there something that is separating you from Christ? Is there anything in the way that is keeping you from Him?

Philippians 3:12-14 - 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 1 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 1 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Conclusion: Today, is there something that is separating you from Christ? Is there anything in the way that is keeping you from Him?

• Today, is there something that is separating you from Christ? Is there anything in the way that is keeping you from Him?1 Matthew 19:16-26 - 16* And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?”

Matthew 19:16-26 - 16 And someone came to Him and said, “Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?” 1 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

• 17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” *1 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
• 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; *1 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?”
• 19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?”

*1 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

• 21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” *1 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.  

Also illustrations on failure

Thomas Edison, probably the greatest inventor in history, only had three months of formal schooling. Yet his 1,093 inventions transformed the world, including motion pictures, mimeograph machines, the phonograph, and the electric light. His secret? He defined genius as “one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” and he proved his definition by working for days at a time, obsessed with his projects, stopping only for short catnaps. Failure never discouraged him. When about 10,000 experiments with a storage battery failed to produce results, a friend tried to console him. “Why, I have not failed,” Edison said. “I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

• 22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.  

Also illustrations on failure

Thomas Edison, probably the greatest inventor in history, only had three months of formal schooling. Yet his 1,093 inventions transformed the world, including motion pictures, mimeograph machines, the phonograph, and the electric light. His secret? He defined genius as “one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” and he proved his definition by working for days at a time, obsessed with his projects, stopping only for short catnaps. Failure never discouraged him. When about 10,000 experiments with a storage battery failed to produce results, a friend tried to console him. “Why, I have not failed,” Edison said. “I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”