Matthew 19:13-22
The Daily Office
The word translated here as “perfect” does not mean to be completely sinless, or without any defect. It means something closer to complete devotion. The rich young man is a man of upright public morality. No doubt he gives of his wealth to help the poor. Yet he somewhere in his heart, he hears the whisper of a greater desire. He senses that the fullness of eternal life is about more than doing the right thing.
That’s right! Jesus says. Your deepest desire is to identify with those whom you are helping. Your deepest desire is to be poor. Only when you entrust your worldly happiness to God, as the poor must, will you be truly happy and at peace. But at the surface of the rich man’s consciousness, and filling his conscious mind, are the desires for privilege, power and security. And he is afraid to go beneath the surface of those desires. Who wants to drown after all?
We may continue to skim the surface of those desires that we can satisfy by our own power. But always lurking in the depth of our souls will be the truth that the only lasting happiness and security comes from the One without whom we would not even exist. “In your presence there is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore.” (Psalm 16:11)
No comments:
Post a Comment