One Thing Thou Lackest Scripture

Text: Mark 10:17-27 

1. The rich young ruler ran and knelt to Jesus. He was earnest and desire for an answer about eternal life. Often we are too busy with earthly pursuits that we neglect the most important part of our life – spiritual life. 

2. The rich young ruler was sincere in his words. He addressed Jesus as Good Master. He knew Jesus was different from other religious teachers. We need to be sincere and genuine to come to Jesus. However, we need to know that we cannot use our own understanding and wisdom to come to God. Everyday we misrepresent God according to our own likings. The only way we can know God is for Him to reveal Himself to us. 

3. God gave us the moral laws and He requires us to obey them perfectly. The rich young ruler thought he has obeyed the laws but he only obeyed them externally. In his heart, he has failed and has actually broken the laws of God. God requires of us a perfect and holy life. All of us have failed and fallen short of the glory of God. Jesus wanted the rich young ruler to know he is a sinner and has loved possessions more than God in his heart. 

4. Although Jesus knew the rich young ruler is a sinner, He loved this man with compassion, kindness and pity. The rich young man must come to Jesus for forgiveness of his sins and turn to Jesus as his only Saviour. This is the only way to have eternal life for him.

5. Sadly, the rich young ruler would not want to do it and left Jesus sad and grieved. He would not want to give up his sin. Today, let us not be like the rich young ruler to harden our hearts against Jesus who loves us with a perfect love and gave His life for us on the cross to save us.