Dear Readers and Friends!
Sometimes I wonder, what would become of the rich young man, who came to Jesus, if he had done what Jesus asked of him?
"And behold, somebody, approaching, asked him: Master, what shall I do good, to attain eternal life?" Jesus answered: "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Well, there is only one. you want to enter into life, keep the commandments. "And he asked," What? "Jesus answered:" You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, honor your father and mother and love your neighbor as you The young man replied to him: All this I have observed, what is still missing? Jesus said to him: If you want to be perfect, go, sell your goods, give to the poor and you will have a treasure in heaven, then come and follow me. Having, however, heard the word of the young man, he left sad, because he had many possessions. " (Matthew 19.16-22)
It is interesting that the young man here already fulfilled a great part of the commandments, but what he needed was to leave what was properly his own. That is, even today, the most difficult to follow Jesus is to leave your own wills, titles, and riches.
This young man, perhaps, could become one of the twelve apostles; or a man who would be quoted in the Bible for doing great miracles. If he had followed Jesus, perhaps, he would have stayed in the place of Judas. In the end, Matías was chosen because he was a follower of Jesus.
Perhaps, he would have become one of the deacons chosen in Acts 6: 1-6.
"In those days, multiplying the number of the disciples, there was murmuring of the Hellenists against the Hebrews, because their widows were being forgotten in the daily distribution." Then the twelve summoned the community of disciples and said: It is not It is reasonable to abandon the word of God to serve the tables, but, brethren, choose from you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and wisdom, to whom we shall entrust this service, and, as for us, we shall consecrate ourselves To the prayer and the ministry of the word, the opinion pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prokhorus, Nicanor, Timon, Pármenas and Nicolás, proselyte of Antioch. the apostles, and after praying, laid their hands on them. " (Acts 6.1-6)
Among them, as we read in the verses, are Esteban, a man who was used mightily by God and Felipe, the evangelist, who won Samaria for Jesus and still proved the power to be moved for more than 50 kilometers.
Not abandoning your desire, your passion, can prevent you from living the best of God, not only here on Earth, but also in heaven. Following in Matthew chapter 19, Jesus speaks of the benefits of living in favor of God's will. He says that there will be no assistance on Earth for you to fulfill your call.
"And everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother or wife, or children, or fields, because of my name, will receive many times more and will inherit eternal life." (Matthew 19.29)
Everything we do to God, not by negotiation, will have a reward. Jesus also says that the apostles will receive an authority to judge cities and nations in the millennium. This is an award in eternity.
"Jesus answered them: Truly I say to you, you who followed me, when in regeneration, the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you will also settle on twelve thrones to judge the twelve tribes of Israel (Matthew 19:28)
That rich young man could have become a positive reference in the Bible. He could have become an apostle, a remarkable man. But he remained registered as an example of not being followed, because he did not give up his will to follow Christ.
Jesus made something clear in Luke 9, 23-24 (NIV) about being his follower:
"Then he said to everyone: -If someone wants to be my follower, who forgets their own interests, be ready every day to die as I am going to die and accompany me because whoever puts their own interests in the first place will never have life true, but who forgets himself for my sake will have true life. " (Luke 9.23-24)
It is worth leaving the plans and live the plans of God. Do not be so natural about to be stuck in earthly things. Our greatest treasure here is to fulfill God's will.
Keep your feet on the ground, but your heart in eternity
