A young man came to Jesus and asked a question. It was a good question, very clear, precise and thought through, and he wanted an answer.
He asked, “….. what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16)
Now, this is a question that has been asked all through the centuries by those who realize that though having and doing everything, something is missing.
The answer Jesus gave was very clear: keep the commandments of God and then he quoted six of the ten: do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, honor your parents and love your neighbor. Notice also that these six are easily observable.
The answer the man gave to Jesus was also very clear. Apparently, he had kept all six since childhood. He then rephrased his question from what I must do to what I am lacking. He was very sincere in his question. He was a good man, but to have eternal life one must be more than a good man. One must be a perfect man, a new man in Christ.
Jesus then told him, “If You want to be perfect, go now and sell your possessions and give the money to the poor— You will have riches in heaven. Then come and follow me! When the young man heard that he sadly turned away for he was very wealthy (Matthew 19: 21, 22)
Jesus spoke to this also in Luke 9: 23- 25. ” And he said to them all, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever will save his life shall lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it, for what is a man advantaged if he gained the whole world and lose himself, or be cast away?”
The man lacked that one thing, and he knew immediately what it was, and he went away from Jesus, very sad.
My question for the reader: what is one thing you lack, that prevents you from living a fruitful life for Jesus? (By fruitful life I am referring to John chapter 15)
Let me encourage you to first make sure that you belong to Jesus. Then (1) do your own assessment of your life, (2) deal with what needs to be changed and (3) rejoice and be fruitful.