LOG LANE COMMUNITY CHURCH WEEKLY BULLETIN
Sunday, July 30, 2006
The Rich Young Man and Jesus

Matthew 19:16-26 (KJV)
¹⁶ And, behold, one came and said unto him. Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
¹⁷ And he said unto him. Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
¹⁸ He saith unto him. Which? Jesus said. Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness,
¹⁹ Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
²⁰ The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
²¹ Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
²² But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
²³ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
²⁴ And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
²⁵ When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Matthew 19:16-26 (LBLA)
¹⁶ Y he aquí se Ie acercó uno y dijo: Maestro, ¿qué bien haré para obtener la vida eterna?
¹⁷ Y El le dijo: ¿Por qué me preguntas acerca de lo bueno? Sólo Uno es bueno; pero si deseas entrar en la vida, guarda los mandamientos.
¹⁸ El le dijo: ¿Cuáles? Y Jesús respondió: No mataras; no cometeras adulterio; no hurtaras; no daras falso testimonio;
¹⁹ honra a tu padre y a tu madre; y amaras a tu projimo como a ti mismo.
²⁰ El joven le dijo: Todo esto lo he guardado; ¿qué me falta todavía?
²¹ Jesús le dijo: Si quieres ser perfecto, ve y vende lo que posees y da a los pobres, y tendrás tesoro en los cielos; y ven, sigueme.
²² Pero al oír el joven estas palabras, se fue triste, porque era dueño de muchos bienes.
²³ Y Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: En verdad os digo que es difícil que un rico entre en el reino de los cielos.
²⁴ Y otra vez os digo que es más fácil que un camello pase por el ojo de una aguja, que el que un rico entre en el reino de Dios.
²⁵ Al oír esto, los discípulos estaban llenos de asombro, y decían: Entonces, ¿quién podrá salvarse?
²⁶ Pero Jesús, mirándo los, les dijo: Para los hombres eso es imposible, pero para Dios todo es posible.

What does it mean to be "good"? Do you consider yourself a good person? Or do you at least feel that you're good enough?

Look at the exchange between Jesus and this rich young man. Some of you reading these words are in exactly the same condition as he was. He was a "nice" guy - a real pillar of the community.

But Jesus says that this young man doesn't understand what it means to be "good" ["There is only One who is good" (verse 17)]. If we compare this man to other people, he looks superior to most. But if we compare him to God - the ultimate "goodness" standard - he doesn't measure up. And neither do we.

This man's flaw, we assume, was that he trusted too much in his own wealth. Jesus sought to remove that invisible tumor in his soul. But rather than face his need for spiritual "surgery," ratlier than give up his security and surrender his life to Jesus, the young man walked away from the Doctor.

Perhaps you're a bit like this young man, searching for God on the outside but harboring some unseen resistance to following him. Maybe you've been asking God to show himself to you. But have you thought about what you'll do when he does? This story reinforces the important spiritual truth that everyone who seeks finds, but not everyone who finds follows. [The Journey Bible]

Memory Verse
Mark 1:15 (KJV)
¹⁵ And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

Mark 1:15 (LBLA)
¹⁵ y diciendo: El tiempo se ha cumplido y el reino de Dios se ha acercado; arrepentíos y creed en el evangelio.