Pam Padgett ... teacher
A rich ruler came to Jesus asking what he needed to do to have
eternal life. However, when Jesus told him to sell all that he had, follow
Him (Jesus), and that he would have treasure in heaven, the ruler was
very sorrowful because he was very rich ...
Luke 18:18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master,
what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him,
Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20 Thou
knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not
steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus
heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell
all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have
treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he
was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24 And when
Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they
that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a
camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into
the kingdom of God.
The ruler's trust was in his riches,
and holding onto them was
more important to him than what Jesus told him and treasure
in heaven
Jesus told of the rewards to those who follow Him (the Word of God) above all else, believing and trusting in HIM rather than riches of this world ...
Luke 18:28 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed
thee. 29 And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man
that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for
the kingdom of God's sake, 30 Who shall not receive manifold more in
this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.
Zacchaeus was also a rich man, and he had status, being
chief among the publicans. Yet when Jesus passed through Jericho,
it was so important to Zacchaeus to see Jesus that he climbed into a
tree ...
Luke 19:1 And Jesus entered and passed through
Jericho. 2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which
was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich. 3 And he
sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press,
because he was little of stature. 4 And he ran before, and
climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass
that way.
Jesus saw Zacchaeus and told him to come down quickly and that He
(Jesus) would stay at his house. Zacchaeus followed what Jesus told
him to do, coming down from the tree quickly. He received Jesus with joy.
Luke 19:5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and
saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come
down; for to day I must abide at thy house. 6 And he made haste,
and came down, and received him joyfully.
And Zacchaeus told Jesus how he would deal with others, even restoring four times to any he had taken from falsely, not holding riches of this world more important than doing what was right before God ...
Luke 19:8 And
Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half
of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing
from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold. 9
And Jesus said unto him, This day is salvation come to this
house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son
of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
Zacchaeus
humbled himself before Jesus, believing in Him, and holding nothing more important.