Your Money Or Your Life?

YOUR MONEY OR YOUR LIFE? (LUKE 18:18-27)

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When Abraham Liebowitz gets to school he discovers that he is the only Jewish kid in the class. But it’s a decent town and nobody really bothers him. One day the teacher asks the class Who was the greatest person who ever lived? and why? And to make it interesting she held a twenty dollar bill in the air and said whoever gives the best answer will get this twenty dollars.

All of the kids called out their guesses. One said, George Washington – because he was the father of our country. That’s excellent said the teacher.

Another said, Abraham Lincoln – because he freed the slaves. That’s also good said the teacher, reluctant to bestow an excellent, but still being polite.

One little girl said, Joan of Arc – because she saved France. Another excellent choice said the teacher.

Then Abraham Liebowitz, raised his hand. So the teacher called on him. Abraham, who do you think was the greatest person who ever lived, and why? And Abraham said, Jesus Christ. The teacher was shocked. Abraham, she said, I’m very surprised. Class, I think we can all agree that Abraham should get the twenty dollars. And she handed Abraham Liebowitz the money.

At recess, the teacher was still very impressed. So she asked Abraham why he said Jesus. Abraham said, Look, personally I think Moses was the greatest person who ever lived, but… business is business!

Few Bible characters are richer than the ruler. Luke says he was very wealthy and Matthew and Mark says he had great possessions (KJV) in plural (Matt 19:22, Mark 10:22), to be compared to the singular possession Ananias donated to the church (Acts 5:1). There is scant evidence why he was called the rich young ruler other than his claim to keep the commandments since he was young..

What is money to you? How do you plan to use it? Why is worshipping money a deterrent to following God? Is money your superior or your servant?

Study the Scriptures, See Your Shortcoming

18 A certain ruler asked him, Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? 19 Why do you call me good? Jesus answered. No one is good—except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’ 21 All these I have kept since I was a boy, he said.

A beggar stopped a lawyer on the street in a large southern city and asked him for a quarter. Taking a long, hard look into the man's unshaven face, the attorney asked, “Don't I know you from somewhere? You should,” came the reply. “I'm your former classmate. Remember, second floor, old Main Hall?” “Why Sam, of course I know you!” Without further question the lawyer wrote a check for $100. “Here, take this and get a new start. I don't care what's happened in the past, it's the future that counts.” And with that he hurried on.

Tears welled up in the man's eyes as he walked to a bank nearby. Stopping at the door, he saw through the glass well-dressed tellers and the spotlessly clean interior. Then he looked at his filthy rags. They won't take this from me. They'll swear that I forged it, he muttered as he turned away.

The next day the two men met again. “Why Sam, what did you do with my check? Gamble it away? Drink it up?” “No,” said the beggar as he pulled it out of his dirty shirt pocket and told why he hadn't cashed it. “Listen, friend, said the lawyer. What makes that check good is not your clothes or appearance, but my signature. Go on, cash it!”

Salvation is not earned or by effort. It is based on God’s goodness and not good deeds.

The noun ruler (archon) is traditionally translated as prince (Matt 9:34), chief (Luke 11:15) and magistrate (Luke 12:58), and for this reason the man is popularly called the rich young ruler. The ruler called Jesus Good Teacher (v 18), a title never before bestowed upon him. In Matthew’s gospel (Matt 19:16 get eternal life), he asked, Teacher, what good thing must I DO to (hina) get/inherit eternal life? Do not be fooled by the adverb good, because it is the verb DO that ties all the three gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke together (Mark 10:17, Matt 19:16, Luke 18:18). He thought doing good was the key that opens the door to eternal life. The Greek purpose clause in order to (hina) have/inherit eternal life was emphatic in both Matthew (Matt 19:16 get eternal life) and Mark’s gospel (Mark 10:17 inherit eternal life).