Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1914-06-19


The story of this rich young ruler
is one out of the ministry of our Lord
that has made an indeIible impression
throughout every succeeding genera
ton. This is SO because it is SO vital,
vibrant and vivid a revelation of our
everyday experience The lesson nat
urally divides itself into two sections.
Read carefully the parallel accounts;
Matt. 19:16-30 and Luke 18: 1890
Man of Courage. =.
!. An Eager Young Man, w. 1922.
This man is an arresting figure. Much
may be said in his favor: % He was
young Matt. 1920; (2) He was in
earnest, came running" (v. 10; (3)
He was educated, "a lawyer" Luke
1878; (4) He was rich, Mark 1922;
(5) He was loved by Jesus, Mark 10:
81. That he had lived clean life is
revealed by the answers he made to
Jesus. Moreover he must have been
a man of some courage, belonging as
he did to the ruling class, the Phari-
sees, yet he came running into the
presence of Jesus and cast himself at
his feet We need but to recall that
this class was at this time definitely
hostile to Christ, yet this young man
dared to speak the conviction of his
heart in this public way by calling
Jesus, good" We feel that he was an
honest seeker after life. His question
reveals the unrest of the human heart
It matters not what men may possess
of wealth or position, these things do
not bring heart rest. Great moral
courage, noble aspirations and benevo-
1ence never will save nor fully satisfy
the human soul Man does not obtain
life by doing, Gal. 2:16. Life is a gift
Rom. 6:23. We must not misunder-
stand the reply of Jesus (v 1S). Jesus
did not deny being good, John 8;46;
1890; 1923, but he saw that this
young man was filed with the idea
of his own goodness. To say that Jesus
was good was practically to say he
was God. and this the young man did
not mean Jesus sought to reveal to
him his careless use of words. Jesus
undoubtedly here lays claim to deity
and subsequently he said, ". 21) "fol
low me- l. e., for this man to yield
his life actually to the control of God
Jesus began where the young man
lived, within the law, the spirit OF
which is "do and thou shalt live" but
he quickly revealed to this self-confi
+1of \ - Ef1yl
these things have I observed" yet he
was mistaken and tremendously self
deceived. So far as he went he made
a correct Interpretation of his OWL
need but the skilful teacher revealed
to him his, one great lack. His life
was not really controlled by God and
at once Jesus created an opportunity
for him to yield himself to a life OF
wholehearted service. He touched the
vital spot, for the supreme test in the
way of allowing God to rule was to sci
aside the rule of wealth, position, anG
selfishness.
Last week we were taught to make
friends by means of the mammon o.
unrighteousness; that when 1t shall
Il Il 2
fail they may receive you into the eter
nal tabernacles." This is exactly wha
Christ told this young man to do
"Sell . give to the poor" BY thus
using he would store up treasure IL
heaven. That he could not stand tht
test is evident from v. %. However
beyond this simple record we can onl,
speculate. We trust, however, that his
sorrow may have been that which
s'worketh repentance" II Cor. 7:10
This much is certain: Jesus presented
to him his greatest opportunity. Two
paths were opened before him, ont
straight and narrow. and one broat
and easy to follow. Which did hi
take? His one. lack may have beer
fatal.