Caught In A Sophisticated Trap
(4 minutes)
As Jesus started on his way, a man came running up to him. Kneeling down in front of him, he cried out, "Good Teacher, what one thing am I required to do to gain eternal life?" Jesus responded, "Why do you call me good? Only God is truly good. You already know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give a false testimony, do not cheat, and honor your father and mother.'" The man said to Jesus, "Teacher, I have carefully obeyed these laws since my youth." Jesus fixed his gaze upon the man, with tender love, and said to him, "Yet there is still one thing in you lacking. Go, sell all that you have and give the money to the poor. Then all of your treasure will be in heaven. After you've done this, come back and walk with me." Completely shocked by Jesus' answer, he turned and walked away very sad, for he was extremely rich. (Mark 10:17-22)
Pastor Tim has said this often, "No one sets out in the morning to become a Pharisee." None of us leave the house in the morning hoping that we will become an expert pretender. We don't intend on getting caught up in delusional thinking. We all start with pure motives.
This rich, young ruler is just the same. He loved God. At the beginning of this story, we catch him running to Jesus. He's not casually strolling. He's running with purpose towards Jesus. He displays a heart of honor as he kneels down in front of Jesus. And the scripture says that he "cries out." This man is passionate about God. He's passionate about the things of the Kingdom.
As the man goes on, he reveals that he's been carefully obeying the Old Testament laws since his youth. He's been in church his whole life! We're not dealing with a horrible person. We're dealing with someone that American Christianity would prop up as the ideal church member. He's rich. He's young. He's successful. He's faithful. He was probably a prize possession to his local synagogue, just like he would be in the local church today. I can hear the pastor commenting on this young man in the weekly staff meeting, "We can use him! What a blessing!"
Why is this important? Why is it important to see that this man loved God? That he wasn't a horrible person?
Because if we write this young man off too quickly, we'll fail to see ourselves in this story. This rich, young ruler is a lot like us. So many of us have been the prize possession of the church at some point. We were the ideal church member. American Christianity took us in because they saw so much potential in us. We loved Jesus and we were faithful, so the church took an opportunity to use us to serve "the vision." We started off with pure motives, wanting to learn more about God. We never set our sights on becoming a religious Pharisee.
We had what every kid has when they're growing up: immature sincerity.
But instead of falling into the hands of a spiritual father who could lead us into intimacy with Jesus, we fell into something else.
Pastor Tim said it best this past Sunday. We were "caught in a sophisticated trap."
Let's not rush through the story. Let's stop here and let Abba talk to us about this part of the journey. Can you see yourself in the life of the rich, young ruler? Can you see the pure heart that you started with? Can you see in your own story where it shifted from immature sincerity to being abnormally used in the sophisticated trap of American Christianity?
If you haven't listened already, please go back and watch the message from this past Sunday. Pastor Tim goes into his own story of being the rich, young ruler. This message is resonating in the hearts of our family because we can see ourselves in the story.
Abba, give us ears to hear.
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Worship: "Real Thing" by Maverick City Music
Honor: Give Online to The Wilderness Place
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