27th Mar 26 | 16:08
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Luke 18 18-30 FOLLOWING JESUS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE 11 The value judgement
📖 Luke 18:18-30
08Oct2020 - *The value judgement* - _Luke 18:18-30_ - FOLLOWING JESUS TO HAVE ETERNAL LIFE 11 – Bible reading: _Luke 21:34-36_
The Lord had given the Rich Young Ruler the answer to his quest. It was now for him to respond.
_Mark 10:21-22 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." (22) But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions._
_Matthew 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions._
Following Jesus was what he was asked to do but he quickly counted the cost and decided that his possessions were of more value to him than eternal life. That was the value judgement that he made. Though he had made a value judgement, it was not a judgement that he was happy about but was sorrowful. We will soon consider as to why he was sorrowful but today we will look at the value judgment that he had made.
We too have made our value judgment. The problem with us is that we are not open and direct about it as the Rich Young Ruler was. We prefer to have Jesus as a trophy that we can place on our showcase or have as a wall hanging. We simply avoid coming to this point of making a value judgement and taking a clear and definite call on following Jesus. We keep postponing and we are hoping that this issue will never confront us. The danger is that it may be too late.
God is warning us. _Luke 12:15 And He said to them, "Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses."_
_Luke 21:34-36 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and *cares of this life*, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. (35) For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. (36) Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."_
The Lord loved the young man but the Lord never gave him an opportunity to reconsider this decision. The Lord did not try to convince him or convert him to choose Him. The Lord did not even warn him of the consequences that he will face of rejecting Him and choosing his possessions.
Compare with us. The Lord has given us an opportunity upon opportunity to repent and choose to follow Him. The Lord has brought the message of following Him to bear on our intellect and reasoning. The Lord has pleaded with us on many occasions not to purse the world but to follow Him. The Lord has warned us time and time again of the consequences of pursuing mammon. He longs for us to repent and follow Him.
_II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance._
Even after all that the Lord has done, if we yet continue to give priority to mammon, then what do we expect will be our judgement?
Covetousness is idolatry. _Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Ephesians 5:5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon._
Apostle Paul has modelled, following Jesus, for us. _Philippians 3:8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ_
*Thought to ponder*
```Will you make a clear and definite call today to follow Jesus?```