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Christ’s Object Lessons
meant, but Christ was speaking of the law given from Sinai. He men-
tioned several commandments from the second table of the Decalogue,
then summed them all up in the precept, “Thou shalt love thy neighbour
as thyself.”
The young man answered without hesitation, “All these things
have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?” His conception of the
law was external and superficial. Judged by a human standard, he had
preserved an unblemished character. To a great degree his outward life
had been free from guilt; he verily thought that his obedience had been
without a flaw. Yet he had a secret fear that all was not right between
his soul and God. This prompted the question, “What lack I yet?”
“If thou wilt be perfect,” Christ said, “go and sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come
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and follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went
away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.”
The lover of self is a transgressor of the law. This Jesus desired
to reveal to the young man, and He gave him a test that would make
manifest the selfishness of his heart. He showed him the plague spot
in his character. The young man desired no further enlightenment. He
had cherished an idol in the soul; the world was his god. He professed
to have kept the commandments, but he was destitute of the principle
which is the very spirit and life of them all. He did not possess true
love for God or man. This want was the want of everything that would
qualify him to enter the kingdom of heaven. In his love of self and
worldly gain he was out of harmony with the principles of heaven.
When this young ruler came to Jesus, his sincerity and earnestness
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won the Saviour’s heart. He “beholding him loved him.” In this young
man He saw one who might do service as a preacher of righteousness.
He would have received this talented and noble youth as readily as He
received the poor fishermen who followed Him. Had the young man
devoted his ability to the work of saving souls, he might have become
a diligent and successful laborer for Christ.
But first he must accept the conditions of discipleship. He must
give himself unreservedly to God. At the Saviour’s call, John, Peter,
Matthew, and their companions “left all, rose up, and followed Him.”
Luke 5:28
. The same consecration was required of the young ruler.
And in this Christ did not ask a greater sacrifice than He Himself
had made. “He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye