"Needs Work"

"Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16b, NKJV)

In Matthew 19:16-30 we find the narrative of the rich young ruler. And, in some measure, we may also find our own story tucked between the lines.

When I was in elementary school, report cards had a column that was labeled "Needs Work." It meant that there were some concepts that had been mastered, but one or two key concepts had not been grasped by the student, and those concepts were vitally important in the process of progressing to the next academic level. An assessment that said "needs work" had to be addressed immediately.

Sometimes we want a teacher, a good teacher, to give us counsel. And that's fine. We in Christendom have a fantastic Teacher. Jesus, I've been doing such-and-such. Can You give me a report card? Am I on the right track?

In Sunday evening's sermon, Pastor Dimas Salaberrios noted that God piques our interest by shining light on areas of our lives that need work. We see this in Jesus's response to the rich young ruler. After Jesus asks the man about his obedience to some of the commandments, our Lord then taps into the one area that needed re-direction. Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me." (Matthew 19:21)

What will our response be when we are asked to find our identity not in what we have, but in Who we belong to? Pastor Dimas shared with us (paraphrased here) that the rich young ruler was very comfortable in the realm of "commercial Christianity"-- on the surface there was obedience, but beneath the surface there was no passion for God. And our God, who loves us, has called us to love Him more than we love the accoutrements of the world.

At the close of Sunday evening's sermon, Pastor Dimas made reference to Revelation 2:2-7. Today, let's reflect on this love letter: it is our personal letter, and it is Bronx Bethany Church of the Nazarene's love letter, and it is also a cautionary letter. I pray that as God sees us living our lives, He is finding in our hearts a joy and passion for addressing the areas of our faith-walk that fall into the "needs work" column.

The rich young ruler decided that his earthly riches were too much a part of his identity to be given up. Rather than doing the work needed to move to the next level of faith, he left Jesus's presence.

What about you?

‘I know your works as well as your labor and steadfast endurance, and that you cannot tolerate evil. You have even put to the test those who refer to themselves as apostles (but are not), and have discovered that they are false. I am also aware that you have persisted steadfastly, endured much for the sake of my name, and have not grown weary. But I have this against you: You have departed from your first love! Therefore, remember from what high state you have fallen and repent! Do the deeds you did at the first; if not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place – that is, if you do not repent. But you do have this going for you: You hate what the Nicolaitans practice – practices I also hate. The one who has an ear had better hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will permit him to eat from the tree of life that is in the paradise of God.’ (Revelation 2:2-7, NET Bible)