“And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thymother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions” (Matthew 19:16-22).

Many people today are like this young man. Maybe not rich, but as far as eternity is concerned, they think they have done enough. The problem is they can’t shake the feeling that there might just be a little something more they can do. Let’s take note at how Jesus handled the opportunity. He didn’t talk about Him being the Saviour. He didn’t even mention faith. Rather he went back to the Law (from the New Testament, mind you) and used it on the young man in an attempt to show him his sin. And He did it like He always did it, in a very pointed way.

The woman at the well needed to confront her immorality, this young man’s weakness was his wealth. So that’s exactly where Jesus went. We are told He did this because He loved the man. “Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me” (Mark 10:21).

The Law perfectly does what God always intended for it to do: it brings us to the point where we utterly despair of trying to save ourselves as we see and acknowledge the extent of our sinfulness and the consequences thereof.

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Galatians 3:24)

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10)

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20)

 

Dear friend, you and I can never do enough to satisfy God. We are “condemned already” (John 3:18). But God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).