Friday Night Club Preview: The Rich Young Ruler (March 27, 2015)

What is important in your life?  Do you live your life accordingly to that which is truly important to you?

Let me give you a question to think about:  Many people say that their children or health is important to them, but their lives may not reflect that.  How much time do you spend with your children?  How much time do you spend exercising?

How we spend our time should reflect what is important to us.

Last week we talked about health.  This week we are talking about things that are important to us.   We will start with the story of the Rich Young Ruler, which is taken from the Bible.

[Watch an english video on The Rich Young Ruler here]

"In Matthew, a rich young man asks Jesus what actions bring eternal life. First Jesus advises the man to obey the commandments. When the man responds that he already observes them, and asks what else he can do, Jesus adds: 

If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. 

Luke has a similar episode and states that:

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." 

The disciples then ask Jesus who then can be saved, and Jesus replies: "What is impossible with men is possible with God." (source: Wikipedia)

Some of us may state that our faith and closeness to God is important to us.  The rich young ruler wanted to enter Heaven, which is important to many people, but he could not give up certain things that were getting in the way of that.



Perhaps something is getting in the way of what you find important.  For example:

• Do you want to be healthy but find that you are eating a lot of unhealthy foods, smoking, or drinking?  
• Do you want to be closer to your children but do not spend much time with them?
• Do you want to be a better Christian but do not spend time studying the Bible or praying?
• Do you want to have more money but spend what you do have on things you do not need?

These are just examples.  Everyone has dreams and goals but many do not achieve those because something that is less important gets in the way.  The rich young ruler felt sadness when he found out what he had to do.  He could have given up his wealth and followed Jesus and became a disciple, but the things that he had on Earth were more important to him than being in Heaven with Jesus.

Is this true of your life?  What would you give up to be a better parent, to be healthier, to be more intelligent, to be a better person, to go to Heaven?

In our next Friday Night Club we will discuss this idea.  We look forward to seeing you then.

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ENGLISH JOURNAL

If you are keeping an English Journal (which I recommend that you do), here are some things that you can write about and share with the class.

• What is the most important thing or things in your life?
• What can you do each day to put more focus on those things?
• What do you spend time on that is not as important in your life?  Do you think that you could spend this time on something more important to you?
• What would you like to focus your time on in the future?
• What are some ways that you can focus on the important thing each day?

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Sources:

---The Story of the Rich Young Ruler---

As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” 21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words [a]he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

23 And Jesus, looking around, *said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus *answered again and *said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “[b]Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus *said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” Mark 10:17-27