IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Have Treasure in Heaven

Date: Jul. 24, 2021

Passage

Matthew 19:16-30

The Rich Young Man

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: Matthew 19:21

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

When the rich young man asked what good thing he must do to get eternal life he assumed that eternal life was something he had to earn. The young man was rich, smart, moral and had a passion to attain eternal life. It seemed that there was nothing he couldn’t accomplish if he put his heart towards it. Yet Jesus challenged him in a way that shook his worldview.

“Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”

Most people cannot obey this command because it is hard to deny a good thing we possess that we can actually see, touch and consume. Treasures in heaven and eternal life seem immaterial to us right now. What are they anyway? When Apostle Paul experienced the grace of Jesus, he experienced a surpassing worth that made everything he previously accomplished seem like garbage. When we experience true eternal life, even now, we know what is most valuable, and what is not so important.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord, open my eyes to seek and experience eternal life and heavenly treasures. If there are obstacles, help me to live by faith to let go of my own notions of value and worth.

One Word: One Word: Let go to find heavenly treasures.

Daily Bread

We Are Your Sheep, Lord

Psalm 79:1-13

Key Verse: 79:13

But we your people, the sheep of your pasture,
will give thanks to you forever;
from generation to generation we will recount your praise.

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