May 13, 2025 Morning Devotional

Morning Devotion: Read Luke - The Rich Ruler

Luke 18:18  And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20  Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21  And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22  Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23  And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24  And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 25  For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26  And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. 28  Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. 29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Oh, the worth of a soul, how great is it? This world and all the glories of it are worth nothing when it comes to salvation. Salvation is to have all the glories of heaven forever.

The rich young ruler (Matthew 19 tells us he was young.) had much but had very little. He was without Christ. He may have been a nice rich person by all accounts but he was not saved. He was seeking eternal life. You can have all the niceties of life and this world and still die without the Lord and spend eternity in hell.

Many people believer that if a person is nice they are going to heaven. My friend, being nice and being a good person does not make one a born-again christian. The bible clearly teaches that there is none good but Jesus.

Matthew 19:17  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.

Mark 10:18  And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The Lord Jesus answered this young mans question. He said you know the commandments. The young man retorted with 21  “And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.”

The Lord makes a very important point here. Verse 22  “Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.”

Verse 23  “And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.” (You see, this young man’s reaches was his God.)

His possessions became his curse for he had many possessions. How hard is it for the rich to be saved? Verse 25  “For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Verse 26  “And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? 27  And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Salvation is only through your Lord Jesus Christ.

How many people have lost what God wishes to give because they have trusted in either their wealth, their good works (trying to keep the commandments) or in themselves thinking they are good?

Let me encourage the true believer, you will have that and more in heaven.

Verse 29  And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, 30  Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

Never sacrifice the permanent on the altar of the temporary.

The choice is still yours,

Pastor Cook