MONKEY TRAPS & QUESTIONS ABOUT ETERNAL LIFE
In some parts of the world, people have found an incredibly simple way to catch monkeys.
They take a gourd or similar object and drill a hole just large enough for a monkey's hand to pass through. Next, they put a nut or fruit inside the gourd and tie the trap to the ground so the monkey can't carry it away. Here's what happens: the monkey sticks his hand through the hole to get the food — but with the prize in its grasp, the monkey cannot get its hand back out. As long as he's holding the hidden treasure, he can't get away.
Most monkeys won't let go, even at the risk of their life.
There is a well-known story in the gospels about an encounter between Jesus and a man with sincere questions about eternal life. His life was headed in the right direction, but something was missing. So when the man meets Jesus, Jesus presents him with a trade that can secure his eternity.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.
Mark 10:17-30
This man clearly wanted a deeper relationship with God. That's why the man "ran up to him and fell on his knees before him" and asked him, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" These are the actions of a sincere man with sincere questions.
I have observed that some people passively wait for something to happen - a new job, a better marriage, or a more fulfilling life. Not this man. He took action. He took his spiritual life by the horns and brought it to Jesus.
Some years ago, I heard Rick Warren say,
"spiritual growth is God's work, but it requires my participation."
That's exactly right. I can't make myself grow, but I can certainly get in the way. And there is a certain attitude in my heart that helps me grow more quickly. Spiritual growth takes humility, openness, and action. Unfortunately, many people struggle with all three.
Verse 21 is the turning point in the story:
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
With love in his eyes, Jesus challenges the man to go all the way with his discipleship.
Sell everything. Give it away. Follow me. Inherit eternal life.
While this certainly isn't a biblical command to every Christian, this was precisely the challenge this man needed to become a disciple of Jesus.
Why? Because some things stand in the way of experiencing a thriving spiritual life. Some things become roadblocks. For example, consider the impact of addiction. It is impossible to be controlled by addiction and also be free to follow Jesus fully. The same can be said of shame, bitterness, and patterns of sin.
For this man, he was too invested in this life. He was putting his hope in his possessions. And he was holding so tightly to his money that He couldn't take hold of Jesus.
The man couldn't imagine making the trade Jesus proposed, even if it had the potential to secure His eternity.
This is what the love of money can end up doing to any one of us. As long as we hold on to our things - we cannot take hold of Jesus. And the more things we own, the more difficult this becomes. The human temptation around money is why Jesus said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"
The question we all have to wrestle with from time to time is this: Is there anything I am holding onto more tightly than Jesus?
If anything comes to mind, bring that to God in prayer. Ask Him to speak into that immediately. You don't want to get trapped trying to hang on to temporary stuff and forfeit your eternity.
I want to speak directly to the person who wants Jesus to be first in their life - to the person who wants to avoid getting spiritually stuck or plateaued. You must take Jesus' challenge to the man in Mark 10 seriously.
You have to keep stretching.
You have to walk by faith and not by sight.
You have to let go of the things of this world.
If you will, there is no telling how far Jesus can take you as His disciple.
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*If this has been helpful, please send me a message and let me know. And please share this post with others who could benefit. My writing aims to help people enjoy a vibrant relationship with Jesus, and it is an honor to be on this journey with you. You can subscribe to receive weekly emails by going to www.bradjenkins.me