A Word from Matthew 19

Have you ever thought about how dangerous it is to be a “good person”? Don’t get me wrong: “being good” is better than “being bad,” I suppose. But what if our confidence that we’re “good, upstanding people” can actually get in the way of having the kind of relationship with God that even we sense we lack?

To see what I’m talking about, you might want to check out today’s word in Matthew 19. A man came to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (19:16) And Jesus responded by giving a list of all the stuff that “good people” usually handle pretty well: “You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.” (19:18-19)

But the man knew that “being good” like that couldn’t be all there is. “All these I’ve kept,” he said. “What do I still lack?”

And that, of course, is when Jesus puts his finger on the real issue: “If you want to be perfect,” he said, “go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (19:21) You see, the relationship we seek doesn’t come just by following all the rules. It comes from putting God first above everything else, and from investing our lives in being with Jesus, so that we can be like Jesus, and can do what Jesus did.

So listen. The fact that you and I are sharing this devotional moment is a pretty good indicator that we’re “good people.” But we still need to ask: What is it that’s getting in the way of making God first in my life? For this man it was economic security, which is still a powerful idol. But it might be our appearance or politics—our comfort, convenience, or even our confidence that we’re right while others are wrong.

So whatever it is that’s holding us back, let’s put it aside today, so that we can have the treasure of God’s presence and can follow Jesus into life. Amen.