There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to do right, except in letting yourself think that being a good ole boy or good ole girl will be the means of your salvation. In the Bible, Jesus encounters a good ole boy who claims to have followed every commandment of Moses since birth and wants to know what must be done to inherit eternal life. By his own claims if anyone deserved a gold star from God and had earned his way to salvation, it would have been this young man. Unfortunately, the young man goes away sad because Jesus tells him that salvation is not something we can earn but it is instead a gift from God when we choose to believe in Him. Beyond belief, salvation leads to the sacrifice of worldly treasure and pleasures for future riches in heaven. For those of us who wish to see the difference between just being good and being saved begins and ends with Jesus Christ.
1. What makes so many of us chase the idea of acting perfect instead of being perfected through Christ? How is the rich young ruler an example of this type of good ole boy thinking and living?
2. Jesus asked the rich young ruler to go and sell everything he had and give it to the poor which made the young man sad. What would you be sad to give up if it was requested of you? Why do you think that Jesus makes this request of him?
