"A" IN LIFE
I went to a small university called Oral Roberts University.
I lived on a great floor in the dorms with a great group of guys.
At the end of every year we had a closing banquet with our sister wing.
We gave out custom awards to guys on the floor:
They were all inside jokes.
However, there was one award that was the same every year - it was the "'A' in Life" award. It was for the person that didn't necessarily get great grades but had a whole lot of fun.
When we get to Matthew 19:20-21, we get something similar.
We get someone looking for extra credit.
MATTHEW 19:20-21
The rich, young ruler is inquiring Jesus about the good life.
Jesus says, "Keep the commandments."
Then the text picks up in verse 20 with:
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
The rich, young man wants extra credit. He wants more out of life. He wants more of God in his life, and so Jesus responds with, "If you really want to maximize the God life (ie - be perfect), go sell your possession."
SEEK AFTER WHAT YOU LACK
There's always more that can be accessed in the God-life. We can have more of God's peace, joy, presence, provision - you name it and there's more of it.
However, it always comes at a cost.
We always lack something that is keeping us from something in the God life.
The rich, young ruler sets an amazing example for us.
He has succeeded in some of the basics, but he wants more and recognizes that he's lacking something and so he goes purusing it from Jesus.
As we lean into the Lent season, it becomes clear to us that we want more of God and there are some things that we lack that get in the way:
Are you seeking more of God? What do you lack that will get you there? How will you respond?