Questions and Answers

   I can ask the right questions, but I need to stay around and hear all the answers, not just the part that I want to hear. I may be looking for a certain answer, but I can't just tune out when I hear it. No, I need to hear all of it.

   In Luke 18, a certain Jewish leader comes to Jesus with a question. It is an important question, one that has eternal consequences for him, and one that he needs to have answered. Was he truly seeking the answer or was he just trying to justify his life? Regardless of his motive, he did need to hear the answer.

   So he asked and then paused to listen to Jesus' reply:

   Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: “Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked him. “Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.”

   I can see the relief on his face as he realizes that he has been living his life this way and he is OK. Then comes:

   “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

   Jesus has not put a period at the end of that first part of the answer, only a comma. Listen to the rest of the story:

   But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich.

   There is a sudden realization that there is more to this important answer, a part that he may have feared would be there, but that he did not want to hear. He asked the right question, but only part of the answer satisfied his desire.

   I thank God for all His blessings to me, while deep down on the inside, I wonder "why?". God may answer "it is not because of anything you have done, it is only because I love you and want the best for you". I hear the answer and am grateful all over again, truly grateful to Him for health, for prosperity, for the good life in a good place, for family and for friends, and I am right to be grateful for all of the above.

   But I want to go ahead and put the period there, to hear I am OK, but the comma is there instead, and I fear to listen. There is more to the story than just the blessings. There is responsibility that comes because of them. There is the answer to the "Why?" question.

   God help me to hear, really hear, and obey, not go away sad.