David Bahn – Reflections

Cozy? Bored. Discouraged? Engaged! Where are you on the invitation-challenge grid? The rich young ruler in this encounter with Jesus was rather cozy: he had it all together. He knew that Jesus was truly an authority on goodness and eternal life. He had kept the Laws of God from his youth. He needed only to be validated in his righteousness, or perhaps only to validate in his mind that Jesus was from God. But he was sadly mistaken. And Jesus offered the young man a rather significant challenge: sell all he had, give to the poor and come follow Jesus. Even the invitation was a challenge!

Matthew 19:21-22

Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Children are invited to come and receive a blessing; Jesus does not want them to be discouraged. The rich young man was challenged; Jesus didn’t want him to live a cozy life. The disciples for whom Peter speaks (thanks Peter!) were both engaged and discouraged. They had given their lives to following Jesus. They had given up financial wealth, family, “everything” in their words, to follow Jesus. So while they were engaged and energized, they were also discouraged.

It’s inevitable that we are moving through these stages of motivation and commitment in our walk with Jesus. That’s because we too often see only one side or the other of the dynamic of discipleship that is Invitation/Challenge. Jesus invites us to come to him when we labor and are heaven laden, promising to give us rest. He – at the very same time – calls us to take his yoke upon ourselves and learn from him: Invitation and challenge!

When we have all invitation and no challenge we will be cozy. When we have no invitation or challenge we will be bored. When we have all challenge and no invitation we will be discouraged. But when we have both invitation and challenge in the dynamic dance of discipleship we will be engaged, energized, empowered and living abundant, rich, significant and lives of discipleship. We will glorify God and serve our neighbor. We will rest in the promises of Christ and serve in the power of the Spirit. That is God’s calling in Christ for his disciples!

Matthew 19:13-30

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, ¹⁴but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” ¹⁵And he laid his hands on them and went away.

¹⁶ And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” ¹⁷And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” ²¹Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

²³And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁵When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁶But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ²⁷Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” ²⁸Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰But many who are first will be last, and the last first.