Jesus' response makes it clear that suffering has nothing to do with some people being considered more sinful than others. Anyone who thinks that “punishment” comes immediately for what a person has done wrong has not yet left behind the theories of the old religion. God has not begun the judgment that will cast the irreconcilable sinner into eternal torment. He is love, so He is not exercising His right to punish people for their evil deeds (Ecclesiastes. 12:14; Hebrews. 9:27; 2 Peter 3:9).

It is possible that the rich young man (Mark 10:17-22), for example, threw a “tantrum” at God, not following the instruction to sell his possessions and give the proceeds to the poor, because he did not want to share with others the wealth he had inherited from his parents. Who knows, he may even have refused to go to the synagogue because he could no longer bear to hear the “hints” from the preachers of the time about this. One day, however, someone told him about what Jesus was doing: healing the sick, freeing captives, forgiving repentant sinners.

Upon hearing about the Savior, perhaps the young man asked someone if He charged anything for His blessings and if He preached like the teachers of the Law, and the answer was no. So he began to inquire more about the Son of God, and since no one had anything against Christ, the young man decided to seek Him out, and if what he had been told was true, he could return to attending the house of God and keep all his wealth.

Knowing that the Master would be passing through his city, the young man prepared to meet Him, praying and planning what he would ask Him, although deep down in his soul he knew that what he had heard in the synagogue came from Heaven. When the day came, he ran to meet Jesus and asked Him how to be saved. Perhaps what bothered him most and hurt his heart was the possibility of being lost forever.

Even the words spoken to the Lord were carefully chosen to leave no doubt: “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10.17b). So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: (Mark 10.18-19), and he began to list them until the young man interrupted him: “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10.20). Perceiving his foolish cunning and loving him, Jesus replied: “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 10.21).

The Master was not at all what the young man thought, for He responded quite differently than he had supposed, proposing the same thing that the Father had commanded: that he sell his possessions and give them to the poor. Upon hearing Jesus’ response, the young man thought, “He is God and wants to take from me what my father left me.” That was not true. God wanted to give him salvation, but he only thought about his wealth. If he had obeyed the Lord, he would have become even richer! Don't jump to conclusions or try to deceive God, thinking that He will tell you the “lie” you want to hear! Instead, obey Him, believing that He has the best to give you!

           In Christ, with love,

          R. R. Soares.