A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18:18)
Expanded Passage: Luke 18:18–19
In my role at a local private school, one of my responsibilities is to screen potential students for acceptance. In essence, I help define the worthiness of a student. As you might imagine, this has many variables, but I always inquire about the family as much as I do the student. Knowing where someone comes from can paint a picture of what they have overcome, or what support they have had in their journey. It is my responsibility to get to the bottom of who they truly are.
In a sense, that is what Jesus was doing in this interaction. When the rich young ruler referred to Jesus as a “good teacher,” he was giving us an important clue about what the young man valued and where he was coming from in his journey. He had sought his whole life to do good, so when Jesus asked him, “Why do you call me good?” he was helping the rich young ruler unravel his own belief system. This young ruler learned that he must be more than just good. He must also be humble and acknowledge his need for the Savior, not just a good teacher.
We can live our lives walking on the straight and narrow, but if we aren’t sold out for him, we are missing out on God’s divine plan for us to give him full authority.
Submit to God’s authority over your whole life.
Holly Atkinson is a pastor’s wife, mother of two girls, and a graduate of OKWU and Wesley Seminary. She currently serves as an assistant principal at a private school in Florida.
© 2023 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
