The Lack

 "All these I have kept," the young man said, "what do I still lack?" Matthew 19:20...."The rich young ruler had morals, manners, and money. He would be welcomed readily into many churches today, with no questions asked. He would make a good 'joiner,' but he would be a poor disciple........Salvation is free but discipleship costs everything." Vance Havner

The Lord Jesus had a tendency to ask penetrating questions and make seemingly absurd demands. I think with the above Scripture and quote from Havner, He does both. I think His question is, are we "joiners" or are we disciples? We will usually find a good number of the first, but very few of the second. I remember years ago getting a phone call from a woman who desired to be married. She'd obviously been calling around to churches seeking a minister to officiate the wedding. The one thing she said that I still remember was that if she and her prospective spouse were required to join our church in order for me to do so, they'd be happy to comply. Joining was no problem to her, as I'm sure she had little if any intention of ever being inside our church again. She placed no value upon joining our fellowship, and I think there are many like her sitting in our pews today. As one person has said, "Our churches are filled with 'rich young rulers."

The rich young ruler had come to Jesus wishing to be a follower, to join the crowd already surrounding Him. He was, as Havner says, a man of good character, good morals, and very affluent. Surely he would have supported Jesus' earthly ministry with generosity. In reply to Jesus' question as to whether he'd been keeping Jewish law, he quickly answered in the affirmative. He thought that should qualify him, but two perceptions remain, his, and the Lord's. Somehow, he knew his answers did not fully satisfy Jesus, so he asked Him what was missing. Jesus knew the answer. What Jesus knew was missing, his lack, was himself and his treasures. Christ required that if he were to come after Him, he must sell or give away all he had, and follow him. This the young man couldn't do. He would willingly join Jesus, he would not willingly surrender all he was and had to do so. How like him are you and I?

The church has done very well producing joiners. We are failing badly in producing disciples, and we must take responsibility for it. We need to confess that, repent of it, and begin anew to do so. In our zeal to get people into the church and Kingdom, we have, intentionally or not, put the very real cross centered requirements to do so on the very most "rear burner." We have good intentions. We believe that over time we will disciple them, but my experience is that we rarely do. The great lack of Scriptural knowledge and experience in the people making up our congregations is the proof. They're willing to join, but they are not willing to die. Not for Him, but even more, not to themselves. There is a lack in them. To what degree is the lack in us?

In His call Jesus made demands that Havner says, "demanded absolute obedience and unquestioned loyalty." He was not afraid to do this, but we are. I think we are past the time where we can continue to do so. Joiners will not be able to stand in the great shakings that are coming upon, and are upon the church. Only His disciples, armed with His Word and empowered by His Holy Spirit will. Will we, along with our marriages, families, and fellowships be standing with them?

Are you and I brave enough to ask our Lord what it is we still lack? What it is that keeps us from truly following after Him with all of our being? More, are we brave enough to hear His answer?

Blessings,

Pastor O