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Make Knowledge Useful
Asking the right questions is important in life. In whatever situation that we find ourselves there are questions that we must ask. Sincerely asking those questions is an indication that we desire to have results. However, let me be quick to add that it is just not enough to only ask questions. That means, we must not only be interested in knowing what we must do. What we do with the answers to our questions is what impacts our lives. Knowledge is important but knowledge that is not applied is of no relevance. We must go on to apply what we know. It is the application of what we know that sets the tone for our victories in life (see What It Means To Have Faith and Act Now: Knowing Is Not Enough).
Failure to ask the right questions and our inability to use the information we have are the reasons for which many waste their lives. Some wait for others to do things for them. Please keep in mind that no one can succeed in life by having to wait for others to do things for them. Fundamentally, we succeed in life because of the things we do personally and not because of what others do for us. Others may come in to help in one way or another. But, the extent to which an individual can excel in life largely depends on the person and no one else (see Success: What It Means To Bet On Yourself).
The Rich Young Ruler’s Quest To Have Eternal Life
Now a certain ruler asked [Jesus], saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.1 Luke 18:18-23, NKJV
A rich young ruler came to Jesus to ask one of the most critical questions of life. The man was interested in what he could do to have eternal life. I’m pretty sure that the man thought hard about this question and probably looked forward to the day that he would have the opportunity to ask Jesus. His desire to know the way to eternal life was remarkable. Nevertheless, his desire to have eternal life was not enough to secure it. Jesus told him the one thing that he needed to do but unfortunately he couldn’t do it.
Jesus provided him with the information that he needed after discerning that the man treasured his earthly possession more than anything else. The man trusted so much in his riches. Solomon explained, “He who trusts in his riches will fall”2 Proverbs 11:28, NKJV. For him to be a follower of Jesus, he needed to give up on his riches.
Are You Willing To Pay The Price?
Jesus told the man to go sell all that he had and give the proceeds to the poor. After that, he could come and follow Him. The moment the rich young ruler heard the words of Jesus, his countenance changed. Though he had desired to know what exactly to do in order to receive eternal life, he failed to apply the knowledge. His failure to apply what he heard was because he had put his trust in his riches. Jesus said, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”3Luke 12:34, NKJV. The instruction from Jesus was to ensure that the man’s heart was free from anything that could hinder his relationship with God. Jesus insisted, “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”4Luke 18:25, NKJV
The point is that a follower of Jesus cannot treasure anything aside from God. The man failed to understand this reality and some still don’t get it today. Please remember that Jesus will never lower that standard for anybody. We will all have to pay the same price for our relationship with God. The Scripture says, “For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God”5Exodus 20:5, NKJV. We cannot give our hearts to God and at the same time occupy our hearts with things that have no eternal value. The young rich ruler failed because he didn’t take the step that was necessary for him to receive eternal life as he had wished for (see Why Still Worry About Your Soul When Eternal Life Is Free?).
The Healing of Naaman
So [Naaman] went down and dipped seven times in the Jordan [river], according to the saying of the man of God [Elisha]; and his flesh was restored like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean. And he returned to the man of God, he and all his aides, and came and stood before him; and he said, “Indeed, now I know that there is no God in all the earth, except in Israel; now therefore, please take a gift from your servant.”62 Kings 5:14-15, NKJV
Naaman was a commander in the Syrian army but suffered from leprosy. When Elisha the prophet heard that Naaman had come to Israel to seek healing, Elisha sent for him. When Naaman got to the house of Elisha, the prophet didn’t come out to see Naaman. Rather, he sent his aide to tell Naaman to go and wash himself seven times in the Jordan river and he would be healed. Naaman was offended because the prophet didn’t come to see him. After all, he may have thought that Elisha is the one who requested for him to come so, at least, he should have come to see him personally; but he refused.
Naaman was not happy about washing in the Jordan river as he argued that Abanah and Pharpar, rivers of Damascus, were far better than the Jordan. Nonetheless, the prophet insisted he go and wash in the less admired Jordan. Naaman was just not interested in carrying out the instructions of the prophet. It took Naaman’s servants to encourage him to do what the prophet had said. When Naaman went to wash as directed by the prophet, he received his healing. The servants of Naaman did help him to obey the prophet but, ultimately, he had to follow the prescription given to be healed. He took responsibility for his life with the help of his servants. If Naaman had refused to wash in the Jordan river as instructed, he would have returned to Syria without receiving his healing. It would have been a waste of everyone’s time.
The Return of The Prodigal Son To His Father’s House
“But when [the prodigal son] came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’ “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’7Luke 15:17-21, NKJV
The prodigal son is an example of a person who came to the realization that a change in his situation rested on him, bearing in mind that his father had servants who had enough to eat. The prodigal son was candid with himself and understood that the earlier he returned to his father the better it would be for him. Finally, the prodigal son returned to his father’s house and his situation greatly changed.
He had to take the necessary steps after coming to the conclusion that he had committed a grave mistake in life by leaving his father’s house. No one advised him on what he needed to do, but I suspect his experiences were enough to highlight his next course of action. If he had refused to return to his father’s house, perhaps he would have died in the miserable situation that he found himself in; though his father was rich (see How To Respond To God’s Unfailing Love).
Asking The Right Questions Is Important
We must remember to ask questions in every facet of our lives. What must I do to grow as a Christian? How do I keep my marriage? What must I do to make my business grow? How can I grow my ministry? What must I do to develop my career or profession? How can I improve in terms of my academic work? Our desire to know what we must do is just the first step. This first step must be followed by another step where one takes other steps to secure the desired result. Taking responsibility for our lives is what changes everything about our situation. Failure to take the needed steps is an indication that we are comfortable with where we are. However, when we consciously take the necessary steps in life, we become geared to turn things around.
As believers, if we want to continually see the goodness of God, we must be willing to move. On the other hand, if we fail to take the needed steps in our lives, we can only blame ourselves for our failures. My prayer for you is that you will ask the right questions in every situation and you will go on to do what is expected of you in order to turn things around in your life.
Let’s keep the fire burning until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ!
References
- 1Luke 18:18-23, NKJV
- 2Proverbs 11:28, NKJV
- 3Luke 12:34, NKJV
- 4Luke 18:25, NKJV
- 5Exodus 20:5, NKJV
- 62 Kings 5:14-15, NKJV
- 7Luke 15:17-21, NKJV