Believers Health

ARROGANCE or WEALTH

THE RICH YOUNG RULER
PSYCHOLOGICALLY REVISITED
By Rolando Suffos

Unfortunately, this story seems to have nothing to do with me, at least financially. Born, raised and living in Cuba, to be rich has always been out of the picture. Surprisingly, it was written for me. As I have learned a lot from this case described almost 2000 years back by both Mathew and my medical colleague, Luke, I would like to share some “clinical comments”.

According to Matthew 19:16-22: “Now behold, one came and said to him, ‘Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?’ ” Here we have a man trying to get salvation doing a “good thing”. Probably we also have some experience on this subject. “17 So He said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? None is good, but one, that is, God.’ ” If there is only one good and that one is God, then there is no human good enough as to reach eternal life. “18 He said to him, ‘Which ones?’ Jesus said, ‘ “You shall not murder,” “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false testimony,” 19 “Honor your father and your mother,” and, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ’ ” Most religious people would think they fulfill those commandments mentioned in verses 18 and 19a. But, that “and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” is something different. At least for my instincts this one is far beyond human capabilities. But, to our surprise, we find out that, “20 the young man said to him, ‘All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?’ ” Evidently the young ruler didn't recognize any moral difference between his person and the Divinity. At the same time he was saying that Christ was lying: there were at least two good ones, God, and he himself.

In his human aspect Jesus was not a speaking statue whose flat uncolored words could be foreign to the psychological strategy required by these particular circumstances. So, Christ’s next expressions skillfully opened the way to prove this man that his attempts to gain eternal life through works were mistaken. “21 Jesus said to him, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’ ” What is more, they deflated that balloon in which our young ruler had ascended to heights of absolute justification.

“22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” Had this potentate really loved his neighbor as himself, Christ’s proposal would have meant no impossible sacrifice for him. When he went away such attitude exposed two facts. One is that he didn't love his neighbor as he had said, the other, his false testimony: his words had implied he would do something he didn't really have any intention of accomplishing.

Eternal life cannot be earned by law keeping. It is not wealth but arrogance what hinders the entrance of the affluent in the Kingdom of Heaven. This opinion stems from the parable itself and from the answer Jesus gives to a very human concern raised by Peter. Luke 18: 28-30 relates: “28 then Peter said, ‘See, we have left all and followed You.’ 29 So He said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents, or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life.’ ”

It is then clear for a medical doctor –not young, not rich, and not a ruler– that Jesus came to bring men salvation without reducing them to poverty in the process. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever [rich or poor] believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

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Copyright © 2008 Rolando Suffos.  All rights reserved.