Day 177: Luke 18:18–21

“I have kept all these from my youth,” he said (v. 21).

Consider the abbreviated list of commandments Christ mentioned—each of which concerned man’s relationship with man—and then let’s play a game together. Take a look at each command the ruler claimed to have kept since boyhood. Give each a mental check mark for his probable obedience, or a mental X for those that seem a little less probable.

• “Do not commit adultery.” Okay, this one may have been a pretty easy check mark—that is, if he knew nothing about lust being the same thing as committing adultery in his heart (Matt. 5:27–28). Let’s give him a check mark here.

• “Do not murder.” Of course, there’s that little “anger” issue that Christ discussed in Matthew 5:21–22, but let’s go ahead and give him a check mark on this one, too.

• “Do not steal.” Maybe we’ve never mugged someone on the street or even swiped candy from the convenience store, but did we ever secretly defraud or steal anything of a less tangible nature from another person? Perhaps so. I’m still willing to give him a check mark, but let me just say I’m impressed!

• “Do not give false testimony.” This command is simple: never tell anything false or untrue. Any exaggeration would fall under the category of false testimony. Picture us at age seventeen, talking to our friends on the telephone, giving our version of this story and that. The rich young ruler’s protection may have been that he had never been a seventeen-year-old girl nor owned a phone. Hopefully he never had time to fish either. We can give him a check mark if he insists, but you better give me an X.

• “Honor your father and mother.” Let’s see. I hardly ever dishonored mine to their faces, but does it count if, behind their backs, I did a few things they told me not to do? Oops. Go ahead and give the wonder boy a check mark, but I get another X.

How did you fare? Shall we call you perfection personified? Or is your halo slipping a bit? As for me, am I thankful for a Savior! The rich young ruler needed one too. His good track record had certainly fogged up his mirror. Don’t get me wrong. I like him. I’m even impressed with him, but I’d rather be saved than be like him!