Several years ago there was an advertisement featuring John Houseman. In his stentorian tones he said, “Smith Barney gets money the old fashioned way. They earn it.” How American a concept. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. You have to earn everything. That captures the problem the rich, young man was having. He wanted eternal life, he wanted grace, he wanted God’s love but the thought he had to do something to earn it. He did not understand that you can’t earn God’s love. God gives it freely, without counting the cost. Give away everything that you rely on for your happiness and instead trust in God’s gift. He found it impossible to do so. Are we prepared to rely completely on God?
