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MAURICE
REUBEN OF PITTSBURGH – The Rich Young Ruler of the 20th Century
Matt. 19: 16- 26 Amp
16 And someone came to Him and said,
“Teacher, what [essentially] good thing shall I do to obtain eternal life [that
is, eternal salvation in the Messiah’s kingdom]?” 17 Jesus answered, “Why are you
asking Me about what is [essentially] good? There is only One
who is [essentially] good; but if you wish to enter into eternal life,
keep the commandments.” 18 He said to Jesus, “Which commandments?”
And Jesus answered, “You shall not
commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall
not give false testimony; 19 Honor your
father and mother;
and love your neighbor as yourself” [that
is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for others]. 20 The young man said to Him, “I have kept
all these things [from my youth]; what do I still lack?”21 Jesus answered him, “If you wish
to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly
character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you
have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in
heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting
in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” 22 But when the young man heard this, he
left grieving and distressed, for he owned much property and had
many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God].
23 Jesus said to His disciples, “I
assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is difficult for a
rich man [who clings to possessions and status as security] to enter
the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a
camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places
his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they
were completely [c]astonished and bewildered,
saying, “Then who can be saved [from the wrath of God]?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said,
“With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but
with God all things are possible.”
- Maurice Reuben was
a Messianic Jew who lived in America.
- He belonged to a
wealthy Jewish family and had the best the world could give him
- He was a director
of Solomon and Reuben, one of the largest stores of Pittsburgh.
Everything seemed to be going on well
with this ‘rich young ruler’ before he asked one of his regular buyers whose
life put him under deep conviction: ‘You must have been born happy’, to which
the customer replied, ‘. “Yes, in my second birth. I
accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and was born of God. In my first birth I was no
happier than you!”
Reuben was so moved by this testimony that he
bought a New Testament, and there he was impressed with the fact that all those
who followed Jesus were Jews: John the Baptist pointing to Him as the Lamb of
God; Peter, James and John, the chief disciples; and to a Jew the Saviour had
said, “On this rock will I build My Church.” Then he came to the story of the rich young ruler. It was
a dramatic moment — a rich Jew of the twentieth century and under conviction,
reading of the Saviour’s dealings with a rich Jew of the first century! The way
that Reuben saw it was that if Jesus had told that young man to sell all to
inherit eternal life, how could he, Reuben, inherit the same gift, unless on
the same condition? It was his supreme test. If he became a disciple, he knew
that he too stood to lose all. But it
was too late to go back; he had seen it, and he must follow;
Reuben faced it fairly and squarely and counted the
cost. His wife might leave him, his brother put him out of the business, and
not a single Jew follow him, but he had made up his mind; if he lost
everything, he meant to do it.
(Let us pause for a brief moment of reflection here: There is a cost for
following Jesus, have you counted the cost? Are you prepared to lose everything
for HIM? – Luke 14: 26-33)
Then one day, on the way to the store, Reuben
heard a voice repeating to him the words of John 14:6: “I am the way, the
truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” The truth
flashed upon him — he accepted Christ and entered into life that moment, he
then told his brother and others. According to his father’s will he was to
forfeit every penny if he changed his religion, but his brother offered to give
him $70,000 — his share of the business — if he would cross U.S.A. and retire
in Montana. But Reuben replied, “I have had the light in Pittsburgh, and I am
going to witness in Pittsburgh.”
Late that Saturday night detectives came and
took him to the police station. On Monday two doctors visited his cell and
asked him about the voice he had heard. “Do they question my sanity?” he
thought.
Two hours later warders came from the asylum and
took him to a room where there were twenty-nine mentally deranged people. The
bitterness of his position overcame him. He had victory in the lock-up, but this
seemed more than he could bear. He fell on his knees by his bed and poured out
his heart to the Lord. He did not know how long he was there, but he seemed to lose himself, and a vision of Calvary
appeared to him. He said he witnessed every stage of the crucifixion. He forgot
his own sufferings in the sufferings of the Saviour, and as he gazed on the
Cross, the Master Himself said to him, “And must I bear the Cross alone, and
all the world go free?” From a broken heart Reuben answered, “No. There’s a cross
for everyone, and there’s a cross for me.”
From that hour he was a new man. Instead of
complaining at being in the asylum, he began to pray for the other twenty-nine,
and to the Saviour he said, “Let me suffer for You. Whatever You allow me to go
through, I will never complain again.”
(Pause: Think of people going through whatever
challenge you might be facing right now and spend a moment to forget about
yourself and pray for them)
Two weeks later, Reuben’s brother came to see
him, and reproached him for his folly in getting himself into such a place.
“Why won’t you be wise?” he said. “Get out of here and go to Montana.” “Does
that offer still stand? Then it is not a medical condition but something else
that is keeping me here!” said Reuben with all the keenness of his logical
mind.
Some Christian friends he was in touch with
caused inquiries to be set on foot. In six weeks his release was procured. It
became a court case, and the test was on the voice.
The judge called the doctor and asked why this
man had been certified as insane. “Because he heard a voice,” said the doctor.
“Didn’t the Apostle Paul hear a voice?” countered the judge, who was a
Christian man. “This is a disgrace to the American flag,” and he told Reuben to
prosecute everyone who had anything to do with it.
“I shall never prosecute one,” answered Reuben,
“but I will do one thing — I will pray for them.” He crossed the court and
offered his hand to his brother, but he turned his back on him. He went to his
wife, but she did the same. But what a victory he had in his own soul!
He rented a small room in Chicago, where he
lived alone with the Lord and won many converts, though for two years he hardly
ever had a square meal. A year later his wife came to hear him in a camp
meeting and was converted, and for the first time he saw his little boy who had
been born after his wife had left him. She was willing to make her home with
him again, if only he would earn a living as other Christians did. His heart
went out to his little boy, and this test was even greater than the first. Her
request seemed so reasonable, but he knew that the Lord had called him from the
world into this life of faith. He pleaded with the Lord, but the only reply he
received was, “Back to Egypt!”
It was enough, and once more Reuben embraced the
Cross. He went to see his wife and child off; it was a costly experience; but
as the train steamed out of the station it seemed that God poured the joy of
heaven into his soul. He literally danced on the platform. He did not see his
wife for another three years. Then, in another camp meeting, she too had a
revelation of the Cross, as a result of which she testified, that whereas
before as a believer she had not been willing to share the sacrificial life of
her husband, if it would be for God’s glory, she would now be willing to beg
her bread from door to door. They were reunited and she became a wonderful
co-worker with him in his ministry.
LET US PRAY:
- Mark 8: 22-25: 22 Then they came to Bethsaida; and some people brought a
blind man to Jesus and begged Him to touch him. 23 Taking the
blind man by the hand, He led him out of the village; and after spitting on his
eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked
up and said, “I see people, but [they look] like trees, walking around.” 25 Then again
Jesus laid His hands on his eyes; and the man stared intently and [his sight]
was [completely] restored, and he began to see everything clearly.
- Dear
Lord, thank You, I have seen something (still seeing) since You brought me to
Calvary. Like Maurice REUBEN I cannot go back now, I have seen it and I must
follow on.
- Thank
You Lord, for the evacuation of my old man at Calvary. I have seen that at least
and it’s glorious.
- Thank
You for taking Your abode inside of me, and the decluttering that You are
effecting inside my vessel to make it meet for Your ultimate use.
- But
LORD, I need a second touch, a fresh revelation of Calvary. Let me witness
every stage of Your crucifixion, let me ‘see’ and have a fellowship of Your
suffering henceforth without complaining. All the heroes of faith SAW something
that I must see.
- Dear
Lord, please forgive me for all the missed opportunities to bear my cross –
complaining and seeking pity during moments of discomfort (lack, loss, etc), mistaking
such encounters as ‘enemies’ troubling my life. (Read ‘The Price, Plight and Perils of the Anointed’ by Gbile Akanni.)
- Lord, I am ashamed of some of the contents of my prayers….. how I have grieved Your
heart those moments You sent me grace to embrace the Cross. Please forgive me,
I repent very deeply for my foolishness today.
- You must not bear the Cross alone LORD, there is a CROSS
for me.
Lord,
when You came into Reuben, You became his wife, son, store, riches and the
world. I embrace You today as my EVERYTHING!!! MARANATHA!!!!
