Simple Living (A Rich Young Man)

A rich young man came to ask of Christ
“Good teacher, will you tell me
What must I do for eternal life?
I’ve kept your laws completely.”
“Sell all you have, give to the poor,
Then heaven’s treasure shall be yours.”
How hard for those who are rich on earth
To gain the wealth of heaven.

Now Jesus sat by the off’ring gate
As people brought their money:
The rich they filled the collection plate;
The widow gave a penny.
“Now she’s outgiven all the rest -
Her gift was all that she possessed.”
Not what you give but what you keep
Is what the King is counting.

O teach me Lord to walk this road,
The road of simple living;
To be content with what I own
And generous in giving.
And when I cling to what I have
Please wrest it quickly from my grasp
I’d rather lose all the things of earth
To gain the things of heaven

(/edit)

I just realized this song is based on Matthew 19, and this makes it even more beautiful :)

Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”

So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”

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 witness’, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Then the young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

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.”

But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

- Matthew 19:16-22