You might be thinking yes, but so was this man. Like the rich young ruler, would we give away everything we have to follow Jesus?
Defeated and empty, exchanging one Person for one thing that won't really matter in the end. Today, I fear that many people walk away from the same beautiful hope the rich young man gave up on. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, 'How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God'” ( Mark 10:21-23, NIV).ĭidn't the rich man realize he didn't need to do anything? He simply needed to give his all to Jesus. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then come, follow me.' At this the man’s face fell. 'Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Yet Jesus looked at him with love and noted one small problem: one thing. Boasting and bragging a little, I am sure. “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy” ( Mark 10:20, NIV). The rich ruler awaits a list he thinks he has already mastered, but in reply, Jesus lists off six commandments: "You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother" ( Mark 10:19b, NIV). He itches to possess something that cannot be taken from him, and so he asks the simple question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" ( Mark 10:17b, NIV, emphasis added). In Mark chapter 10, beginning at verse 17, Jesus meets a rich young ruler who wants to know how he can achieve eternal life. While many of us would like to think that Jesus is our "One" we focus on more than all the others, the parable of the rich young man and Jesus tells another story that hits a bit too close for home.