As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the 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.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. Mark 10:17-21a NIV
What was the one thing that was keeping this young man from securing eternal life in heaven, what did he lack?
It wasn’t a lack of riches, for the passage tells us he had great wealth.
It wasn’t a lack of Biblical knowledge, for Jesus acknowledged that he knew the commandments.
It wasn’t a lack of righteousness, for the man had kept all the commandments since he was a young boy.
It wasn’t a lack of humility, for it says that he fell on his knees before Jesus.
It wasn’t a lack of desire, for he ran up to Jesus, eager to find the answer.
It wasn’t a lack of acceptance from God, for it states that Jesus loved him.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10:21b-22 NIV
What the man lacked was the willingness to let go of everything else and simply follow Jesus. Jesus gave him a personal invitation to come and follow Him, and the man chose instead to continue doing his own thing, simply because he didn’t want to give up the wealth he had acquired! He was smart enough to know that wealth could not help him in eternity, but he wouldn’t let it go.
Being wealthy was not the problem, and the point of this passage is not that Christians can’t have wealth. The problem was the value the man placed on material things. He wanted to be rich more than he wanted to follow Jesus. Wealth had become his top priority. Following Jesus must be our top priority.
Jesus gives every one of us the same invitation, an offer put Him first, to journey through life with Him in the lead. His offer includes abundant life here on earth, and the promise of eternal life. There is nothing more valuable than following Jesus, nothing that brings more satisfaction.
Is God your number one priority?