Mark 10:17-22
In the story of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:17-22, we meet a man who thought he knew what he wanted. “How do I get eternal life?” He thought he had it in the bag because he had done everything right since childhood. He kept all the commandments, so surely he could inherit eternal life, right?
The Christian life isn’t about checking boxes, though. You can’t simply go through the motions and hope you’re “good to go.”
This man had something he cared about more than following Jesus: his wealth. Jesus’ asking him to go sell all his belongings and then follow Him lovingly showed this man that he had yet to surrender what was most important to him.
The rich young ruler couldn’t do it.
“What is it I want in this life?” That can be a pretty vague question. Maybe the more pointed way of putting it is, “What is it I have yet to surrender?”
What are you holding onto that is hard for you to let go of? What relationships, career paths, money transactions, or idols are you clinging to that are preventing you from fully surrendering to our Lord?
He wants you, your whole heart. If you choose Jesus over other things you might “want,” you will be able to obtain the one thing the rich young ruler never could: A life of abundance in Christ that leads to eternal life with Him.
Kim Freels
Digital Media Specialist