We Are Rich, Young Rulers

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. "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. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (Mark 10:17-27 NIV)

The story of the rich young ruler has always fascinated me.  It is one of those Jesus interactions that cuts right to the bone.  It hits each of us where we live... in our wallets.  It is one of those Bible stories that you can study from several different angles.  It is one of those Bible stories that convicts.  For aren't each of us who have had a shopping cart in one hand and a debit card in the other a rich young ruler?  No, Jesus isn't talking to the American 1%.  He is talking to the world's 5%... and that includes you and me.

There are some tough words there for us.  Yes, we go to church regularly.  Yes, we love our neighbor  the best we can.  Yes, we give to charity regularly.  Yes, we tell others about our faith and invite them to church.  Yes, we read the Bible and pray regularly.  But Jesus tells us:  You lack one thing.

How does it make you feel?  Do you, like the rich young ruler, feel sad?  Why?

I can think of three different reasons the young man may have been sad:

1. He knew he couldn't part with his money.  He knows now that he puts his money ahead of God and he is unwilling to change that.
2. He is sad because life as he knows it is about to change.  He IS going to give away everything to follow Jesus, but he is going through a grieving process.  And he is sad because of all the wasted years he spent worshiping wealth instead of the One who truly gives abundant life.
3. He has been convicted.  He knows in his heart that Jesus is right, but he is not yet ready to let go of his money and possessions.  God will continue to work in his heart and eventually, the rich, young ruler will give it up and become the joyful child of God.

Jesus tells his disciples that it's nearly impossible for the rich to enter into eternal life and the disciples are flabergasted.  "Who, then" they ask Jesus "will enter the kingdom?"  Jesus tells them, "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."

I think this tells us that no matter how the rich, young ruler reacts, he will go to heaven, because God has made this possible for everyone.  But Jesus wants more for us.  He wants us to experience heaven on earth and we cannot do it if we are hoarding treasure and then spending  all our time and effort protecting it.  We must unclench our grip on what we believe is "mine."  It is all God's anyway.  And God is generous... even to the most undeserving.

Lord Jesus,
Convict us of the rich, young rulers that live in each of us.  We find so many ways to justify our greed.  Help us to let go.  Help us to use our wealth as a tool to further your kingdom on earth.  Amen.

Joys:  Both my granddaughters in my lap; a hike with Leila today!; looking forward to the changing leaves at South Mountain today.