Jesus and the rich man

Mark 10:17-31 (New Living Translation)

17As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18“Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”

20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”

21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

26The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.

27Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

28Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.

29“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”

What is the most difficult thing Jesus could ask you to give up?

This young man wanted to be sure He would get eternal life, so He asked what He could do. He said he'd never once broken any of the laws Jesus mentioned, but Jesus lovingly broke through his pride with a challenge that brought out his true motives: "sell all you have and give the money to the poor." Here was the barrier that could keep this young man out of the kingdom: his love for money. Money represented his pride of accomplishment and self-effort. Ironically, the young man's attitude made him unable to keep the first commandment, to let nothing be more important than God (Exod. 20:3). He could not meet the one requirement Jesus gave--to turn heart over to God. The man came to Jesus wondering what he could do; he left knowing what he was unable to do. What barriers are keeping you from turning your life over to Christ?