The Rich Young Ruler and Me

Luke 18:18-23

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, 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 commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'"

"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.

When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have an give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy.

Jesus has spoken to my heart today. Weird to hear, right? Even weirder (Is that a word?) to say.  I'm going to say it anyway. Because He did.

It's simple really. The man in the story was a good man. He followed all the commands he had been taught since he as a boy. Jesus tells him that if he really wants to know God, he has to sell all his possessions and follow Him. The man leaves because, frankly, he liked Jesus, but he liked his stuff more. His stuff was so important to him. After years of hearing lessons and devotionals about how this is a lesson for all of us, making sure we are willing to give all our possessions up for Jesus if he asked us and after reading books and articles about the shame Jesus put on this man because he was unwilling to give up his wealth, the logical conclusion we're supposed to draw is that everyone should sell everything (or at least the "extra" wealth we don't need to make sure we're comfortable and secure financially) and go follow Jesus.

I don't think this story is to bring shame on the wealthy man. It isn't some universal lesson about how Christians shouldn't be wealthy. I dare say, this story is not about the poor. This story is about Jesus. It is Jesus revealing what gives this man security and purpose. He is exposing this man's identity. I think the real purpose of this story is not money or possessions or even what we hope for. It's about our pride. He asks for us to give up that thing we're so proud of, that thing we believe causes us to matter in the eyes of the world (and ourselves!). Give it up and follow HIM! Give it up and let HIM define who we are.

This story is so much easier to read and think about when it's about wealthy people giving up money. Isn't it? It's so much easier to read when we don't actually have to do anything different, and we "choose" Jesus in our words. I do that. I choose Jesus in my words, and then go right back to serving the thing that controls my thoughts and actions. 

Jesus spoke to my heart today. This story is just another beautiful way Jesus has revealed His purpose for me - to let HIM define me.