You Lack One Thing

Mk. 10: 21-22

And Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him, You lack one thing:go sell att that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow me. Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

This rich young man was very moral, disciplined, and had great insight. By his calling Jesus Good Teacher, was he revealing his understanding of who Jesus was? Could he could see the godlike qualities that Jesus possessed? Did he know that no one else but God, or the Son of God, could do such things? Anyway, as the conversation progressed, he asked what he could do to inherit eternal life? First Jesus talked about the commandments, commandments which this man had kept from his youth up. Did Jesus bring these up first to reveal his true heart condition? Was Jesus showing him practically that a self-righeous life style meant nothing if the heart was not right? So when Jesus asked him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, he couldn't. Jesus revealed to him his love of money and possession, and perhaps the status that went with those things. In Mt.6:24 Jesus said, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the others. You can't serve God and money. This was the crux of his dilemma, and he made his choice. He opted for money at the cost of his eternal salvation. All his self-righteousnes was for nothing lasting. It only gave him a reputation in this life. I wonder if years down the road when his life was hollow and empty, or even when death came for him, would he remember this conversation? Would he regret his choice?

Father,
I see how hard it is even for someone who is not rich, to sell all. How tight my hold is on the few things that I possess. Loosen my grip and help me be generous and follow you even in this.
In Jesus name,
Amen