“Teacher,” he declared, “all these [Commandments] 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. – Mark 10: 20-22
Mark tells of an encounter that Jesus had with a rich young man one afternoon who was seeking an answer to an urgent question: “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
What a terrific question! And perhaps THE most important question posed in all of the New Testament! And who better to ask than Jesus himself?!
Initially, the young fella seems confident that he has done everything right, keeping the commandments since he was a child. In his mind, he’s ticked all the boxes. But Jesus sees something deeper, something missing. “One thing you lack,” Jesus says.
The man lacked surrender. His possessions, though not inherently bad, had become his treasure – his security. Jesus wasn’t condemning his wealth, but he was pointing out that it was the one thing standing between him and a fully committed relationship with God. The young man’s identity and security were tied to what he owned, and he couldn’t let it go. How devastating that decision was for the young man, and how heartbreaking that moment must’ve been for Jesus!
Jesus’ words to the man are a challenge to us, too. What is the “one thing” we lack? It might not be wealth for all of us, but it could be something else – an attachment, a habit, or a relationship that holds too much sway in our hearts. Jesus is asking for our full devotion, and that means being willing to surrender anything that gets in the way of following Him.
The young man walked away sad because he couldn’t bring himself to release what he had but could never keep, for something far greater that he could never lose – eternal life.
Ask yourself today: What is the one thing I lack? What am I holding on to that prevents me from fully following Christ? It may be hard to let go, but Jesus promises something far greater than anything we could ever give up.
Today’s Prayer: Lord, help me to recognize anything that stands between you and me. Give me the courage to let go and trust you fully, knowing that the treasure you offer is far more valuable than anything this world has to offer. Amen.
Former Blackout Artist 