It has been said that relationships are like breakfast. The chicken makes a contribution but the pig is committed. Sometimes we enter into those relationships willing to make a contribution. But when it comes to our relationship with Jesus Christ, we must remember that He is committed, and He’s asking the same of us.
In Matthew 19, a young man comes to Jesus. Apparently, he’s looking for the details on what it takes to receive eternal life. It’s a semilar question to what you probably have asked a teacher before. I asked it one or two times. “Teacher, what is the absolute minimum that I have to do to pass this class?”
He actually asks, “What good thing must I do?” It’s almost like he’s asking for an extra credit project. “I know I bombed this class, and here we are at the end, perhaps… is there something, anything I can do that will help my case?”
So when Jesus replies to him, “There is only One who is good.” He is looking forward, for we know what this man did not: that Jesus would ultimately do for this man the one good thing he asked about. The one good thing that allows us to receive this eternal life is Jesus’ own willingness to give up everything. To die for us. To commit.
But the man pushes for clarity, and Jesus gives him a list: murder, adultery, theft, perjury, that bit about paying attention to what your parents say, and the sort-of-all-inclusive love-your-neighbor-as-yourself thing.
“Oh really, is that it?” asks the rich young ruler. “Because I’ve been keeping all of those. Is there anything else?” Which is where Jesus makes His point about the one thing he knew this man held on to tightest.
It wasn’t a sin to be rich, although we don’t know how he got rich. It wasn’t a sin to have nice things, apparently he had a lot of nice things. But this rich young ruler held his wealth, his possessions, in a higher place than the call of God. And that’s a sin.
“Go,” Jesus says, “and sell all your possessions—have a great big garage sale, advertise it in the paper: everything must go; nothing held back. Then take all the money and give it away.”
You see, in Mark 1:15, Jesus called people to repent and believe. In Mark 5:36, He said, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” In Mark 16:16, He says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.” In John 6:29, Jesus says the work of God is simply to believe the one that God sent.
But when the rich young ruler came to Jesus, we learned that God is not just looking for believers. James 2:19 says that even the demons are believers. No, if the king says go, you go.
If the king says go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor, you go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor.
If the king says go to Azerbaijan because there’s people there without the Good News, you go to Azerbaijan and you preach the Good News.
If the king says call your wife and say you’re sorry and work things out, then you buy her a bouquet of flowers and you go home on your lunch break and you say you’re sorry and you work things out.
You see, God is not looking for believers; He’s looking for followers willing to follow the King Jesus wherever He goes.
“That’s all,” Jesus said. “Just that little thing. If you do that, you’ll get what you’re asking for. And when you’re willing to commit, then come and follow me.”
When Jesus responds to this man, He is not primarily asking him to sell stuff and give away money. He is asking him to come and follow. He knows that with one hand held firmly around his anchor of worldly possessions, he can follow nowhere. What Jesus is asking for is undivided loyalty, full-hearted obedience, total commitment.
What are you holding on to?