Rich, Religious Ruler

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” . . . Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Matthew 19:16, 21-22

THE YOUNG MAN who came to Jesus with a question appeared to have everything our culture says we should want for our children. He was rich, he was religious, and he was a ruler. He had plenty of resources to finance a comfortable lifestyle, he had plenty of morality and religiosity to engender the respect of others, and he had plenty of authority to use to exert his will over others. Not only that, he asked good questions.

He wanted to know what he needed to do to get eternal life. Everything else in his life seemed to have been so manageable, so attainable. And it can seem that way to our kids, who are constantly told by our culture that they can be anything they want to be and accomplish anything if they believe in themselves and go after their dreams.

Jesus offered this young man the opportunity of a lifetime when he told him to let go of the worldly wealth and powerful position that had such a grip on his heart so that he could follow after Jesus. But the man went away sad, unwilling to surrender it all. Imagine all the amazing experiences this wealthy young ruler missed out on by holding on to his possessions —the joy of being with Jesus, being taught by Jesus, being used by Jesus. What a tragedy to be large and in charge but to miss out on rich relationship with Christ and life lived under the authority of Christ.

Lord, save me from settling for the American dream for ________. I don’t want ________ to follow after a dream of financial security or privilege. I want ________ to be rich —rich in a reward that he can never lose, rich in relationship with you. I want ________ to rule —not over men and millions in this world, but as a coheir and co-ruler with you in the new heavens and new earth. I want ________ to be religious —to have a pure and genuine religion in your sight, caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt him.