How are we any different than the rich young ruler?

You might immediately have a response to the question, “How are we any different than the rich young ruler?”

“I’m definitely not rich!” you might say.

“I’m not young … not old, but not young,” some would respond.

“I don’t have a position of status or authority,” others would say.

Okay, we all have something that differentiates us from the rich young ruler, but I would suggest many of us have something profound we share with him.

First, we might need a reminder of just who this “rich young ruler” is that I’m referring to. Luke introduces us to him in Luke 18, starting with verse 18:

“Once a religious leader asked Jesus this question: ‘Good Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?'”

Now there’s a question that is not uncommon. Many people throughout human history have wanted to know the answer to that … and note, it seems to be something this “religious leader” didn’t have an answer for, or at least not a confident one. So let’s see what comes of his conversation with Jesus …

“‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus asked him. ‘Only God is truly good. But to answer your question, you know the commandments: “You must not commit adultery. You must not murder. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.”‘ The man replied, ‘I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.’ When Jesus heard his answer, he said, ‘There is still one thing you haven’t done. 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 man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich,” Luke 18:19-23.

It seems the rich young ruler had at least one thing more important to him than what Jesus suggested … his worldly riches. He just wasn’t willing to do what Jesus asked and give them up. Instead, he went away very sad.

Over the years, I’ve noted among circles of Christians that many tend to scoff at the response of the “rich young ruler.” But if Jesus told YOU to “Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me,” just how different would YOUR response be?

Several months ago I was listening to a lecture by Shane Wood, a bright young Bible scholar and professor at Ozark Christian College. Wood wondered allowed to his students that surely this one man — this rich young ruler — isn’t the only person Jesus would say this to. Surely there are many among us who really need to hear the same instruction!

Well, Jesus may or may not prompt you to specifically sell all your possessions, give that money to the poor, and then follow Him, but in a very real way, He has said something even more significant and all-encompassing to ALL of us:

“Then he said to the crowd, ‘If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are yourself lost or destroyed?” Luke 9:23-25.

In this statement, Jesus makes it clear that to be His disciple it isn’t just your riches you must give up; no, rather, He demands the entirety of our lives! if you think it’s a lot for Jesus to ask a rich person to give away all their worldly riches to follow Him, how do you respond to Jesus’ command that we surrender our “own way” and the entirety of our lives — “… give up your life for my sake …” — in order to be His disciple?

How have you responded?

Scotty