If you were told exactly what to do to inherit eternal life, would you do it? In the case of the rich young ruler, he did not (Mark 10:17-25). As Jesus was preparing for a journey, the young man runs up to Jesus, bows and asks what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus responded with, seemingly, the standard answer, most of which was straight from the Ten Commandments. The young man’s response is intriguing. “And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up’” (Mark 10:20). He is saying that he is already doing those things. It makes me wonder why he even asked. It appears that something inside him knew that he needed to do more. Mark’s account tells us that Jesus, “looking at him, had love for him” (Mark 10:21). At this point, we do not know what Jesus was thinking. It could be the case that He was happy to be talking with someone who knew that there was more to serving God than just the outward show of righteousness.
The self-righteous acts of the religiously elite of the day drew a lot of negative attention from Jesus. “But woe to you Pharisees! For you pay tithe of mint and rue and every kind of garden herb, and yet disregard justice and the love of God; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others” (Luke 11:42). While righteousness does require obedience, it also requires a heart that is involved in the process. Paul mentions the same concept in his letter to the Corinthian church. “And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing” (1 Cor. 13:3). We can do all these things, but if we do not have the proper motivation, it means nothing.
In the case of the rich young ruler, his hang-up was money. Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mark 10:21). He was told exactly what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. He walked away sad because he had great wealth. Jesus uses the moment to warn His disciples about the love of money (1 Tim. 6:9-10). I find that really interesting considering Judas was in the crowd at that moment. He was pilfering the collection for the poor and would eventually betray Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. So, what we can take away from this event is that you can tell someone exactly what to do, and they will not do it. It comes down to what you love most. You cannot serve two masters (Matt. 6:24).
What is your one thing you need to let go of so you can serve God better?