Rich Young Ruler
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 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.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it isto enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
– Mark 10:17-27
This passage has always been a great challenge – but I always wondered how could someone whom “Jesus looked at him and loved him” could have walked away from God. This rich young ruler really missed the mark – I thought to myself, I could never walk away from you, Jesus! But then, in only the way the Holy Spirit can, I felt the Lord say, “you are the rich young ruler”.
Rich?
Justus always asks me, “Daddy, are you rich”? And I always say yes! We lack nothing and have unimaginably more than what we could have asked or wished for.
Young?
I am turning 40 soon – am I young? I guess so, thanks God!
Ruler?
I am no ruler! Oh wait, I have a leadership assignment over Lifespring and over the business. I am a ruler.
That makes me a RICH YOUNG RULER. UH OH!
If God asked of my everything, would I oblige or would I walk away sad? If I was trying to be obedient to God, I think I would walk away sad. But if God was LORD (the owner of everything), then I believe I would give everything. It is a subtle difference, but the difference changes the result.
A couple of years ago, we had a staff steal from us. It was clear, it was obvious, and it was a young Christian lady.
If anyone has been stolen from, you know that it feels like a violation. I felt violated and I was ready to go to war! I wanted to report, detain, and get justice! I wanted to do everything we could to get back at her. But I knew everything I was thinking was not from a good place – so I stopped and did listening prayer. I asked the Lord, “what do I do with this thief? Should I try to get her arrested or should I just pursue her in legal means?”
Then the Lord spoke. He reminded me that grace received should be grace given. He reminded me that God chooses who He gives grace to, not me. I was furious and I was reluctant. I wrestled with God, “she stole from me! I need retribution”! And God had to correct me, He asked me, “did she steal from you? Or did she steal from ME?”
This revealed my heart. I have always desired to run the business and steward it for the King. But my response made it clear, the business was MINE and not the Lord’s. This had to be corrected.
In a Kingdom, there is no private ownership. Everything in the earth is God’s. When we claim it as our own, we become Lord and master. But there can only be one master.
I believe this is where God is guiding us. Listen well, obey quickly must evolve to Lordship.
Obedience is a decision, Lordship is simply, yes and amen.
Maturity requires obedience. Fruitfulness requires Lordship.
Abraham was going to sacrifice Isaac, no questions asked. Abraham understood Lordship. Jesus went to the cross willingly – crying out “not my will but Yours be done.” Jesus understood Lordship. Paul walked into his own martyrdom – fully knowing about his impending death. Paul understood Lordship.
The rich young ruler face fell and went away sad – God was saviour, but not yet Lord – he did not understand Lordship.
The deceitfulness of wealth is a real threat to fruitfulness. But the antidote to the deceitfulness of wealth is Lordship. We will not need to hold, own, and store anything if we understand that the Lord owns everything. If our Father in Heaven owns it all, storing for ourselves is meaningless.
Father God in Heaven, we love and thank you for your grace and mercy. You are an amazing saviour who has rescued us, but today we want to make you more than saviour, we want to make you LORD and saviour. Search us for any unclean way and lead us in the way everlasting. If there are any areas in which we have made ourselves Lord, show us and correct us so that nothing can stop us from being fruitful for Your Name’s Sake. Amen.