What does everyone want/need and yet is not always is valued/welcomed? What is necessary to grow and still a drag around the neck? What in its best form is unconditional and yet will cost you everything?

He likely came to Jesus with an honest question. He was a “religious leader”, an in-the-inner-circle church guy well-known in the synagogue who made his yearly trips to the Temple on Passover. Possibly he was put-off by watching the pious, those who prayed too loudly thanking God they weren’t like other sinners. Maybe he couldn’t put his finger on it, but something in all those recited prayers and Jewish history wasn’t feeding his soul. 

So just ask it, just get to the core of what this was supposed to be about. First, he calls him “Good teacher.” Tell me, lead me, point me to what I’m yearning to know. You’ve shown how the established religious superiors are phonies, and I don’t like that club either. Take the scales off my eyes and help me see. 

“What should I do to get eternal life?” he asks. Jesus doesn’t like a suck-up. “Why do you call me good? Only God is truly good.” Jesus doesn’t buy into the good person thing. Interestingly, he almost begins to contradict himself. “As for your question, you know the commandments: Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not testify falsely. Honor your father and mother.” There he goes, quoting right out of the Book from the Big Ten, one law after another. But after all, the man's question had as its operative verb “do”. Do this and that and this here and keep going and then there are over 600 of these “do-s” and you’ve got it. Just like a scout earning merit badges, you’ll get to fly like an eagle, rather, an angel. Eternity is yours!

The man has heard it before, drilled into him since he was a kid. With a little disappointment because it’s nothing new, he replies, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was a child.” Really, is that all there is? If these laws give life, why do you think I even ask the question? I’ve been down this road, and I’m beginning to think it only goes to an eternal nowhere. 

Jesus had this insightful, irritating knack of taking people from their stated question, even those they think may be honestly asked, to their real question. Only real questions can have real answers. What does God want from me so I may have that sense of assurance that this life has meaning beyond the days we breathe? 

Jesus doesn’t call the man out, but with surgical precision he lasers in on the real issue. “There is still one thing you lack. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” You can almost hear the man gulp and gasp, hoping his heart wouldn’t stop beating. “But when the man heard this, he became sad because he was very rich.” (Luke 18:18-23)

“One thing you lack”? That’s a heck of a lot more than just one thing. Jesus, can you understand what it took to get me where I am? You want me to just throw it all away, give it to people who don’t know what to do with it anyway? You know, money does a lot of good for people, and since I’ve followed all those laws, then you know I’m a tither, full 10 percent, right off the top, not net, but gross, going to God. Without my work and investments things around the city and synagogue would fall fast. Jesus, I’ve always been the good kid, doing what’s 600 times and more the right thing and I’ve been hugely blessed for it. Furthermore, I can follow you better with both my influence and contributions of cash. We can work a deal here for the benefit of both our causes.

Whatever his thoughts were, he knew it wasn’t going to fly with Jesus. He desperately wanted an answer, but it wasn’t the answer he wanted. Jesus, why couldn’t you just tell him that everything was ok? God sees how hard he tries. When measured by both effort and adherence to the Law, he was a good man and should get his reward in heaven. Why make him give up all that he’d worked so hard to get for his religion, his family, his heritage? It just doesn’t add up to common sense. No, Jesus asked for the impossible, and so, the man is left with being sad, possibly sadder than before he came or had ever been in his entire life. 

In some way, he may have been poorer by his sadness than if he had sold it all and given it away.

 Jesus watched him go.

“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” It sounds pretty heartless, this comment Jesus made while the man walked away. As if the Law wasn’t hard enough to keep, Jesus brings up an image that most wouldn’t even try. Those gathered around knew about the Needle Eye gate in the city. It was low and narrow, too low for most of these huge, humped beasts to get through. For most, but if there was a camel herder who know how to lead the camels, a herder whom they trusted and whom they would follow, it could happen. So while some protested, “Then who in the world can be saved?” Jesus answered, “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.” (Luke 18:24-27)

It wasn’t totally about the money or about keeping the Law. Interestingly, the laws the man said he’d obeyed were not the ones he may have had real trouble keeping. Do not worship other gods. Do not make idols. Do not misuse the Lord’s name. Keep the Sabbath a day of rest dedicated to the Lord. (Exodus 20:3-11) 

Idols were not only pagan figures. You can make a god of anything that has control of your life. You’ll find yourself making excuses for what God requires of you, how you speak of him, and how you will set aside time for him. It becomes not so important. When Jesus asked the man to let it all go, he was asking him to remember what he was really doing. Being a “religious leader” was a professonal name only and not the passion of his heart.

Jesus watched him go. He makes a promise to the remnant that does stay to follow him. “Everyone who had given up house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid many times over in this life, as well as receiving eternal life in the world to come.” (Luke 18:29-30)

The man came to Jesus searching for a love from God that would hold him as a valued child and promise eternity. He wanted value in himself as a precious child so he could be loved as the man God created him to be. He needed an unconditional love because there was no way he could be good enough to have it otherwise. When for now he can’t relinquish that which enslaves him, wealth and all it brings to him, he walks. Jesus’ requirement to him is not what he wanted to hear, it’s too heavy a burden, carries too costly a price even for a man who has much. 

Jesus watched him go but did not let him go. No, he did not chase after him, ask to get together to have some private sessions, discuss this without the crowd around. There was no pleading and certainly no offer to change his terms. 

Jesus watched him go because he loved the man enough to let him go, to make his choice if not now, then whenever he would. This very rich, very sad man was let go so God could do the impossible in him, bless him richly with a heart only for Jesus.