Mark 10:17-22

In the encounter Jesus has with this young ruler we find a man who looks to have everything going for him. From an outsiders view could life be much better? He has health, wealth, social standing, and intelligence and yet he is still searching for answers.

What are the things we tend to as a society to look for as answers to a happy life?

When you think of a person who has it all who do you think of and what are things about them that give people that impression?

If you had the opportunity to ask Jesus anything what would your question have been?

In the text it says that after the beginning of the conversation verse 21 Jesus looks at him and loved him. Jesus didn’t seem to be disappointed or frustrated with him but instead had love for the young man that just didn’t get the reality that knowing in the mind and all the grooming was not enough. Knowing God’s word and being a good person still fell short.

Jesus understood there could not be anything put before our love and dependance on God. Jesus offers him an incredible opportunity to come into the inner circle and come to know God in a whole new level. We are offered the same thing even today. However the same condition applies. To have the relationship Christ offers we have to put God first and trust in him.

The ruler was asked to give up what was holding him back. Unfortunately his love for wealth was enough to have him walk away. The thing we need to self examine is if we were with Christ in that conversation what would he ask us to give up? Would we be able to give it up and experience a whole new level of faith or would we just walk away saddened?

Take time to pray for the strength to say yes to Christ and not look back at what the world says we are leaving but what God says we are gaining.