And Went Away Grieved: For He Had Great Possessions

Mark 10:17,19-22, “And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?…Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”

This rich man came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus starts talking about the law. However, he never mentions that keeping the law is what would get him to Heaven. Jesus does not talk to the young man about eternal life. He talks to him about becoming a follower of Christ.

There was one thing that his man lacked. He let his possessions get in the way of following the Lord. This is a big problem in today’s world. Too many people are letting their things get in the way of serving God and following Him. We are not to lay up treasures here on earth. We ought to lay up treasure in Heaven. Matthew 6:19-21, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

I believe that God would rather us be poor on earth and rich in Heaven than rich on earth and poor in Heaven. That does not mean that we have to live a life where we lack necessities. It means that we should not be so materialistic that it gets in the way of us serving the Lord. The rich man in the passage above allowed his possessions to hinder him in following the Lord. Let’s not be like him. Let us place serving and following the Lord above the possessions of life.