17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:17-22, NKJV

We refer to this man as the “Rich Young Ruler” because of the composite information we gather from the accounts in the synoptic gospels. Matthew tells us he was “young” (Matt. 19:20, 22). Luke tells us he was a “ruler” (Luke 18:18). All three accounts tell us he was rich or had great possessions.

This young man came running to Jesus, knelt before Him, and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. By running to Jesus, this man showed that his request was urgent. Unlike many others, his request was spiritual rather than physical. In kneeling before Jesus, he showed that he understood who Jesus was. This man was not testing Jesus. He was sincere.

Jesus turned the man’s attention to God’s law. He responded that he had kept all the commandments from his youth. Jesus did not challenge his claim, but revealed the one thing he was lacking. “Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (v. 21).

Jesus said this to the young ruler because He loved him. Although he was keeping God’s commandments, Jesus could see that his possessions were really what was most important to him, and his love for these possessions would keep him from inheriting eternal life. It is important to remember that this instruction was for this man. Jesus does not require everyone to sell everything they have to be His disciples. However, He would have us part with anything we value more than God.

Upon hearing these words, the young man went away sorrowful because he was unwilling to part with his possessions. Jesus used this as an opportunity to teach about the dangers of riches (Mark 10:23-31). He said, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!” He then emphasized this truth by stating that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom (vs. 24). The disciples were astonished at His sayings. In that culture, when a righteous person was wealthy, they were viewed as being blessed by God and thus acceptable to God.

Peter let the Lord know that he and the other apostles were not like the young man who had just departed. They had already left everything to follow Him. Jesus assured Peter that those who sacrifice all they have to follow Him will not lose their reward. Those who leave their families, possessions, comforts, livelihoods, etc., for the Lord’s sake, will receive a hundred-fold in this age, along with persecution, and in the age to come – eternal life.

What kinds of things are getting in the way of your service to the Lord? Do you have your heart set on the physical things of this world or on your home in heaven?