“Now when Jesus heard these things, He said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me” (Luke 18:22).

The rich young ruler was following the formula for success—obeying the law. His goal was eternal life, but somehow he felt frustrated with the prescription for attaining the prize! In coming to Jesus, he felt that he would have the answer to what was missing in his strategy. He was right, for Jesus looked beyond the letter of the law and revealed the intent of the law—total submission to the will of God.

Jesus saw and revealed the deficiency in the ruler’s behavioral program. It was not a chaste life, nor care for human life that were missing in his practice. He had not taken anything unlawfully, spoken lies about others, nor been callous toward his parents. Rather, he had somehow reserved his wealth from his commitment to God. This was an error of judgment as to whom this wealth belonged. “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine” (Exodus 19:5).

Very simply He stated the need in this man’s life—“sell all that you have, give the proceeds to the needy, and I will see to it that your heavenly account will be enriched. Then, commit your path to me.” This transaction for the rich young ruler would have been the miracle of conversion not unlike passing a camel through a needle’s eye (v.25), an impossible task for a man, but “things which are impossible with men are possible with God” (v.27). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). What lack keeps us from God’s fullest blessing? KBC