Hello and welcome to "A Word from the Vine." I’m Pastor Loren Christensen. Today, we’re getting to the heart of the matter in Jesus’ conversation with the rich young man. This is where things get real, folks. Jesus isn’t just interested in our actions; He’s after our hearts.
Our reading comes from Mark 10:21 - “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.’”
Jesus looks at the young man with love and tells him he lacks one thing: he needs to go, sell all that he has, give to the poor, and then follow Jesus. Jesus pinpoints the young man’s true idol—his wealth. He loves him enough to tell him the hard truth. The young man’s heart is tied to his possessions, and that’s what’s holding him back.
Where is your treasure? Is it in your bank account, your possessions, your status? Jesus is calling you to let go of these idols! He’s not asking for a little bit; He’s asking for everything. Are you willing to give it all up for Him? Are you willing to let go of your material possessions and fully surrender to Jesus? It’s not easy, but it’s necessary. Jesus is offering you something far greater than anything you can possess on this earth—eternal life. But you have to be willing to let go of your earthly treasures.
Let’s get real for a moment. We live in a materialistic society that bombards us with messages that we need more stuff to be happy. We’re constantly told that we need the latest gadgets, the biggest houses, the nicest cars. But Jesus is calling us to a different way of living. He’s calling us to find our treasure in Him, not in the things of this world.
Think about the story of Zacchaeus, the tax collector. He was a wealthy man who had gained his wealth through dishonest means. But when he encountered Jesus, his life was transformed. He willingly gave away half of his possessions to the poor and promised to repay anyone he had cheated four times over. His encounter with Jesus changed his heart and his priorities. He found his treasure in Jesus, not in his wealth.
Or consider the widow who gave her last two coins at the temple. She didn’t have much, but she gave all she had. Jesus praised her for her generosity and faith. She trusted God to provide for her needs and found her treasure in Him. We need to have that same kind of faith and trust in God. We need to be willing to let go of our material possessions and find our treasure in Jesus.
Jesus’ call to the rich young man was radical. He didn’t just ask him to give up a portion of his wealth; He asked him to give it all away. This wasn’t about the money itself; it was about the young man’s heart. Jesus knew that his wealth was his idol, the thing he trusted in more than God. And Jesus is asking us the same question today: What is your idol? What are you holding onto that’s keeping you from fully following Him?
Let’s take a moment to reflect. What are the things in your life that you’re holding onto too tightly? Is it your job, your house, your savings account? Jesus is calling you to let go of these things and trust Him completely. He’s calling you to find your treasure in Him, not in the things of this world.
Join me next time as we look at the young man’s response and what it means for us today. Reflect on where your treasure is and what you need to let go of. Ask yourself, "What is my idol?" and be honest with yourself. God bless.
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