Our little Jonah is Tigger personified—a bouncy and sweet, rambunctious five-year-old. That means that at our house, there’s usually some kind of ball being thrown somewhere. With our high living room ceilings, the constant air assault, and the dodging, our house can feel a lot like a middle school gym class.
One ball has always been Jonah’s favorite: a foam mini football. He threw it so often that it ripped and busted out of its fabric casing. Jonah didn’t care. He kept throwing it until it was just an oblong sphere of stuffing barely holding together. For months, he refused to throw anything else.
Throwing and bouncing and catching is Jonah’s love language. One day, I decided to embrace it full force. You know those huge bouncy balls from big box stores, the ones in bins at the end of the aisle? I got him one. I got him the biggest, 18-inch, bright red, nearly-half-his-size ball.
I didn’t think a little face could contain that much joy. He’s since played with it for hours and hours. Believe it or not, the old foam football (which we’ve since replaced with a new one) hasn’t seen much playing time lately. Nothing captures Jonah’s heart like his massive, red, bouncy ball. He didn’t know something so wonderful existed.
There was a young man in Scripture who was holding on to something tightly, yet God wanted to bless him beyond his understanding. When the rich, young ruler came to Jesus and asked Him what he needed to do to gain eternal life, he and Jesus first discussed obeying some of the Ten Commandments. The man assured Jesus that he had followed them, and Jesus didn’t disagree. Then Scripture describes a deeply beautiful moment: “Looking at him, Jesus loved him” (Mark 10:21). Oh, the eyes of our Savior, showering love on this young man. Then Jesus said:
“You lack one thing:
Go, sell all you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me” (Mark 10:21).
This is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus makes such a demand of a potential disciple. Scripture tells us Peter owned a house (Matthew 8:14), so following Jesus doesn’t necessarily mean leaving behind all of our earthly possessions. So why did Jesus make such a high demand? Because He knew that the young man’s wealth had his heart—it had his heart so deeply that the thought of giving his wealth away grieved him (Mark 10:22). Jesus knew He had something in store for the young man that was far beyond what he could comprehend: Himself. And so He told the young man to let go of what was keeping him back, and to follow Him instead.
The man walked away sad. We don’t know whether or not he ever decided to follow Jesus. We only have a Polaroid snapshot of this single moment in time. I hope we’ll meet this young man in heaven one day and he’ll say, “That moment was a turning point for me. Jesus’s loving gaze undid me. So after a time, I let go—of everything—and I grabbed on to Him. I thought I was rich before, but my heart couldn’t even comprehend the depths of the riches of knowing Jesus. He is my greatest treasure.”
We know that richness, don’t we? We are those who have been looked on and loved by our Savior. May His kindness lead us to pray: Jesus, if our hearts, prone to wander, start pining after lesser treasures, may Your love undo us and call us back to You.
Laurin Greco is an author, editor, and mommy who lives in the Nashville area with her author/editor husband and her not quite author/editor three young sons. Laurin is the author of the Discover God’s Heart Devotional Bible and The Storybook of God’s Great Love: The Old Testament and The New Testament. When the house is quiet, she loves to quilt, but mostly she collects fabric for that one-day quilt she’s going to make.
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53 thoughts on "Rich Young Ruler"
Money is such a strange thing.
Jesus may I never hold on too tightly to lesser things or that which you would have me let go in order to step into the greater things you have for me!!
We will always have to fight this battle of giving Jesus our whole hearts. There will always be things that try and get in the way of our relationship with God. We had to continually surrender this area to God.
Today as I read these passages I realized that Jesus acknowledges the difficulty we have in giving our whole hearts to Him. He understands leaving what feels secure and comfortable to follow Him. He understands because He gave up so much more than we ever could to bring us to His Father. Oh what love our Savior has for us.
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This story is one I could read over and over to remind me to let go…of everything! And follow the Lord. AMEN!
Rachiel,
I empathize with exactly where you are right now. My “future” as I was planning it was turned completely upside down. I also sought being in relationships to fill me with the love that only God could truly provide. Let me just share one example of how God brought me to a place to give it all up, and the blessings that ensued as a result:
I was in a relationship with a man who wasn’t a Christian and I felt God calling me out of it. I fought and fought to maintain control until one day it just snapped. I was brought to my knees in surrender and I ended my relationship. I was (and still am) so scared to be alone. But with God we are never truly alone because we have direct access to Him through the Holy Spirit. Since then, I have had more time to spend with my sister who is getting married soon and our relationship has flourished being home at our parent’s house because of COVID. My best friend’s mom is battling cancer, and because I sacrificed that relationship I have had so much time to walk alongside my best friend during this unimaginable time. I see the Lord blessing me for my step of faithfulness and I know He will bless you too. However, I firmly believe that we sometimes need to wrestle it out with God. It may take you a week, a month, a year, to get to a place where you are ready to truly surrender it all to God. And that’s okay. He is still working and moving in the waiting. If you ever need some encouragement or support from a fellow single woman who’s also trying to live in surrender to God’s will even though it can be scary at times, we can absolutely connect outside of this platform. Praying for you to come to a place where you are ready to open your hands and live in surrender to God’s will. I acknowledge it can be challenging, but He is with us every step of the way <3
Gosh I needed to read this. The most recent page in my story has read similar! Hope to connect with you one day!
Rachel, let’s not forget Jesus is talking to this specific man. He asks him a specific thing. Don’t read into something more to justify your stance, when scripture may state plainly elsewhere what to do. I am not sure of your situation. Sometimes relationships need to be ended, but sometimes it is worth it to hang on, learning forgiveness and grace. God can bless you in that situation as well. Anyway, just be careful not to read into something more than what it says. Praying for you.
Many prayers for your husband’s healing and for you
When I read about the rich young ruler, I wonder how he could not just give it away. Jesus told him to. I mean, what more incentive you need. But then I wonder what l would not give up. What do I hold so dear that I hold on to it tightly? God wants it all. He wants everything we have. Yet, if I’m honest, I know there are things I hold too tightly. My fear of future, my relationships, are just a few that come to mind. I know that I can give them up, but then I wonder at what cost? I once heard a story about a girl with a fake pearl necklace who wouldn’t give it up for her father, but once she did, he gave a her a real pearl necklace. That parable has come into my mind a lot lately. I have wondered if I am holding on to something fake when I could have the real thing. Am I holding on to a relationship too tightly when I know that it is no longer good for me, if it ever was. But I’m scared to be completely alone. Yes, I have friends and family, but it’s been a long time since I’ve been truly single, and I wonder if I could handle it. But with God nothing is impossible. It’s just a leap of faith.
Rachiel, I so resonate with your post. I am going through this right now. My boyfriend of 3 years and I just broke up. I have been ready to marry him since year 1, but he wasn’t ready. I was waiting, praying that God would change his heart and he would know I was meant to be his wife. I think I have known for awhile now that this was not going to happen and God didn’t want this for us, but I held on in fear. I loved him and still love him so much. And I would be lying if I said I am doing well. I am absolutely heartbroken and hurt. But, I know that our God is so much greater. I know that He will give me the peace and hope I need. I have already seen Him working in small ways and through other people. So, I will pray for you. Pray that you will trust God and feel His love no matter the outcome. Blessings!
LDUB, praying for you and your husband. Praying that his mind be healed from the trauma he’s experienced. Praying that he is open to getting the help he needs. Praying that you remain strong during all this and know that God sees, He knows, and is with you every step of the way.
LDUB, I echo the prayers being lifted toward heaven on you and your family’s behalf. Lord please hover over this family with Your grace and peace and please provide the healing, help and hope this soldier and all who love him need.
As I consider these passages and this devotion, I ask for prayer for my own heart as well as for my unbelieving husband. Since being born again years into our marriage, I’ve struggled with our different worldviews when it comes to many things, with financial decisions among them. I will sense a conviction when reading passages like this, and desire to give more generously than we have been giving. Yet, when I approach my husband, he does not see what I see. I know that I’m also called to submit to him as the leader of our household. So, I pray often for the Lord to do a work in his heart. Over time he has become more willing to let go to a degree and allow me a certain amount each year to give as I see fit. I’m thankful for this. Yet, I also struggle to make decisions about to whom and where to give. I’d so appreciate prayer for both of us. Thanks sisters!
This is a story I need to read more frequently to remind myself God doesn’t care how much I make He cares that I believe and that I follow Him and His Son and believe. In my new apartment I have only one clock right now and that is in the bedroom (not counting the one on my computer or phone) and it’s driving me crazy. I have found this wonderful website society6 where you can get hand made items. Well I found a clock for my living room wall that says “As for me and my house we will serve the Lord” from Joshua. It has a drawing of a house on it also. I’ve ordered it and can’t wait for it to come. It will remind me of where I need to be grounded.
LDUB: I pray with you and these sisters here for your husband’s struggle. I ask the Lord to show him the pride that holds him back from receiving God’s grace. I know I’ve needed to become more and more humble to taste his amazing grace. May the Lord have mercy on him, on you and your family!
TAYLOR: Glad to join you in prayer for Cynthia. I do pray for the Lord’s healing to be grand and bring glory to his name. May he fill her with his presence and peace as well as all of you who are walking with her through this trial.
I will never forget missionary to Uganda Katie Davis Majors talking about how she notices herself relying on God less when she is in the US. (Paraphrasing) For instance, at the first indication of an ache or pain, she turns to a doctor. In Uganda she doesn’t have that option so she turns to God. In response, her relationship with God is much sweeter and real. When we are surrounded by riches and resources, it is easy to think we are in control. Help me to remember who is above all, in all, and through all things.
Thankful Julia’s surgery went well Churchmouse. Praying for you and your husband Ldub, as well as Cynthia, your friend’s mom, Taylor.
“Looking at him, Jesus loved him.” How many times have you felt Jesus love, He is looking at you and me and loving us so dearly!! Whether we are lost, battling depression, caught in addiction, full of anger, He sees us, loves us and asks us to follow Him, the true treasure that blesses beyond all else. Praying for you Sisters may you feel His eyes of love on you and your family LDub, Taylor for your friend’s Mom, healing and peace for all of us that comes from the goodness of our Lord.
Today this story is helping me understand the pain I’ve seen this season. I haven’t given up all of my possessions. But this season, I’ve seen the loss of two of the most important things in my life: my wedding and the future of the job that I loved. Both of these things I thought were a guarantee in my life. After dating my fiance for ten years, our wedding has been pushed back twice now. I naively thought the dance studio where I grew up and taught would be there forever (maybe even for me to take charge of one day), and in one day, it closed. I keep asking God if he loves me, why did he take away the things that were so important to me. Now I’m starting to see clearly, he’s doing it because he loves me so much and has not genuinely heard from me in so long because my focus has been elsewhere. After losing what felt like everything in the matter of a month, God is showing me the love He, my family, and fiance have for me that I’ve been missing all this time because my heart was set somewhere else.
I love that you have grown closer to God during this season. Praying that he has great plans for you!
Good morning everyone! I’m a day behind so I just wanted to hop over to today and ask for prayer for my best friend’s mom who is battling terminal liver cancer. That is my answer to “What do you want Jesus to do for you?” To heal my best friend’s mom. While it looks like at this point she will receive healing upon entering Heaven, my heart still breaks at the thought of losing a second mom. Please join me in praying for Cynthia (my friend’s mom’s name). I believe He can bring earthly healing to her body! And if not, He is still good <3
Praying for Cynthia. Praying for your best friend.
This weren’t perfect with the series we have been going through at church on Simplicity. It’s incredible! I love how God just hammers things in sometimes ;) during quarantine it’s been hard not to list over others wealth and be greedy with my own. But again I am reminded that there is no wealth greater than the love of Jesus.
If any of you would like to listen to the series the podcast for the church is Bridgetown video podcast. ❤️
I love Bridgetown church! John Mark Comer is a favorite author of mine. His book, “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry,” is a must-read for all followers of Christ.
Lord, please forgive me and keep my life from sin, that I may delight in and follow you alone. You free me from temptation and give me an escape by your faithfulness. Your word is my weapon that discerns my heart and reveals truth. You restore, confirm, strengthen and establish me. In my hopelessness you love me, and you reach out your hand to give me hope. My life is in your hands, please help me to take hold of all that you have given me. Yours is the victory! Praise the Lord! Though my outer self is wasting away, my inner self us renewed each day. For you, who said let light shine in darkness, have shown in my heart to give me the light of the knowledge of your glory, in the face of Jesus Christ. Now I have received you Spirit, that I may understand the things you gave freely give me, for I have the mind of Christ, and I cry Abba Father. Lord, when I don’t understand or hear your voice, please remind me of the truth and silence the lies, for you are good and your love is great. You are King over all. Please remind me of your love and faithfulness, you are true.
Beautiful-AMEN
LDUB, praying that God’s hands surround and protect your family. May he bring restoration in your lives. Samaritan’s Purse has an amazing outreach for families in your situation – reach out to them. https://www.samaritanspurse.org/education-2/about-operation-heal-our-patriots/
LDUB, you and your husband sacrifice much (My son in law is active military). It is a privilege to intercede on your behalf today. Lord, bring peace and calm to this family today. Give them words to articulate all they are feeling. Motivate them to reach out for help. Bring the right people across their path so that they know they are not alone. Be their strength. Let them lean on You. You are there. Amen.
Not Ladybug-Ldub! Gotta love autocorrect!
Lauren, as I was reading today’s scripture I was imagining the very “happy ending” for the rich young ruler that you wrote. How can anyone walk away from Christ’s loving gaze & not yearn to return? May we each continue to feel God’s love upon us no matter what our circumstances are. Ladybug, I’m praying for your husband & your family. May his eyes be open to his understandable need for help & support, & May he feel God’s love, & the love of his family well worth fighting for now. Praying for your strength & peace, & your safety too.
Dear friends, thank you for your many prayers yesterday for our sweet Julia. The procedure went well! The Doctor is confident no further sclerotherapy will be needed. She will have debulking surgery (to remove the excess veins and reconfigure her lip) in the Fall. She was very brave and even ventured outside for a short walk last evening. Your prayers surrounded our family and gave us strength and confidence. You were Jesus to us.
❤️
Learning to live with open hands to receive all that the Lord provides and permits is a daily effort. I sincerely desire all He has for me because I know it is sifted by His love before it reaches me. The good. The challenges. The joys. The confusion. I know all is for my good and His glory. But it can be so hard to unfurl my fingers from around the things and the people I cherish. It’s as if I don’t trust Him to be Who He is and has always been. It’s as if I don’t trust His Word. Isn’t that what it comes down to… faith and trust? Daily I pray for an increase of both.
❤️
♥️
Have you noticed how over the years we accumulate more and more “stuff?” For example, I have a box of every kind of cookie cutter you can imagine. When my boys were small we used them with playdoh, to make ornaments for our Christmas tree, to trace and draw with, and of course to make cookies. We used them a lot and made some wonderful memories. That is only one tiny example of stuff accumulated over time.
Is there anything wrong with accumulating good things? No, and yes. You see, I can be like the rich young ruler. Over time little things creep in. They accumulate in my house and my heart. The things and people are all good, however, no thing, no person, should have my heart, except Jesus. My heart and mind will love, and love deeply but, the ownership of my heart, belongs to Him. Enjoyment of things is filtered through thankfulness to my God for His provision. Love of any person flows first and foremost out of my love and devotion for my Savior.
For me I often see the difference in my hands. Fists closed upon something or someone means “I am” holding it and haven’t released to my Savior; the only one with whom they or it are truly safe. Open and empty hands before Jesus are actually hands open, but full, for He holds my hand and His love, His values, His will shapes mine and reaches out to the world.
I love Psalm 91. The last verse says, I will (meaning God) satisfy him and show him my salvation. I am so thankful that God loves me fully, continually drawing me closer, changing me and growing me. I am so thankful for his salvation and because lasting satisfaction is only found in Him.
Rita Fock, I’m praying for you and your husband today. God is with you. Please let us know how it goes.
LDUB, praying for your husband, you and your family. Your husband’s sacrifice in serving our country and your support to him is appreciated. I am thankful for his service. Keep encouraging him to seek help and certainly try to manage your expectation. He has endured much and is processing much. Your life will not be as it was before BUT God has a plan for new things. Keep looking up! I am the wife of a retired serviceman. Much love and prayers.
Dear LDUB
MY DEAR I AM PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND, MAY JESUS ENTER HIS MIND AND MY HE EXPERIENCE TOTAL PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
GOD BLESS
Hi ladies,
Please keep my family in your prayers. My husband just got back from deployment and he is not doing well. I think he has some PTSD. I am worried about him, and I am also mourning our normal relationships with him. He’s physically present but mentally somewhere else. He doesn’t think he needs help.
Praying!
I’m so sorry . Will be praying for you and your family.
Praying for you both! ❤️
Praying!
Praying for you and your husband!
Praying! For the Lord to restore your relationship with your husband & to bring healing to his mind. We cover him in the Blood of Jesus
My heart and prayers are with you.
I will pray for your husband!
This passage is so aspirational to me. What am I holding on to that is keeping me from the fullness of God and relationship with Him? I think for me it is control. Big spotlight on that idol during this pandemic. God please help me to take each day with open hands and not try to act like I can control my situation and my kids’.
Lifting you and your husband in prayer.
Oh, please let me be undone by His love and be free and transformed! I pray for all to see His gaze and have a testimony Ike what we hope happened with rich young, ruler as the writer above! May all we know and morebe saved for eternity i Jesus Name Amen