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"
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.
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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.
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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