Scripture: Matthew 19:21–22

“Then come, follow me.”

The rich young ruler came to Jesus with a serious question: “What must I do to have eternal life?”

He appeared to be a good man. He had followed the commandments. But Jesus knew something the man didn't fully understand about himself.

There was something he loved more than he loved God.

Jesus told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man walked away sorrowful because he had great wealth.

The issue wasn't simply how much money he had. The issue was what had him.

During the Sunday message August 30, Pastor Ted connected this passage to Paul's words about counting everything as loss compared with gaining Christ. The point is not that possessions have no value. The point is that nothing in this temporary life is worth more than Jesus.

We brought nothing into this world, and we will take nothing out of it.

Everything we accumulate is temporary.

Christ is eternal.

The rich young ruler walked away because he couldn't let go. But Jesus offers us something the world can never provide: eternal life, fellowship with God, and an inheritance that cannot be taken away.

The question isn't merely, “What do I have?”

It's this:

“Is there anything I would refuse to surrender if Jesus asked me to?”

If there is, perhaps we've discovered what competes with Christ for our heart.

Today’s thought:
 We never lose by surrendering something for Christ. Whatever we give up for Him cannot compare with what we gain in Him.

Prayer:
 Jesus, help me see the temporary things of this world through the perspective of eternity. If there is anything I am holding more tightly than I hold You, give me the courage to release it. Teach me that gaining Christ is greater than gaining anything this world can offer. Amen.