Worldliness and the Rich Young Ruler

QUESTION: Worldliness – The Rich Young Ruler

ANSWER:

If we are going to be free to serve God we must be free from worldliness. This does not mean that every person will have to give up everything they have. I am not espousing that we all must take a vow of poverty in order to serve God. What I am saying is that we must be willing to surrender anything and everything if necessary to fulfill the call of God on our lives. Jesus did not tell every person He met to go and sell all their possessions and give the proceeds to the poor. However, in Matthew chapter 19 Jesus did tell this to one wealthy young man (the “rich young ruler”) who came to Him and asked, "What good thing must I do to gain eternal life?"

Worldliness – Surrender the Comfort
After Jesus quoted a few of the commandments to him, the rich young ruler said he had kept all of them. Jesus perceived that this particular young man took great pride and comfort in his wealth. When Jesus suggested that he sell all he had, give it to the poor, and come and follow Him, we are told, "But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions." When this rich young ruler considered his possessions in comparison to Jesus, he was not willing to surrender all for Christ. Have you ever thought about what that particular young man thinks of his decision today?

Rendered with permission from the booklet, Free to Serve God: 7 Principles Every Believer Should Know, by James O. Jones, Jr. (Light of Life Ministry, revised printing 2009). Compliments of James O. Jones, Jr., and Light of Life Ministry. All rights reserved in the original.