HE KEPT EVERYTHING BUT LOST EVERYTHING
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10:17-22
As we ponder the vast, unbounded and limitless love of God, a little phrase pops up in this story, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” What was there in that glance of Jesus that released a river of love for this man? What was this love that rose up in the heart of Jesus? What did the disciples see that released this comment in the inspired Scriptures? Was it a tear that rolled unheeded down Jesus’ cheek? Was it the tender tone in His voice? Was it an arm extended to embrace him? Was it the words Jesus spoke that would set him free from his burden of possessions had he the courage to let them go?
The words that Jesus spoke may have seemed hard and cruel to this wealthy man. Give it all away! How could he do that? How could he voluntarily reduce himself to poverty by giving away everything he had worked so hard to accumulate? How could he deprive his descendants of their inheritance? It was too much to ask of him. He weighed up his desire to be assured of eternal life with the ease and comfort of his present life and chose what he had over what he longed to have. He could not have both.
How amazing is the love of God! He honoured and respected His gift of free will. The man had made his choice and Jesus loved him enough to let him go. His love bound Him to honour his freedom without trying to persuade him or coerce him. In this He showed him that He longs to be loved for no other reward than to have the honour of loving Him.
What did this main gain by his choice and what did he lose? He gained the whole world, everything that money and possessions represent in this present scheme of things; comfort, ease, position, luxury, pleasure, self-indulgence, friends – but he lost his own soul. What he had inside was fear, guilt, shame, insecurity, emptiness and restlessness that would never leave him, day or night. His thirst remained unquenched. He was alone – an orphan, never knowing a Father’s love or the joy of a place in God’s forever family. Was it worth it?