LUKE 18:22–3

What do you value most in life? I think back to some of the clients I have had the privilege of advising as a consulting partner. For some it was their classic car collection, priceless antiques, or country estates. For a few, it was significant charitable trusts giving them the ability to change their society.

Jesus was approached by a ruler with an important, life-changing question: ‘Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus recognises the urgency of the questioner and reminded him of what he already knew about keeping the commandments. The ruler was quick to respond that the commandments were child’s play – he had kept them all!

Then Jesus shocked him, putting his finger on the heart of this person’s difficulty: ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’

We learn that the ruler became very sad, because he was wealthy. Jesus commented that it would have been easier for a fully laden camel to go through the eye of a needle, the smallest opening to be found in any domestic home, than for this wealthy man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Yet the offer was there, as it is for all of us: come and follow me. The rich ruler was too focused on his wealth, and missed that call. Before he could truly live for Christ, that idol had to be toppled.

The disciples were worried. If a wealthy man finds it this hard to be saved, what about everyone else? Jesus was clear, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God.’

Many things may conspire to prevent us from answering God’s call to follow him. He alone provides the ability for us, by faith, to do so wholeheartedly. The lesson here is that our wealth and possessions, whatever we have, must not be an impediment to our relationship to Christ. All that we have is from him and therefore belongs to him alone. He may well ask for us to give it all back to him for his royal use.

What practice might remind you of that this week? For example, you could write a verse from Luke on your bank card that you see every time you pay for something, constantly reorienting yourself towards the one from whom all you have comes.

Are you rich towards God?

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Steve Osei-Mensah
Chair, Langham Partnership UK and Ireland

What practices could you incorporate this week which de-centre the importance of money, by putting the generosity of the kingdom first and taking up your cross to follow Christ? Join in the conversation in the comments below.