“Got to Give it Up…”

Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions (Matt 19:21-22)

The story of the rich young ruler brings into sharp contrast, the existential questions of being a disciple of Jesus. This familiar passage deeply cuts any of us who are privileged to live as this young man who encounters Jesus. 

He comes to Jesus seeking the answer to eternal life. Although we are not told at the outset, he comes as wealthy young man with “many possessions”. His wealth notwithstanding, his most outstanding feature is hubris. He boldly comes to Jesus with a question that would otherwise be considered brash or presumptuous. The question itself overlooks the important rituals, practices, and behaviors for blessing in this life. It is indicative of the man himself.

Jesus’ initial response to his question attempts to steer the young man to the important work still to be performed in this life saying, “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honor your father and mother; also, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These are the commandments that emphasize the social contract, the aspects of the faith that keep us in good relations with one another. In a way, Jesus  undermines the young man’s question about eternal life, by pointing him to relationships in this life. 

Message received?

No!?

In an act that further demonstrates his self-righteousness, the young man tells Jesus, “I’ve done all that”. In other words, “I have checked that box and am in good relations with my neighbors”. To which Jesus delivers the real call of faith and neighborly relations,

“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”

This is it. This is the place where faith and allegiance really matter. Jesus lays down a marker of authentic faith and believe. If you really seek the perfection that you say you believe in, give away that which you have lived to acquire and follow me. 

The conditions Jesus set forth to the young man are still true today. For there are many of us who espouse strong belief in heaven, eternal life, and the ways that scriptures point to happiness. But we so readily neglect the neighborly aspects of our faith that we forget the power of our faith to change the world not just by the miracle of the heart, but by a helping hand. 

And when we are faced with the measure of our faith being summed up by Jesus’ condition to give away what we have and follow him, we don’t measure up. We are little better than this young man, who, chooses not to receive the very thing he says he wanted, just because it cost him too much: the very things he actually believed in. 

Beloved, this is what it means to be in solidarity with Jesus, to be willing to give away all that you believe in, just to follow him. 

To follow him requires us to measure what we believe in and what we say we believe. 

Following him means foregoing the privilege of this life for the promise of something better. 

For some of us, even that invitation is still too much to bear. Yet, I envision a truth in which we all discover that what we possess does not signify what we believe. 

Thanks be to God.