[Jesus speaking]
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.’”
“Teacher,” he [the rich young ruler] declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
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.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭8‬ (emphasis mine)
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he MADE HIMSELF NOTHING BY TAKING THE VERY NATURE OF A SERVANT, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!

In our previous devotional we looked at how Jesus focused on the fact that this man called him “good”. And Jesus now gets to the heart of the issue with this man — he was attached to his earthly possessions. He thought that he deserved them. After all, he earned them, right? He also was quite attached to his title, possibly? Maybe this is why we don’t know his name, just that he was a ruler.

In contrast, Jesus gave up his heavenly wealth and, in part and for a time, his power, and position. He came to earth as a humble, poor, and needy baby. He made himself nothing so that he could be a servant of all! And he was obedient to death — even death on a cross.

It would have been easy for Jesus to cut down or call out the arrogance, pride, or greed of this young ruler. But instead we read that he “looked at him and he loved him.” Jesus looked past the ugly sin in this man’s life and into his potential in his heart to serve God. So he looked into his heart, he loved him, and then, out of this love, he challenged him.

By asking him to sell all his possessions, Jesus was also asking him to cast off the reliance on the root issues, as well. He challenged him to strip off the sin that weighed so heavy on his heart: Cast off greed! Get rid of pride! Forget yourself and your accomplishments. Follow me!

This is what Jesus calls each of us to do as well. Rid ourselves of the sin that we wrestle with. Let go of the worldly motivators we live by. Sell off the things that get in the way of following God’s commands. Sell off these things and take a risk. Follow Jesus without hesitation or holdbacks.

Will I follow him wholeheartedly, no matter the cost or level of challenge or persecution? Will I fully commit to him and his work in my life?

Lord, thank you for this story, I used to always read it as only a correction on rich people. It is also a correction on me and the sin that holds me back, as well. Teach me to continue to cast off those worldly things I rely on and only rely on and follow you!