Youth and wealth are two of the most coveted human conditions. It may be surprising to read of a rich young man who knew Jesus and left sad after this encounter. Three of the gospel stories record this story, each providing details to complete the narrative. Mateo says he was young. Lucas informs us that he was a man of position. These two and Marcos comment on the wealth of this man. Let's consider the story and its lessons.
Jesus was in the last weeks of his ministry and had crossed the Jordan River to go through the region known as Pereia, on the eastern side of the Jordan. He would soon return to enter Jerusalem, confront the leaders and be rejected and crucified. The young man approached Jesus and asked him the most important question that could be asked: "Good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life" (Mark 10:17). Before answering the question, Jesus stressed the meaning of the words chosen by man. If only God is good, the young man implicitly recognized the divinity and, therefore, the authority of Jesus. When Jesus, a few minutes later, made a great demand on him, man needed to understand that this instruction came from God himself.
Jesus started with the things that this rich man already understood, citing some of the 10 commandments given by God to the Israelites 1,400 years before. This leader knew and kept these commandments. This obedience to the commandments of the Lord and the search for eternal life showed a good attitude, and Jesus looked at this young man and loved him (Mark 10:21). Jesus loved him so much that he spoke the truth, even at the risk of the man turning his back and rejecting his word. Jesus saw that the young man's problem was not a matter of visible obedience to some rule, but a question of the priorities of life. Jesus spoke to him to sell all his goods and give the poor the money. Thus, he could follow the Master (Matthew 19:21).
Before commenting on the man's reaction, let's think about the demand of Jesus. Some have used this case to establish poverty as a condition of service to the Lord, but the rest of the New Testament corrects this misapplication, for we find Christians faithful to God and still materially rich. Not all the rich need to sell all material goods to serve God, but they must recognize their goods as tools and use them according to the principles of love that the Lord teaches us (1 Timothy 6: 17-19). It is not money, but the love of money that is the root of all evils (1 Timothy 6:10). This was the problem that Jesus identified in the rich man.
Money is not necessarily the problem. Some have money, but do not love it, while others do not have material goods, but still love money. Anything that occupies a space in our heart that prevents total dominion by the Lord is the problem. It can be money, sex, drinks, drugs, gambling, career or many other things. It can be the family (Matthew 10:37) or even life itself (Mark 8: 35-37). The point is that Jesus deserves first place in our hearts and in our lives and, therefore, we must remove all the rivals.
Often, money is the problem. In the search for understanding this broad message, we must not lose an obvious lesson. Many people, like that rich young man, are prevented from serving the Lord for money. They can be poor people who work so hard that they do not have time for God, or rich people who take pride in their material conquests.
There is another strong message at the end of this story of the rich young man. After hearing the words of Jesus, he left sad. We do not know what the man decided after more reflection, but we know that Jesus did not stop him from leaving. Jesus did not try to liven up the impact of his words, and he did not offer a softer path with less sacrifice. Jesus demanded of him what he demands of any of us who wants to be his disciple and inherit eternal life: he wants 100% of who we are, and nothing less!
