What are You Willing to Sacrifice?

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." -Mark 10:21 (NIV)


In Mark 10:17-31, a man runs up to Jesus and asks what he must do to inherit eternal life. The fact that he runs to Jesus suggests that this is a pressing question for the man; he's eager to know.

Jesus reminds the man of some of the commandments: don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't defraud, and honor your parents. The man assures Jesus that he has kept these commandments since his childhood. We are told that Jesus then looks at man and loves him. Jesus instructs him to do three things: Sell everything he has, give the money to the poor, and then come follow him. The man's face fell and he went away sad...because he had great wealth.

As I read this story this morning during this first week of Lent, I can't help but interpret it through the lens of sacrifice. This man hadn't done any bad things: he hadn't murdered anyone, he hadn't cheated on his wife, he hadn't defrauded anyone, and he hadn't disobeyed his parents. But one's faithfulness to Christ isn't summed up simply by avoiding bad things. One's faithfulness to Christ is also measured by doing good things.

Perhaps that's why Jesus tells him to go sell his possessions and give the money to the poor. This man obviously wants eternal life enough that he's willing to avoid bad things. But does he want it badly enough that he's willing to give generously? Does he want eternal life enough that he's willing to make a huge sacrifice by giving his possessions away and then following Jesus?

How important is eternal life to you? What are you willing to sacrifice? What one thing would Jesus say that you're lacking? Would you be willing to do it? May God grant you the grace to see what you are lacking today. And may you so desire life with Christ that you're willing to sacrifice for Him.


If you're interested in reading through the Bible in a year, please read Numbers 34-36 and Mark 11 for tomorrow. Tomorrow's devotional will come from one these readings.