Verse: Matthew 19:16-22
“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.’ ‘Which ones?’ he inquired. Jesus replied, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’ ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
Devotion:
This passage is so humbling to me. Here, we meet a young man who is earnest in his pursuit of eternal life. He approaches Jesus with respect, seeking a deeper understanding of what is required to inherit the Kingdom of God. His question, “What good thing must I do?” reflects the true, honest heart a lot of us have probably come to God with before. It’s a common human inclination: the desire to earn favor in order to secure our place through our actions.
Have you ever caught yourself thinking if you could just be “good enough” or “do enough”? I know I have. It’s easy for us, as human kind, all throughout history, to lean on works, things we can control to try to earn value in God’s eyes. Jesus puts that to rest in this passage. Jesus responds not with a checklist of deeds but by redirecting the young man’s focus on the essence of goodness itself—God. He uses this moment to remind us that our relationship with God is not merely transactional; it is relational. True “goodness” comes from God alone, and to experience eternal life, we must align ourselves with His will. It is the heart posture He looks at, not a checklist of actions we can complete.
As the conversation unfolds, Jesus lists the commandments, and the young man confidently claims to have kept them all. Yet, when Jesus challenges him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, the young man’s response reveals a deeper truth: his wealth had become an obstacle in his relationship with God. The young man’s sadness illustrates the struggle many of us face when we are called to relinquish what we hold dear for the sake of following Christ.
At the end of the day, the answer is, do we choose Christ over all else? Over our comfort? Over our security? Do we trust Him to meet our needs and fulfill the promises He says He will? He wants us to choose to trust Him, above all else. It makes me seriously consider this for myself. What are the possessions, ambitions, or relationships that we cling to, which may be hindering our growth? Are we willing to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, even when it requires significant sacrifice? Are we willing to be uncomfortable for the sake of the Gospel? Discipleship often calls us to let go of our comfort zones, to embrace a life of generosity and service, and to prioritize God’s Kingdom over worldly attachments.
Join me in reflecting today- What is God asking me to release in order to follow Him more closely? It could be material wealth like in this passage, but it could also be pride, fear, comfort, control. Jesus desires not just our compliance but to fully give Him our hearts.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the invitation to follow You. Help me to recognize the things in my life that I am holding onto, which keep me from experiencing the fullness of Your presence. Teach me to trust fully in You and to be willing to sacrifice for the sake of loving others. Teach my heart to reflect Yours for the world. Set the desires of my heart on seeking to follow You with unwavering faith. Amen.
Author: Becca Artymenko
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