“Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible.”
Mark 10:26-27
This is our third truth from the story: Real change is impossible with man.
Pause a moment to take this in. The rich young ruler thinks he can produce the goodness needed for entering heaven. Jesus knows that He can’t. What does this man need to be saved from to become good like God? His life is all about himself. He needs to be saved from the power of selfishness.
Jesus exposes this when He says, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (10:21).
God is the creator of all wealth. He owns all the resources of the world. What does God do with this wealth? He gives it away. He entrusts it into your hands. Jesus says to this man, if you want to be good like God, go and do the same. Sell everything and give to the poor. Then you will be reflecting the goodness of God.
The man’s face fell, and he went away sad. Jesus was calling for a change that was beyond this man’s power. His love for himself was too strong. He didn’t have it in him to be good like God. And neither do you.
Jesus is not saying that we must give everything away to be saved. What He is saying is simple: Selfishness keeps people out of heaven.
The reason it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God is that he or she has more to be selfish about. It’s not just the rich who have a problem here. Selfishness is in us all. Jesus does not say, “It’s much easier for the poor.” He says with man this is impossible.
What are the things that you have struggled to give up for the kingdom of God?
