More Not Just More

Mark 10
[10.17] As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?” 

Lord Jesus-This person was someone who was thoughtful, motivated and resourced. He comes with exactly the right questions. A great start, but...

[10.18-19] Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.” [10.20] He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”
[10.21] Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him!

Lord Jesus--You could see into his heart and mind..and your reaction spoke volumes.  You loved him. What was about this person that tugged at your heart?  Was it the sincerity with which he followed the commandments?  Was it his need for something more?  Something beyond stuff?  More not just more...

It is so easy to get lost in stuff that will eventually rot, rust and crumble. There will always be the latest and the greatest which we will be told is the best.  Lord Jesus--You did not fall into that trap.  You want more for us than just stuff.

 He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” [10.22] The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

Lord Jesus-The hard part is to know when to let go and when to hold on.  So often, it is after the fact that is is clear that holding on is just exactly the opposite of you want for me.  This person could not let go...could not open his hands and put them in yours. It sounds so easy as I write this but it isn't.  Following you is a full time job.

A very wise person once said, "The good is always the enemy of the best."  A great start is not enough...a strong finish is what is needed.  We really don't know the rest of the story with this man.  We know that this interchange ended with the price too high for his willingness to commit.  Truth be told,  the same could be said of me at junctures of my life. Yet you bring me back again and again to a place where my original "No" is transformed into a grateful "Yes." I wonder if the same happened with this man.

In this day that will pull me towards it with the force of gravity, let me find my resting place in you...a place of more not just more.  A place where "Yes" comes naturally... spontaneously.

Peterson, Eugene H. (2006-06-15). The Message Remix 2.0: The Bible In contemporary Language (Kindle Locations 30897-30904). NAVPress - A. Kindle Edition.