Matthew 19:20-22
The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

It seems that Jesus was calling this man to be a disciple, just as He had called out to His other disciples and they did leave everything behind to follow Him. The fishermen left their catch and their boats. Matthew left his tax collector’s table and all those riches it provided. They forsook houses and families and comfort. So what was this young ruler’s experience as he went back to his riches and left Jesus behind? As the events unfolded all around Israel and Jesus’ name was on everyone’s lips, what did he think? As miracles were done and word spread and rumors swirled about Messiah in their midst, what did he do? As the feast approached and then the clamor and chaos of the crucifixion was accomplished, did he look on from afar? After Jesus rose from the dead and the emboldened disciples spread the good news, did he listen? Did he believe? Did he respond?

He’d gone away sorrowful before, but would he ever come to a point in his life where he could humble himself? Where he could value something other than what this world had to offer? Where he could consider honestly that there was nothing he could do to earn eternal life, that he was not worthy of such a thing based on his own merits? What was missing from his life was Jesus, and the option was open to him to follow or reject.

The young man wasn’t willing to give up everything to follow Jesus. Are you willing to give up anything to follow Him? Sometimes it does cost us something to follow Jesus, so what will you choose? Jesus or your stuff? Jesus or your job? Jesus or your family? Jesus or your ideas? Your habits? Your religion? Your sin? It’s up to you. You can walk away sadly back to your regular life, or you can take a chance and go forward into a life with Jesus, a walk with Him to learn and grow and become something you couldn’t have been without Him.