Mark 10:17-22 gives us the story of the rich man asking about eternal life.

One big thing that continually stands out to me from Mark and Matthew on this story: When asked point blank what was needed to inherit eternal life, Jesus did NOT point to himself in a way we would think. He did NOT say, “Well, believe in me! DUH!”

He pointed the rich man to the Law.

But it was beyond the typical check off list religious people were used to in that day (and ours).

Mark’s telling of this story is interesting because in v. 21 is says Jesus looked at him and loved him. Out of love he says, “You lack one thing.”

It’s easy to hone in on the fact of selling off his riches. That’s easy. But it’s not that easy for us.

We come to Jesus and we ask for our “check off” list of what to do to inherit eternal life. We come in a “Let’s cut to the bottom line” kind of way. We’re feeling good about the initial answers, but then we look at Jesus and he gets this kind of funny look on his face.

Then, he says to us, “You lack one thing.”

And if we’re not rich, or held captive to our riches, he won’t tell us to sell all we have. What he WILL do is cut to the heart of the matter and go after the god, or gods, that are still in control in our lives. Money was the controlling factor in this man’s life.

For us, it could be completely different. But what we DO know is this: Jesus would love us enough to reveal that thing… that thing we lack… and ask us to lay it down.

It could be our time. Our sexuality. Our ego. Our focus on the stuff of this world. On and on we could go.

We can run through our own check off lists and feel pretty good. It’s when Jesus looks at us out of love that we know something else is coming.  And in that moment, we know the god or gods in our lives are going to make us uncomfortable.

God isn’t after a check off list. He is after what the gods of this world are after: our allegiances. 

The rich man chose to keep the god in his life and went away.

Where is your allegiance?