The story of the rich young ruler is one of the saddest stories in the Bible because he had so much upside potential. He could have leveraged his resources, his network, and his energy for Kingdom causes, but he spent it all on himself. He thought that was what would make him happy.
The moment Jesus said, “Follow me”, it was the opportunity of a lifetime, but he didn’t have the guts to go for it. What Jesus asked him to give up was nothing compared to what Jesus would have given him in return.
We want everything God has to offer without giving anything up. We want to buy in without selling out. The Gospel costs nothing. We cannot buy it or earn it, but it demands everything.
When did we start believing that God wants to send us to safe places to do easy things? That faithfulness is holding the fort? That playing it safe is safe? That radical is anything but normal? Jesus didn’t die to keep us safe. The will of God is not an insurance plan. It’s a daring plan. The complete surrender of your life to the cause of Christ isn’t radical. It’s normal. It’s time to quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. It’s time to go all in.
— Mark Batterson
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31