When Jesus told the rich young man to sell everything and follow Him, He wasn't just asking for his possessions; He was asking for humility. The young man walked away sorrowful because he couldn't admit the truth that his wealth wasn't really his at all. Everything we have comes from God's hand, but pride convinces us we're self-made. True humility means recognizing that our security doesn't come from our possessions, our worth doesn't come from our achievements, and our next breath is a gift we didn't earn. The rich young man couldn't embrace this radical dependence on God because it felt too vulnerable. But this is exactly where Jesus meets us, when we finally stop pretending we have it all figured out.
The disciples were shocked when Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich person to enter heaven. They understood that wealth meant God's blessing in their culture, so if the blessed couldn't make it, who could? But Jesus was revealing how our attachments become chains in our lives. When we grip our possessions, our plans, or our reputation so tightly that we can't open our hands to receive what God offers, we've made idols out of these gifts. The humility Jesus calls us to cuts straight to our deepest pride; it's admitting we are not the authors of our own stories and everything good in our lives flows from His generous love.
Jesus promises that those who lose everything for His sake will receive a hundredfold, and ends with this beautiful reversal: "Many who are first will be last, and the last will be first." This isn't just about heaven; it's happening now. People who look like they have nothing discover they have everything in Christ, while those who seem to have it all find their hearts are still empty. Humility is the pathway to this upside-down kingdom; getting comfortable with being small in our own eyes so we can be great in God's. When we embrace the beautiful surrender that says, "Jesus, I need You more than my comfort or security," we discover what true wealth looks like. And remember, when we leave this life, we can't take anything here with us, and it doesn't matter what it is, except our love for Jesus and faith. So spend your life now, worshiping Him, loving Him, and prioritizing Him, every single day.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
