“If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
When the young man heard that command, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.

You may recognize our Scripture passage as coming from Jesus’ meeting with the rich young ruler. This young man had it all materially speaking, but he was spiritually bankrupt.

He had the desire to have eternal life, and he asked Jesus how to go about this. He was a “good person”. We often think that being a good person will get us into heaven, but this is not the case. Just being good won’t get you there.

Tithing to the church won’t get you there either. Even obeying all the commandments won’t get you there as Jesus was trying to explain to this young man. The only thing that gets us to heaven is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I don’t care how financially well off you are. I don’t care how many material possessions you have or what type of standing you have in the community. If you don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, you have nothing.

Jesus wasn’t telling this young man to sell all his possessions and give to the poor because this is what is required of us. Jesus was telling him this because Jesus knew that in his heart, he put these possessions before Jesus. These possessions meant more to him than having a relationship with his Lord and Savior.

We live in a world where we can get many things. We can buy with cash or credit. We want instant gratification, and we like to collect a lot of stuff. I tell you, however, if there is anything you own that gets in the way of you following Jesus, let it go. Get it out of your life.

Whether this is a possession or possessions or a personal relationship that holds you back from loving the Lord with all your heart and being obedient to Him, let it go.

This rich young ruler had everything by the world’s standards, but he had nothing by God’s standards. He was unwilling to sell his material possessions to follow Jesus. He just couldn’t let them go.

Are you holding on to something that is getting in your way of following Jesus. Sometimes we even hold on to sinful behavior because we just can’t let it go.

I beg of you to let go of anything that hinders your relationship with Jesus. Turn to Him today. Pray for Him to forgive you and give you the strength to let go of anything that interferes in your relationship with Him. He will help you, you don’t have to do it alone.

You do, however, have to do it to be in a close relationship with Him. Jesus commands all of us to love Him with all our heart, all our soul, and all our minds in Matthew 22:37. In order for us to do this, He must come first in our life.

Is he first in your life? Is there anything that gets in the way of you loving Him and serving Him as you should? Make the choice while you still can. Don’t die having all the world has to offer yet spiritually bankrupt.

Have a good day!