"One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven." (Mark 10:21)Through much of my Christian life, I read this as Christ asking the rich young man to surrender what was most precious to him. In this light it provides a good illustration to the First Commandment: You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3). Whatever we put first is our god. This man's god was his wealth.
But lately I've been reading this with a different focus. It wasn't that the man had something Jesus wanted to take, but that he lacked something Jesus wanted to give. One thing you lack...
Jesus was saying, You're missing something. Go sell everything you have; give your money to the poor, and you'll receive something of far greater value. This was no consolation prize. What Jesus said was, Let me give you a treasure. But what the rich man heard was, Give me your treasure. And, He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Our tendency is to focus on the cost rather than the benefit. Why is it when Jesus wants to give us something, all we see is the price?
There is a difference, whether we can see it or not. You can have wealth, or you can have treasure. Your pick. You choose.
When Jesus offers you treasure, will you settle for trinkets?
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