What's Your Thing?

Luke 18:18-30

For whatever reason, Jesus attracted people who had questions about God’s Law. Jesus wasn’t affiliated with a particular Rabbinical school. He didn’t belong to a guild of religious professionals, or a recognized party like the Pharisees or Sadducees. But he spoke with confidence and authority, and seemed to know God’s Word intimately.

Some of the people who questioned Jesus did so because they really wanted to know. They really wanted to know what God thought; they really wanted to shape their lives in response to God’s will. Others questioned Jesus because they were pretty sure they had the right answer. They either wanted Jesus to pat them on the backs, or give them something with which to discredit him.

This is true of the rich young man who presents himself in Luke 18. He approaches Jesus with the age-old question: “What must I do to merit eternal life?”

Jesus doesn’t answer directly. He says, “You know the commandments, don’t you?”

“Of course,” responds the young man. “I have always kept each one.”

“Great,” says Jesus. “Now that you’ve got that covered, do one more thing: sell everything you have and give away all your money.” When the man doesn’t respond, Jesus says, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God…”

Now we assume that this is a warning against being rich. And since most of us don’t think of ourselves as rich, we figure we’re off the hook. "Doesn’t apply to me." Not so fast.

The principle at work in this vignette is further developed in Jesus’ concluding statement to his disciples:

"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life.”

What Jesus is trying to get his disciples, and anyone who will listen, to understand is that God will not tolerate divided loyalties. The rich young man walked away sad because he was hung up on his wealth. That was his thing. What Jesus says is, it doesn’t matter what your thing is. If there’s anything you’re unwilling to let go of, you won’t make it into the Kingdom. Jesus says, “The gateway to heaven is narrow. So narrow that there’s barely room for you to squeeze through.” Like Homer Simpson, whose hand stays stuck in the vending machine so long as he’s holding on to a contraband candy bar, we will not make it through if we’re holding on to anything.

Jesus’ question to the rich young man is his question to us: What’s your thing? What’s that one thing that you will not let go, even if God himself asks you to do so? Money? Home? Car? Relationships? A favorite vice or habit? It may not be something objectively wrong or evil. But if it has supplanted God in your heart, you’re not going to make it. What’s your thing?