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When we talk about "giving our life to Christ," what exactly are we giving? This question lies at the heart of what it means to be a Christian, and the answer might surprise you.

The Story of the Rich Young Ruler

The Bible tells us about a young man who had everything going for him. He was wealthy, young, and held a position of authority. When he approached Jesus, he knelt down and called him "good teacher" - a term reserved only for God among religious leaders of that time. This was the kind of person anyone would consider perfect son-in-law material.

A Great Prospect Who Walked Away Sad

This young ruler asked Jesus a crucial question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus responded by listing several commandments, and the young man confidently replied that he had kept all of them since his youth. He was, by all external measures, a good person.

But then Jesus said something that changed everything: "One thing you lack. Go and sell all you possess, give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. And come follow me."

The young man walked away sad - the only person in the New Testament who came to Jesus joyfully and left sorrowfully.

Why Being "Good" Isn't Enough

The Problem with Nice People

Sometimes the hardest people to reach for Christ are the "nice" people. If you've never done drugs, always paid your taxes, come to church occasionally, and volunteer sometimes, you might think you don't need Jesus like others do. But this story teaches us that being morally good isn't the same as being saved.

The Impossibility of Self-Salvation

Jesus made it clear: "How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God." When his disciples asked, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus answered, "With people it is impossible, but not with God. All things are possible with God."

We cannot enter the kingdom of God on our own merit. It's humanly impossible.

What Jesus Really Requires

Repentance and Belief

From the very beginning of his ministry, Jesus preached: "The time is fulfilled, the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe in the gospel." Salvation isn't about being good - it's about recognizing our need for a Savior and turning from our old way of life.

Identifying Our Idols

Jesus knew the young ruler's heart. His idol was money and possessions. An idol is anything that takes the place of God in our lives - anything we give our time, resources, and loyalty to instead of Him.

Just like the crafted gods described in Isaiah, our idols require work and resources but can never help us when we're desperate. They leave us miserable, lonely, and empty despite our external success.

The Cost of Following Jesus

Everything Must Be Surrendered

When we give our lives to Christ, we give everything. Jesus said, "No one can serve two masters. You cannot serve God and wealth." Whatever our idol is - money, relationships, career, comfort, reputation - it must be surrendered.

This doesn't mean we can't have possessions or relationships, but they can't possess us. Everything we have belongs to God, and we're simply stewards of His gifts.

An Exchange Worth Making

Consider the exchange Jesus offers: He asks for our garbage - our sin, our broken attempts at righteousness, our idols that can't help us - and in return gives us treasures in heaven and abundant life now.

If we give Him our families, He'll take better care of them than we can. If we give Him our resources, He'll steward them better than we can. If we give Him our lives, He'll run them better than we can - because He's God and we're not.

What's In It for Us?

A Hundredfold Return

Jesus promised that those who leave everything to follow Him will receive "a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions, and in the age to come, eternal life."

When we truly surrender to Christ, we become rich not because of what we own, but because of what God owns. We have access to everything He has, plus eternal life.

Persecution Proves Our Commitment

Jesus was honest - following Him includes persecution. Trials and difficulties reveal who we really are. They either bring out the best in us as we rely on God's strength, or they expose that we were never truly committed.

The Call to Surrender

God is always asking us to do humanly impossible things - just like He asked Peter to walk on water or Moses to part the Red Sea. When we obey in faith, He provides the power to do what seemed impossible.

Whatever God is asking you to let go of, you can't do it without His empowerment. But the moment you step out in faith and obedience, He moves on your behalf.

Life Application

This week, honestly examine your life for idols. What takes most of your time, energy, and thoughts? What would be hardest for you to give up if God asked? That's likely your idol.

The call to follow Christ isn't just for those who've never believed - it's for all of us to continually surrender every area of our lives to Him. Are you holding back from full surrender because of fear of what it might cost?

Remember: salvation is free, but it will cost you everything. Yet what Jesus offers in return - abundant life now and eternal life forever - makes it the greatest exchange possible.

Questions for Reflection:

 

  • What idol in your life might be keeping you from fully following Jesus?
  • If Jesus asked you to give up the thing most important to you, would you be willing?
  • Are you trying to serve both God and another master in some area of your life?
  • What "humanly impossible" thing might God be asking you to do in faith?