He quickly packed up a few personal items and important business records, leaving behind a lifetime of possessions that we both agreed was just stuff. And stuff can be replaced, right? But we both knew it was more than that.
Had Milton stayed on course, Mike’s life would’ve been forever changed. If you’ve ever lost everything—whether to a house fire, divorce, or an eviction—you can probably sympathize not just with Mike but also the man Jesus encounters in today’s reading.
A man with many possessions comes and bows down at Jesus’s feet. He wants to know what he has to do to inherit eternal life. And Jesus seems almost dismissive. He gives the man a quick run-down of the usual religious stuff, which the guy has been doing religiously his whole life.
Mark writes, Jesus looks at the man lovingly which sounds sweet until you realize he’s just preparing the guy for a shock of a lifetime - instructing him to sell everything he owns and give the money to the poor. Don’t keep one penny of the proceeds. If you own a house, or car, or have a retirement fund then this is probably the stop you get off at, right. Mark said the man went away grieving because he had a lot of possessions. I think there’s more to his sorrow. No matter how much he accumulated, he still lacked something. He spent his whole life practicing his faith, yet his heart remained empty. Perhaps you can relate. We live in a materialistic culture that measures most things in monetary terms. We are inundated by ads tempting us to believe that if we have this or that then our life will be better off. To hear Jesus say liquidate our 401k’s and give the proceeds away to the poor, our first instinct is to hightail it outta there. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “Discipleship can only be maintained as long as nothing is allowed to come between Christ and ourselves – neither the law, personal piety, or even the world.” Before we are quick to judge this rich young man, here’s something we ought to consider. In the ancient world, material prosperity was widely seen as a reward for one’s spiritual virtue. Similar to the prosperity gospel preached today, his wealth suggested he did everything right to make God blessed him so handsomely. Even the disciples were shocked to learn someone like him didn’t just automatically inherit eternal life. The thing is, we don’t buy or barter our way into heaven. It’s not up to us or anyone else. It’s up to God, whose steadfast love and unconditional grace has already cleared the way forward for anyone who wants in. So why then did the guy walk away? I think it’s because Jesus just awoken in him what life and eternal life look like in God’s Kingdom. It’s not about following laws until the end of the ages. Nor is it about the quantity of stuff we accumulate. Instead, it’s quality of our giving that stuff away – including ourselves. It’s about connecting with the ageless values of God – to care for the poor and needy with all that we have; to practice justice and mercy with a humble and faithful heart. This is what it means to follow Jesus. It’s not about making a deal with God. It’s about making a difference so others can see God’s glory shine through me and you. Discipleship is less about checking off a list of religious obligations. And more about following the Way of Jesus that leads to an abundant and everlasting life beginning with the life we are given right here in the space between us and them. Jesus offers this man something greater than all the stuff he possesses. But to receive this wonderful new gift entails letting go of the old life he knew and loved. No wonder the guy walks away upset. When we moved to Michigan, I had to get rid of a bunch of old stuff I’d collected and carried with me for years. Beautiful, mid-century modern furniture, and kitschy knick-knacks that had defined me, like my old job had. Watching my past drive off in someone else’s car, I realized that I’m not defined by what I own, but by who owns me: God. In that moment, I felt a part of me leave as well, which took time to get over. Still, what has remained, is God’s love that continues to carry me forward. Now, on another note, this young man wasn’t simply giving up his wealth, but all the power and prestige that came with it. Letting it go would mean he would be left completely naked and socially insignificant. The guy walked away upset because he took these words to heart knowing his life will never be the same again. But isn’t that the point? The Way of Jesus is all about transformation – from the inside out. It changes the way we see ourselves in relationship with God and others, in every aspect of life. We are all created in God’s image. And God can’t help but love that part of us, no matter who we are or what we’ve done. God’s love and grace is so immense that we can’t fully grasp it if our hands and heart are already full of other stuff. Jesus calls us to empty ourselves completely so we can be filled completely until we overflow with God’s glory. Spilling mercy and love and kindness and generosity like a toddler carrying a glass of milk. Moving on in the story, if we only gauge what happens by the dialog that follows between Jesus and the twelve, it’s easy to assume this man ignored what was asked of him. But did he? A few chapters later, Mark adds this one very odd verse that comes out of left field. Such verses are there to tell us to stop and pay close attention. It appears on the night Jesus is arrested in the garden. Mark writes, “A certain young man was following him, wearing nothing but a linen cloth. They caught hold of him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked” (Mark 14:51). Most scholars believe this naked man is Mark writing himself into the story, which was a common practice in those days. If that were true, then I would argue Mark’s real story began at Jesus’ feet where he questioned his inheritance. Like so many others who encountered Jesus in their life, this wild nudist realized the value of what Jesus has to offer, and literally gave up everything to possess it. He took Jesus’ words to heart, and faithfully followed him – just as he had been following the commandments his whole life. In the end, the young man got what he desired the most. His story lives on in three of the four gospels. And continues to live with us - challenging our call to discipleship. This story invites us to take a serious look at the things that hold us back from embracing the life God wants for us on this side of heaven. I’m not just talking about letting go of money or material possessions. It’s easy to give away clothes and furniture to those in need, especially after a natural disaster like a hurricane or fire. If we want to live a truly transformed life, then we have to let go of stuff that’s holding us back from embodying it. Things like resentment, prejudice, and limiting beliefs. Remember Jesus doesn't tell the man to be perfect or even religious. He just said get rid of the things that keep you from faithfully following him embracing a way of life that’s all about loving God, loving others, and serving both. Discipleship is not about saying or believing the right thing. It’s about confronting and letting go of the idols of our hearts, be it wealth, status, or self-sufficiency. It’s about giving up everything that takes our focus and trust off God. The stuff, that Jesus says, make it “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter into the Kingdom of God.” What is getting in your way to seeing this kingdom from being revealed to you, right here and right now? What’s stopping you from loving others unconditionally? What’s keeping you from living faithfully by making God’s love come alive in the flesh so no one is without? Jesus gave up everything he had so we could experience the divine economy of grace. Through him we receive abundantly so we can give generously, and fearlessly, and faithfully. Jesus said it so succinctly when he told his disciples to “love one another as God first loved you.” Love is the way we not only transform ourselves, but the world and communities we are a part of. For when we are able to truly love one another, and share all our peace and prosperity with everyone, we will not only gain the world, but all the treasures of heaven. Works Cited Bartlett, David L., Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. Feasting on the Word: Year B, Vol. 4. . Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2009. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost Of Discipleship. New York: McMillian, 1949. Haverkamp, Heidi. "Reflections on the Lectionary." Christian Century, 09 26, 2018: 20. Kesselus, Ken. Possessions. 09 21, 2018. http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/stw/2018/09/21/possessions-pentecost-21-b-october-14-2018/ (accessed 10 12, 2018).
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