Chapter 6 – The Rich Young Ruler – Mark 10:17–22

Scripture Reference:
“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’”
Jesus reminded him of the commandments, which the man claimed to have kept since youth. But Jesus, looking at him with love, said, ‘One thing you lack. Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’
At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” – Mark 10:17–22

This story reveals the inner struggle between external obedience and internal surrender. The rich young ruler came to Jesus with the right question but the wrong expectation. He wanted to add eternal life to his list of achievements, not realizing that Jesus was asking for transformation, not transaction.

Jesus loved the man—Scripture makes that clear. Yet He also challenged the very thing the man clung to most: his wealth. Jesus wasn’t condemning wealth itself, but rather the way it can hold our hearts hostage. The young man couldn’t let go of his status, comfort, and security, even when eternal treasure was promised in return.

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Reflection from My Life:

Looking back on my life, I can recall many moments when I felt completely overwhelmed. I would ask, “Why is this so hard? What did I do to deserve this?” Those seasons felt unfair—like punishment without cause. But with the clarity of time, I’ve come to realize that those difficult seasons were some of the most valuable. They were refining. They stripped away pride, entitlement, and illusion. Without those experiences, I would have missed out on life-changing lessons.

The rich man in this story didn’t want to hear the truth Jesus gave him—not because he was evil, but because the truth was hard. He was looking for a checklist. He wanted affirmation that he had done enough. But Jesus offered him a deeper call: give up what owns you and follow me.

I’ve come to believe that no one earns their place in Heaven. We all have a place, because of God’s grace—not because of our merit. But how we experience that eternal place is a reflection of how we lived and loved here on earth.

In my “Heaven and Hell” reflection, I wrote:

“Heaven is a place of immense love, absolute truth, and transparency… where individuals experience either peace or torment based on their actions in life.”

For someone like the rich man, who clings to possessions or position, Heaven may not feel like paradise at first. The very light that brings peace to others might feel like a fire burning away all that he refused to release in life. His place is assured… but his experience is shaped by what he held onto and what he let go.