The Test

The Test

Mark 10:19-22, NLT

“But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’” 20“Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” 21Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.

Setting the Scene

These six commandments Jesus mentioned focus on behavior, and this man’s obedience could have been easily verified. The first four of the Ten Commandments, especially number one (“You must not have any other god but me” [Exodus 20:3, NLT]) all have more to do with being than doing and probably would have elicited a different response from the young man. But how he was keeping the first commandment was the crucial question. What was most important to this young man?

Upon hearing Jesus’ list, the young man replied that he had kept them all since youth. We don’t know whether he answered with pride or confusion, but Jesus lovingly explained, “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” and told him, “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Immediately Jesus exposed the problem: Money and possessions were most important to this young man; they occupied God’s rightful place in his life.

This young man’s wealth gave him power and prestige. In telling him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of the young man’s security and identity. This man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. He could not meet the one requirement Jesus gave—to turn his whole heart and life over to God.

Only by putting his treasure in heaven and following Jesus could the man be assured of his eternal destiny. But he failed the test and “went away sad.”

Getting Personal

Usually our personal idols are good pursuits or desires that we elevate. What, if anything, competes for God’s place in your life?

Why is idol removal so difficult? What can you do daily to make God the center of your life?

The human heart is an idol factory. We continually elevate or invent a wide variety of God-substitutes: career, relationship, status, power, prized possession, financial security, and so on. Even after a person embraces Christ as Savior and Lord, the factory remains in business. But God demands total allegiance. We must continually remove those idols—repenting and believing.

Talking to God

Confess to the Lord your struggles to keep him central and first in your priorities. Name the issues that compete for your loyalty and attention. Ask the Lord to show you how you should handle these “other gods” in order to keep your affections in an order that pleases him.