The Rich Young Ruler and the Modern Christian

In order to answer the question, “does the command that Jesus gave to the rich young ruler, ‘sell everything you have and give it to the poor’, apply to us today?” we must understand the context in which his command is given. I intend to explore Mark 10:17-31 and discover the relevance of Jesus’ command to the rich young man.
 We must take into account that Mark sets the stage for this story with Jesus calling for the children and telling all who could hear, “anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter into it.” Children in that day were not highly valued: infant mortality rate was high, children couldn’t work the fields and were an extra mouth to feed, were not required to obey the commandments of God and were thought of as unrighteous. They have nothing to offer, they are the least, last, most undeserving examples Christ could have used, but he did it with intent. Kids ask on no merit of their own (I deserve this) they must receive solely on the grace of one greater than themselves granting them their request. Everything is a gift (freely given) to them and Christ is saying this is the way in to the kingdom. 

Enters the rich young ruler. He comes with a profound question, “good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Jesus obviously senses that the question of the man’s lips is not the question of his heart.” (Edwards, 309) So Jesus begins to dig deeper, through the superficiality to the core. “Why do you call me good, no one is good except for God alone?” Jesus is saying if you see me as just a Rabbi (teacher), a mere man, and you call me “good”, you must believe that you being a man can be good, and moreover, good enough to the kingdom as you are. After further boasting from the young man on his ability to keep the law, Jesus asks him to sell all he has and give it to the poor. The man knows he can’t do this and walks away sad. The idea here is Jesus requires all of us no half-hearted commitments. This man thought, in his heart, he was good enough all by himself to enter in. He must have thought Jesus would praise him for how “good” he is and make him the example for all to see and follow. But the truth is Jesus is the example for all of us to follow and the only way into the kingdom is by no merit of our own, just as the little children, but through complete trust in Jesus. Evidently this was to much for the young man.
 It wasn’t the money; it was the placement of trust. This man obviously trusted more in his possessions than he did in Christ. If we are going to inherit eternal life we must sell out to our own ability to provide for ourselves a way of goodness and completely fall on the mercies of God. “To the question what the man must do to inherit life in the future, Jesus directs him to the present. He must do something now. His full adherence to the moral law, good and necessary as it is, is no substitute fro following Jesus…In following Jesus the man “will have treasure in heaven” (v. 21). Jesus offers himself as a substitute for the man’s possessions.” (Edwards 312)

Jesus looks to his disciples and asks them, “How hard is it for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God?” He tells them it is easier for a camel to enter through the eye of a needle then for a rich man (one consumed with earthly possessions) to enter the kingdom of God. R. Alan Cole says, “There does not seem to be any good early evidence for the view that the phrase eye of a needle means a postern-gate in the city wall, with a consequent need for the camel to kneel and be unloaded if it is to be pushed through. The ninth century AD is the earliest reference that Shcweizer can find for this interpretation: it therefore reads like a pious late fabrication. It is better to see the metaphor as one of sheer impossibility.” (Cole 237-238) Cole is suggesting that the disciples, the first century reader, and the modern Christian all hear this as an impossible task. Christ is making an emphatic declaration that it is impossible to think you can be good enough to enter the kingdom or rich enough to buy eternal life with God. It is in no way by our own merit, it is purely by the grace and goodness of God.

For the modern Christians, we must understand that this command of Jesus is not at all about the money, but rather it is completely about the heart and perception of our own worth and goodness. It will be impossible for us to inherit eternal life if we are not willing to give complete control and absolute trust of our present lives over to the reign of Christ and follow him no matter what the cost. If we are not willing to do this, we will have no part with him.

Edwards, James R. "The Gospel According to Mark", TPNTC. 2002
Cole, R. Allen. "Mark", The Tyndale New Test. Comm.", 1st ed. 1961