Day 6: All in in Total Surrender

In Matthew 19, we meet an unnamed man, commonly known as the rich young ruler.

Today, if someone comes to us who is rich, young and already proven as a leader, we would sit up and pay attention.

Such a person would be valuable for our church or for our business. In the days of Jesus, the rich, young ruler would be most promising as a prospective disciple of Jesus.

Yet, we will see in the conversation between Jesus and the young man that Jesus never made it easy for him to become a disciple. In fact, Jesus made it most difficult for him – it would cost him everything he had.

The conversation between this man and Jesus can be summarised in 4 parts:

1. Firstly, the young man came to the right person, Jesus.

2. Second, the young man asked the right question:

“Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16)

3. In response, Jesus directed the young man to the Ten Commandments, mentioning five of them:

“Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honour your father and your mother.” (Matthew 19:18-19)

Jesus was holding up the commandments, the Law of Moses, up to the young ruler’s face as a mirror for him to see what he looks like.

The young man looked at the mirror, and he saw someone who was looking pretty good. He told Jesus in verse 20:

“All these I have kept… What do I still lack?” (Matthew 19:20)

Jesus delivered the punchline – it came from the last of the Ten Commandments.

“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Matthew 19:21)

The 10th commandment says, “Do not covet.” It is the only commandment that is observed in the heart.

All the other commandments are observed or violated outwardly: You steal with your hands, you lie with your mouth, you murder with a weapon, and you commit adultery with someone.

Because the young man had never committed any of these acts, he thought he was good, blameless, and righteous.

Jesus made it most difficult for him – it would cost him everything he had.

But Jesus exposed him to one commandment he had broken: He had coveted. He had acquired wealth, possessions, and treasures, and he was not willing to let go of them.

“When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Matthew 19:22)

This is one of those sad verses in the Bible. Here is someone who came to the right person, asked the right question, got the right answer, and in the end…

4. He went and did the wrong thing.

When the young man came to Jesus, Jesus asked of him one thing and one thing only: Total surrender.

Jesus asks us to surrender that part of our life that is hardest to surrender. For the young man, it was his possessions. For us – for you, for me – it may be something else.

Many of us call Jesus “Lord”, but we go on living our lives as if we are the Lord.

What are we holding back from the Lord? What is holding us back from the Lord?

Remember that the greatest hindrance to discipleship is not in what we lack but in what we have. The more we have, the more we hold on to; the harder it is for us to follow Jesus.

Letting go is not easy. We are afraid to let go because we think of it as losing rather than gaining.

Many of us call Jesus “Lord”, but we go on living our lives as if we are the Lord.

The rich young ruler could not let go of his wealth because he thought of it as a loss.

But Jesus did not just say, “Go and sell.” He also said, “Come and follow.” Jesus was not asking him to give up something for nothing; Jesus was asking him to give up something for something better.

God asks for all of us, but he is no one’s debtor. He always gives back more. The reason why God demands full surrender and total commitment is that He Himself is totally committed to us.

Until we give ourselves completely to him, we will never see the blessing of full surrender.

Friends, the challenge to us is the same challenge Jesus issued to the rich young ruler: Will you go All In – in total surrender to Him?

Let us pray:

Dear God, we come before You with closed hands. They represent everything we have not been willing to surrender to You. And now we choose to slowly open these hands to You. God, help us let go of anything that is keeping us from following You fully.

Lord, now, with these open hands we receive Your promises. Your blessing. Your abundance. Your strength to face persecution and hardship. Your provision of all we need. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.