Looking for More

In the book of Matthew, we see a man whom Jesus loved. I would speculate because he wanted
more...
This man we know as the "Rich Young Ruler" found in both books of Matthew and Mark. The
historical account goes as follows:

Mark 10:17-27  MSG

As he went out into the street, a man came running up, greeted him with great reverence, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus said, “Why are you calling me good? No one is good, only God. You know the commandments: Don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t cheat, honor your father and mother.”

He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”

Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.”

The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go.

Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” The disciples couldn’t believe what they were hearing, but Jesus kept on: “You can’t imagine how difficult. I’d say it’s easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for the rich to get into God’s kingdom.”

That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked.

Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”

This man who earnestly sought out and found Jesus to ask him this question, I believe was looking for more. He knew there was more then just making money, donating money, obeying the commandments. He knew there was a way to interact with God, a higher, more selective calling, today we would describe this calling as "full time ministry". This calling is not for everyone, there are some people in "full time ministry", who should not be, and some people who aren't and should be based solely upon the will of God. The young man is someone who was operating in his correct place, his calling was to be a business man and serve the Lord in that, but he knew there was more and he wanted it, so he asked for it. What I find particularly amazing about this story is how Jesus actually offered it to him. See how it says, "Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him!" This verse goes hand in hand with 1 Samuel 16:7 which describes how the Lord looks not on the outward appearance, but on the heart, and Jesus was looking right on the young mans heart and saw that he wanted more. 

An opportunity was presented, but it's not free, it's an amazing opportunity, but it is going to cost you and this young man was not willing to pay the price. He believed his money was more valuable then this precious opportunity the Lord was offering him. I call it precious because The Lord does not offer it to everyone who asks. 

I actually admire this young man. At least he was honest enough with himself to say, "no thank you, I'm happy enough where I am". I don't see the tragedy in this historical account that most people do. I believe this young man continued to serve the Lord in his lower calling for the rest of his life and was welcomed into heaven when he died, but once he arrived, I believe it became immediately apparent that he had the opportunity to receive much, much more honor and glory for much, much longer and on a much, much grander scale. I'm sure in the end, he regretted not readily accepting this precious and rare gift the Lord Jesus was bestowing upon him.