Identity

I love how Tim Keller in Jesus The King describes the rich young ruler: “Of course he was missing something. Because anyone who counts on what they are doing to get eternal life will find that, in spite of everything they’ve accomplished, there’s an emptiness, an insecurity, a doubt. Something is bound to be missing. How can anyone ever know whether they are good enough?”

The rich young ruler thought he had it all. He had worked hard and had a lot of money. He’s kept all God’s laws faithfully. In essence what he’s doing is trying to earn his way into heaven. Jesus is saying to the rich young ruler, you have put your faith and trust in your wealth and accomplishments. But the effort is actually pushing you from God. You can’t earn your way into heaven.

The Rich Young Ruler Leaves Sad

This story ends with the rich young ruler going away sad (Mark 10:22)… but really that’s a bad translation. The word that’s used here is lupeó which translates better as “grieved.”

That’s the same word used when Jesus is in the garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:38). Jesus was grieved in great distress. Why? Because he knew what he was about to face. He knew he was about to experience separation from his father for the first time in eternity. He was losing his core, his identity, his very self.

Don’t miss this. Tim Keller in Jesus The King says this, “When Jesus called this young man to give up his money, the man started to grieve, because money was for him what the Father was for Jesus. It was the center of his identity.”

The problem with the rich young ruler is not his wealth. It’s where he placed his identity. He thought he didn’t need the grace of God because he could provide for himself. What Jesus was doing was revealing to him where he had placed his identity. And he left sad.