What I’m Thinking: What Holds Me Back?

When a sincerely pious man asked Jesus how to obtain eternal life, the answer was, at first, easy. “Keep the commandments.” After that, though, it got… difficult.

Here’s a transcript:

I’m thinking this week about a conversation that Jesus had with a man who was righteous, good, pious, as recorded in the tenth chapter of Mark (Mark 10:17-31).

He came to Jesus and asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus said, you must do what’s in the commandments, to which the man replied, well, these are the things that I have done since I was young.

Jesus looked upon him and loved him, and said, well, there’s just one thing more: Sell all that you have, give it to the poor, and then, come and follow me. At this the man went away grieving because, Mark says, he had many possessions.

I wonder: what is it that keeps each of us from a deep and inspiring discipleship of Jesus. What keeps us from truly following him?

Is it wealth and possessions? For many of us, I suspect, it is. But it also might be power, or position. It might be some sense of one’s place in the community – and for some us, that might be a sense that as long as we understand ourselves as oppressed or forsaken, that that is a part of our identity, of who we are.

Are those things that we can leave behind, to then walk with Jesus? Are those things that we can give away to another and then go and follow Jesus?

I wonder: What is it that keeps me from that depth of discipleship?

What might it be for you?

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear about what you’re thinking. Leave me your thoughts in the comment section below; I’d love to hear from you.