That could be us talking to Jesus, right?
What the rich man who approached Jesus wanting to inherit eternal life really wanted was to maintain eternal wealth. Jesus' command that he Go and Sell and Give away his wealth, and then Come and Follow was just too much. He turned away; he had many possessions.
We could call it greed or entitlement. Perhaps it was simply a lack of imagination.
He couldn't imagine that life could happen without the wealth that made his life bearable.
He couldn't imagine that he would find something to eat and drink or shelter in the rain.
He couldn't imagine that Jesus was serious and therefore concluded that Jesus had lost it.
He couldn't imagine a life that so far exceeded the one he was living that any price required was reasonable.
He couldn't imagine that even if a life did exist that didn't require the wealth he had that he would want it in the end.
That's the best spin I can give this. It is also possible that he couldn't imagine being asked to simply give away what was his to those people. It is possible that he considered his wealth to be a sign of his personal worth as a human being, ergo the poor had no worth at all in the sight of the Creator.
It is also possible that he went away sorrowful, but one day, down the road, began the journey back towards the Lord of Life, giving away bits and pieces, growing in generosity, learning that he was a worthy human without his wealth and all those poor folks were human beings too. Possibly the humility of that day wrought humbleness in his life.
Just perhaps, when he re-played that day again and again, remembering when Jesus invited him to be one of the beloved ones and he turned away... perhaps he was sure he had lost any chance of being counted among Jesus' beloved ones.
He'd be wrong. Jesus is always inviting, moving down on the bench and making room. But the room is for you, not all that stuff that you drag along with you. Jesus wants you because the life he offers exceeds our best imagination.
Are you ready?
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