When Good Isn’t Good Enough | Mark 10:17-22

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Today's shout-out goes to James Oliver Cox from Cherry Log, GA. Thank you for your partnership with us through Project23. You're helping us call people to deeper surrender. This one's for you.

Our text today is Mark 10:17-22:

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. — Mark 10:17-22

He runs. He kneels. He asks. He's moral. He's successful. He's hungry for something more. And Jesus sees it. But Jesus also sees deeper into the one thing he lacks.

The rich young man is seeking one more thing to add to his list of accomplishments. He wants to complete the checklist. But Jesus invites a different question that leads to an unexpected answer: "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone."

It's a subtle signal toward a loftier reflection—there is no "level of goodness" that reaches the extent of God's goodness.

Then comes his invitation. Not to do more, but to let go. Sell it. Give it. Follow him alone. This has nothing to do with poverty—it's about priority. His wealth wasn't the problem. It was his grip on his wealth that was the problem. And when Jesus touches on this sensitive area, the man walks away sad.

Jesus always comes after the thing we grip onto that keeps us from gripping onto him. This is because he's not interested in our level of spiritual goodness or religious checklists. He wants surrendered hearts, fully willing to let go of their grip on things and grip onto him. For this man, it was his money. For you, it may be something different or more specific, such as success, approval, comfort, or a sense of control.

But Jesus doesn't care about these things, unless you are going to loosen your grip on them and sacrifice them to him to grip fully on him. Because the call to "follow me" always means we have to "unfollow" something else.

#SurrenderEverything, #FollowJesus, #Project23

ASK THIS:

What good things are you tempted to use as spiritual credentials?
Why do you think Jesus loved the rich man even before he responded?
What’s one thing you’re afraid Jesus might ask you to surrender?
How does this story reshape your view of “success”?
DO THIS:

Ask yourself, “What’s the one thing Jesus might ask me to unfollow?” Then ask him for the courage to surrender it.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, show me what I’m still clinging to. I want to follow you without hesitation—help me let go of whatever stands in the way. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“I Surrender.”