Luke 18:18 tells us that a certain ruler came to ask the Lord Jesus how he might inherit eternal life. From his conversation with Jesus, it is clear that he was a Jew who strictly observed the Law. Jesus said to him, “You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honour your father and mother.’ ‘All these I have kept since I was a boy,’ he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’”(18:19–22). Jesus did not deny that the man had carefully kept the Law, but He pointed out that this was still not enough for him to inherit eternal life. The ruler may have assumed that eternal life would come easily to him, since he had been so diligent in observing the Law. Unexpectedly, however, Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions and follow Him in order to inherit eternal life. Was it because he had not done enough good deeds that Jesus required him to give more to the poor?
“When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy” (18:23). In fact, Jesus was challenging him to let go of his wealth in order to follow Him; the issue was not about doing more good works. Jesus’ demand struck directly at the ruler’s deepest attachment—his wealth. Wealth itself was not the real obstacle; the true hindrance to inheriting eternal life was his attachment to earthly riches. This ruler was extremely wealthy. His possessions not only gave him a comfortable life, but also social status, position, and the respect of others. What he had was what many people desired. Yet Jesus asked him to give it all up. If it were you or me, we might struggle just as he did to let go of so many advantages. The more wealth one has, the more one must give up, and the greater the perceived loss. Therefore, “Jesus looked at him and said, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God’”(18:23–25). The image of “a camel going through the eye of a needle” is vivid, and Jesus’ listeners immediately responded: “Those who heard this asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’”(18:26). A camel, such a large animal, cannot possibly pass through the tiny eye of a needle. Yet compared to asking a rich person to give up his wealth in order to enter the kingdom of heaven, the former almost seems more likely. In other words, for those who cling to the benefits of this world, entering God’s kingdom is nearly impossible. Only those who are willing to let go of these benefits and follow Jesus can receive the promise of eternal life.
The ruler became very sad after hearing Jesus’ challenge because he faced a painful decision. He longed for eternal life, yet he could not bear to give up his earthly wealth and advantages. Are we any different? For those who have not yet believed in Jesus, like this rich man, their security lies in what they already possess—their resources and abilities. To let go of all this and follow Jesus—that is, to rely fully on Him—seems almost impossible, unless one truly believes that Jesus’ words and promises are real. “Jesus replied, ‘What is impossible with man is possible with God’”(18:27). For Christians, the transformation of life is a wonderful process. It is not something we control. From the moment we believe in the Lord Jesus, we gradually realise that the benefits of this world and the blessings of heaven are not an equal choice; choosing heaven becomes the obvious decision. God works in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, granting us the faith to believe in Jesus. Yet this faith does not mean that we instantly become unwavering. The temptations of the world, the hardships of life, and our old nature often cause us to struggle between earthly benefits and eternal life. We fear suffering loss for the sake of following the Lord. “Peter said to him, ‘We have left all we had to follow you!’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life’” (18:28–30). After hearing Jesus’ challenge to the rich ruler, Peter responded. He and the other disciples made the decision the rich man could not—they left everything to follow the Lord. Some might think this was not especially impressive, since Peter did not have much to begin with; he was only a fisherman, so it was easier for him to leave everything behind. Indeed, for those who have little or nothing, the loss involved in leaving everything may not seem as great as it does for the wealthy. But truly leaving everything to follow Jesus is not measured by how much one gives up, but by why one gives it up. Jesus teaches that whoever leaves everything for the sake of God’s kingdom—including wealth, family ties, and relationships—will receive abundant rewards both in this life and in the life to come. It is right to long for God’s reward, and Jesus Himself uses God’s promises to encourage believers to follow Him. Yet ultimately, we follow the Lord because we ought to obey Him, submit to Him, and acknowledge Him as our King. Leaving these things behind does not mean abandoning our families or responsibilities. Scripture still calls us to love our parents, children, and family, and to manage faithfully the possessions God has entrusted to us. Rather, it means refusing to let these things become obstacles that prevent us from following the Lord wholeheartedly. May brothers and sisters follow the Lord in 2026 with boldness and receive abundantly the rewards God graciously gives.