At the heart of comparison and envy is the message that what God has given us is not enough. After all, when we are satisfied with what we have, we are not jealous of what our friends, family members, or neighbors have. Even more, we are confident that God has given us everything we need. He has provided us each day with Himself, and He is more than enough. When we are focused on Him and satisfied in Him, we do not need to look around us at what everyone else has. He is the one who can truly satisfy.
Mark 10 tells the heartbreaking story of a young man who did not understand that Jesus is enough and is the only One who can truly satisfy. In this passage of Scripture, the young man asked Him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life” (verse 18). This was a good question. This man understood that there was something different about Jesus. He knew that Jesus could point him toward eternal life. He did not understand, however, that Jesus was the source of life. Jesus answered this man’s question by naming some of the Ten Commandments. The man responded to Jesus, saying, “Teacher… I’ve obeyed all of these commandments since I was young" (verse 20). In other words, this man was telling Jesus that he was a good man because he had obeyed all of the commandments since boyhood. Jesus knew the man’s heart was not totally satisfied in God, so He responded to him by saying, “There is still one thing you haven’t done…go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (verse 21). Jesus extended this man an invitation to be one of His disciples and follow Him. It was the invitation of a lifetime! Unfortunately, this man was looking to his possessions to satisfy him rather than God. Mark 10 reveals that he chose not to accept Jesus’ invitation of a lifetime because he found satisfaction in things of this world instead of God. He was not willing to give up his wealth in order to follow Jesus.
This man’s story is heartbreaking. He “went away sad” after his conversation with Jesus (verse 22). Our stories do not have to end this way. We can choose to learn from this young man. We can choose to leave everything behind and turn only to Him for our hope and satisfaction. When he satisfies us, we do not need what everyone around us has. Will you look to Him and Him alone to satisfy your deepest needs?
Take time now to confess to God any places you are looking to satisfy yourself other than Him. Acknowledge that He alone can satisfy you and meet your deepest needs. Ask Him to help you let go of comparison and look to Him for satisfaction.
17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good. 19 But to answer your question, you know the commandments: ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. You must not cheat anyone. Honor your father and mother.’”
20 “Teacher,” the man replied, “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.”
21 Looking at the man, Jesus felt genuine love for him. “There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.
23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God!” 24 This amazed them. But Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. 25 In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
28 Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29 “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News, 30 will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that person will have eternal life. 31 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then.”
