If you want to go to Heaven
Sell All That You Have

by Tyler Young

When an extraordinary young man came to Jesus with the most critical question that could ever be asked, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”, the Lord's response was simple enough: “If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” After Jesus listed several commands the young man remarked, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Perhaps he wanted to hear Jesus tell him he lacked nothing. Perhaps he was one of those rare, truly conscientious souls who wanted to know of anything in his life that needed correction. Whatever the case may be, he could not have been prepared for the startling response he received. “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mat. 19:16ff; Mark 10:17ff).

Does the Lord require this of all? If we would be disciples of Christ and inherit eternal life, does the Lord demand we sell all we have?

Yes. When we understand what the Lord instructed this man to do it is evident that—in principle—he is telling us all to do the same. Apparently Jesus knew this young ruler’s wealth was the one thing that was keeping him from fully serving God as he ought. Despite all of his faithfulness in other areas, there was just one thing in his life which claimed greater affection than God—his money. Only by purging his life of his material wealth could he throw off the yoke of trusting in his riches that he might be free to follow Christ without distraction.

Must we, then, sell all we own in order to follow Christ? If we allow our material possessions—whether many or few—to prevent us from being faithful to Christ, and if getting rid of them is what it takes to cause us to surrender wholly to God, then yes, we must do the same. The Son of God demands we take up our crosses and follow him, bending our wills in full submission to his (Mat. 16:24ff; 28:18-20). Anything that would keep us from putting him first above all else must be relinquished. Whatever it is—money, entertainment, worldly companions, preoccupation with work or undue devotion to family—if it interferes with duty to God it must be renounced. 

The Lord emphasized this in graphic terms when he said, “If your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life lame or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire” (Mat. 18:8). In other words, whatever is necessary to eliminate those things in our lives that keep us from surrendering fully to God must be done. No price is too high. Nothing is worth holding on to if it will cause us to forfeit heaven and be lost in hell (Mat. 16:26). 

From his encounter with the Lord the young man “went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions” (Mark 10:22). The one thing keeping him from following the path to glory was the one thing the Lord required he leave behind. It was the one thing he would not.

Is there something keeping you from being a faithful disciple of Christ? The same thing Jesus said to that young man he says to you and to all: “Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.”