I never saw this before.  The same question was asked to Jesus by two different people and he gave two different answers.  The question “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  In Luke 18:19, he told the rich young ruler to “sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.”  A few chapters before in Luke 10:25, a lawyer asks him the same question, but the answer was different.  The lawyer was to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” If he did this, Jesus said that he would live.

Why do you suppose that Jesus gave two different answers to the same question?  Why not just give one pat answer?  I think this is because he knew the one thing in their life that was keeping them from completely serving God.  He knew what the barrier was and he addressed their question head on.  He gave them a specific answer for their specific situation.  For the lawyer, he obviously knew the law well, but did he know what it meant to love?  For the rich man, he had wealth, but it was wealth that kept him from completely serving God.  I also find it interesting that even though Jesus later says it is hard to have riches and serve God, that it wasn’t long before Jesus finds Zaccheus, who was very rich.  Zaccheus, a rich person responds to Jesus appropriately while the first rich young man does not.

Have you asked Jesus to show you what is keeping you from serving Him completely?  This is Holy week - the week between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday.  This is a week to remember what Jesus Christ did for us - giving Himself completely for you and me.  Ask Jesus to show you what that block is and then listen to what He says (We need to pause more in prayer to hear God speak).  Whatever it is, lay it down at the Cross and let Him take control of that area. Perhaps He will give you something specific to do. As long as that direction lines up with the Word of God, then do it.   Don’t hold back giving God 95 or even 98 %.  Commit during this holy week to being wholly His.

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