The Missing Ingredient Series

18 A certain ruler asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 19Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 20You know the commandments: “You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; Honour your father and mother.” ’ 21He replied, ‘I have kept all these since my youth.’ 22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, ‘There is still one thing lacking. Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ 23But when he heard this, he became sad; for he was very rich. (Luke 18: 18-23; NRSV)

In Luke’s account of Jesus’ encounter with the rich ruler, we see a man who seems to have the recipe for an ideal life – power, money, and religious zeal. However Jesus informs him that his ‘life recipe’ is missing an ingredient – the formative experience of allowing God to redefine his purpose and to redirect the usage of his possessions. All of the man’s statements point to what he has kept or wants to receive. But Jesus informs him that he needs to give to others and lose his will in God’s will.

Let this passage encourage us to be steadfast in our stewardship. For in giving our resources and ourselves to Christ, we do more than realize a strategic plan for the church; we also allow God to realize His strategic plan for our lives. God’s transforming work in our lives is something that is too good to miss.