The rich young ruler (5) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

He was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:22

The rich young ruler (5)
The Lord Jesus had uncovered the young ruler's weak point: despite all his admirable qualities he was selfish at the bottom of his heart and devoted to wealth. As a result he served "Mammon". He had asked the Lord for advice but would not accept what he was told. He was not prepared to give up the master he had served hitherto in order to serve a better one. So he departed sad and grieved, leaving the Saviour, the Son of God behind.

This episode helps us to understand why Romans 3:12 insists that "there is none who does good, no, not one". If anyone claims to be good, just and ­noble-minded and seeks to prove his assertion with a host of good works, God points to the Lord Jesus Christ, saying, as it were, "There is the perfect Man. There you can see the measure by which I judge everyone who trusts in himself." So the standard is Jesus Christ, who was rich and became poor, who sought no honour for Himself but only the honour of His God and Father and who gave His life for His enemies. We can easily understand that, if Jesus Christ is the standard measure, there is no-one who does good.

It may well be that a love of wealth is not the obstacle hindering us from conforming to God's glory and attaining eternal life through our own works. But the self-sacrifice of the Son of God uncovers every other form of self-centredness in us humans. At the same time, however, it makes the grace of God and the salvation that is in Christ Jesus available for us all.

(to be concluded on Thursday)

Today's reading: Joshua 24:6-15 · 1 Corinthians 16:1-9