The Dangerous Question

“The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?”-Matthew 19:20

What lack I?  An honest, and dangerous question to ask the Lord.  Sadly, many of us will intentionally or unintentionally avoid such a question.  Either we are too self-assured, too self-centered, or self-confident. Too busy, high minded, or afraid to reach deep enough into ourselves and be honest with our Lord.  Honest enough to ask, “what lack I yet?”

The rich young ruler came to Christ seeking assures and direction to obtain eternal life.  Christ commanded him to keep the commandments.  To which the young man responded: “which?”.  No doubt when Christ began listing the commandments the young man’s heart was glad.  He knew those scriptures and knew you could not find fault against him there.  Those boxes were checked.  When Jesus finished the young ruler promptly responded “All these have I kept..”  Then the young man proceeded to ask the dangerous question, “what lack I yet?”  In asking he was willing to submit himself to the closest examination from Christ.  He welcomed Jesus to take out the search light and look behind every nook and cranny.  To make a clean sweep into the far corners of his heart and bring to light whatever Christ would find.  Christ found the very thing that he loved the most, and it was the very thing that he lacked to be perfect.  Jesus said, “go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.”  The ruler was confronted with his most treasured possession, his treasure.  The comfort, status, pleasure, and prestige that came with them.  The scripture says that he “went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”  In his eyes it was too much to give.  Too much to forsake.  The treasures of this world were more than the treasures of the world to come.  The life of wealth was richer than the life of sacrifice.  He could give some, but he could not give all; and he went away sorrowful.  Herein lies the danger and blessing of this one question: what lack I yet?  When asked with an earnest and sincere heart before Christ; you will get an answer.  The Holy Ghost will search your heart, your life, and bring to light your most treasured possession.  It may be riches, ideologies, identities, relationships, aspirations.  Whatever the case, the call will ultimately be the same: “sell all.”  Give up what you are and what you love most and surrender to Christ.  Follow him.  Follow him despite everything because he is worthy.  Follow him because he is hope for life eternal.  Follow him because what you give is a fraction of what you gain. 

The thing is, when you ask Christ “what lack I yet?”  You don’t get to choose his response.  You lay it all on the line, and the comfort box that you have crafted for yourself will be busted wide open; in an instant.  Just a few words “go, sell, follow” and it upends your entire life.  You are forced out of your comfort zone to rely totally on faith.  No, many, many people will not dare to face Christ as this young ruler did. They will not surrender themselves to this daring test, this searching question: what lack I yet? Will you?