Love not the World

And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
(Mar 10:17-22)


This young man seemed to be full of great zeal to do what was right. After all, he came RUNNING to Jesus. And as Jesus begins to remind him of the commandments, he acknowledges that he had observed those things since he was a youth. But then Jesus points out "One thing thou lackest".

We must be careful in feeling good about "following" all the commandments. Serving Christ is not about checking things off of a list, but about serving Him with all of our heart. One small part of our heart not sold out to Him means we are lacking. I don't want to be found falling short of His desires for my life. Lord help us not to coming running, eager with zeal, but to have to go away in sadness because there is something in this world that we love more that our Saviour.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
(1Jn 2:15-17)