Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is

Following Jesus requires deep sacrifice and commitment

“Christ and the Rich Young Ruler” by Heinrick Hofmann (Public Domain)

One day a man approached Jesus inquiring about “eternal life.” He wanted to know what to do to attain it.

Jesus responded listing five of the ten commandments:

Do not commit adultery.
Do not murder.
Do not bear false witness.
Do not defraud.
Honor father and mother.

I have often wondered why Jesus named only five, and why he chose these particular ones.

Anyway, the man was able to reply rather confidently that he qualified because he had observed all these from his youth.

This is not such a noble achievement when you consider that there are “good people” out there who may not necessarily be followers of Jesus who live by these principles. These are just decent things to do, very attainable to decent folks, Christian or not.

Apparently Jesus wasn’t all that impressed.

“One thing you lack,” he replied. “Go and sell everything you have, and give the money to the poor. Then take up the cross and follow me.”

In other words, Jesus said, “Put your money where your mouth is!”