Seeking More
What do I lack?
The young man said to him, "I have kept all these; what do I still lack?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When the young man heard this word, he went away grieving, for he had many possessions. - Matthew 19:20-22
In today's Gospel, a young man with many possessions seeks perfection and is disappointed.
He came to Jesus seeking advice. What do I need to do to obtain eternal life?
After Jesus answers the question, and the man realizes that he is doing the right things, he could have left happy, but he chooses to push for more.
He didn't need more, but it was in his personality to want more than enough, so he winds up with an answer he doesn't want and leaves disappointed.
Why push the limit? Why not leave well enough alone?
You would think that it would be a good thing to want to be better, to seek perfection, but we may not be ready to commit that much.
If we want to gain everything, we should have to sacrifice everything. We need to be all in. And there is a good deal of risk in going all in.
I don't think the young man knew what he was asking Jesus. It is clear that he was missing something in his life and he thought there was a quick fix to get it.
Perhaps he just wanted reassurance. You're doing the right thing. Go and be happy with that.
But he wasn't happy. He wanted more.
When we get to the point where we are doing all the right things and still feel like something is missing, that is when we need to put everything on the table.
Those who have little, ask for little, but those who have much may ask for more than they can handle.
I think it is inevitable that we will all wind up facing the decision this young man faced, having to commit all to God. We just keep delaying the inevitable hoping it won't catch up to us.
But at some point, we will wish we could give it all up for just one more minute with those we love.
More to come...