The Cross Walk: Self-Denial Part 4
A Lesson in Self-Denial - The Rich Young Man, Mark 10:17-23
Let’s begin by listening deeply and with an open heart to Jesus’ teaching in Scripture. As you read this passage, feel free to write down any words or phrases that capture your attention or any imaginations, questions or images that come to you.
17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ”20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
Take a moment to consider these reflection questions:
What really stands out to me about this account in Jesus’ ministry and how come?
What insights or questions does it provide as I consider Self-Denial? Self-Denial and its relationship to authentic discipleship?
What are the challenges to Self-Denial? What enables Self-Denial?
What we come to realize in this account of Jesus’ ministry is what the spiritual, transforming process Self-Denial seeks to bring about in the soul:
A significant confrontation or coming to terms with something - a “hitting home” as it were in our spiritual life - of an obstacle, hinderance or impediment to our authentic commitment to and love of Jesus. That is to say, an attachment. Self-denial requires self-awareness and self-honesty, and it is an invitation to active purification.
A critical point of decision and choice. There is great hope here rather than condemnation for no where does Jesus condemn this young man. He certainly states the truth: sky is blue, grass is green and “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Rather, Jesus understands the difficulty of this work, and how such transformation around our attachments is a long process - sometimes a lifetime. Some attachments have very strong holds upon us for many reasons - often related to deep wounds. Sometimes transforming an attachment means working through its various disguises and manifestations like finding the right strand in the knot of a big ball of yard that when it is finally located and pulled, the whole knot seems to dissolve. Transforming attachments is more akin to the spiritual life “in the crock pot” rather than “in the microwave”. God’s grace certainly can and as evidence in the lives of some saints, bring instant deliverance or transformation of an attachment. But the normative process is a slow, arduous one. The key here is that of complete dependency upon God and His grace. Later in this same chapter of Mark, Jesus will use this encounter with the rich young man to teach His disciples the necessity of dependency upon God rather than dependency upon self when he says, “For human beings it is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” What God then desires and what is so key to The Cross Walk dimension of Self-denial is making that resolve in our hearts to address a given attachment and then to cling to God for His graces and help.
This is a battle. The spiritual failure here is not that the young man was attached to his wealth. The spiritual failure is that he “went away”. Notice Mark says that “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” What a tremendous statement! Jesus through His love would have helped this young man. Jesus had everything this young man needed to find transformation, freedom and more. There is a maxim in the spiritual life: “You only loose the battle if you quit fighting.” Self-denial is contrary to the sin, flesh and the world ,and it is the hardest work. Because it is hard does not mean it is impossible. Remember what Jesus said, self-denial is impossible for us but not for God.
Prayer, Reflection & Spiritual Practice:
Seek with the Holy Spirit’s help, to concretely identify the ways you seek to foster self-reliance rather than dependency upon the Father. (Hint: Look for the very small, ordinary ways which are reside in your natural strengths, talents, abilities and gifts.)
Make a daily, morning offering to Jesus, offering your three greatest concerns for the day unto His keeping and care.
