Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Mark 10:21-22

Have you ever thought to yourself, "If I only had more financial security, it would be so much easier to trust the Lord"? It's simply not true.

Here was a man with "great possessions" (Mark 10:22). From his youth, he had kept the commandments and considered himself a good person (Mark 10:20). But as he came running to Jesus, he asked, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" And Jesus answered with loving words he never expected: "Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me" (Mark 10:21).

You see, Jesus was placing a mirror up to this man's heart. This man couldn't bring himself to sell everything he owned, because he loved the things he owned -- even more than he believed Jesus' words. He couldn't trust Jesus with his finances because to him, his finances were important -- even more important than eternal life. This rich young ruler had all the financial security he could want, and couldn't bring himself to trust the Lord.

Here's the truth: The more money you have, the easier it is to trust money -- not God. The more power you have, the easier it is to trust your own power -- not God's. But the more you grow to know and love Jesus, the easier it is to trust Him.

You know, money, itself, is not bad. But when we put more confidence in money than in the Lord, we make it more important than Him -- and we make a huge mistake. When we stress over money instead of trusting God for His provision, we make money more important than God. When we rejoice in it, rather than rejoicing in the Lord, we make it more important than Him. When we plan our lives around it, rather than be willing to do whatever and go wherever God guides us, we make it more important than God.

Today, what is most important to you? What consumes your thoughts? Is it Jesus? Is it a simple desire to know and love Him, no matter the circumstances? Or does money overwhelm your thoughts? Has the current economic crisis put fear into your heart? Look at what Paul says in Philippians:

"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

What Paul understood -- and the rich young ruler didn't -- was that Jesus Christ is the only thing that matters in this life. Ultimately the one thing this rich young man lacked was Jesus! Don't let the economic or political storms take you away from your first love. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith. Be content in all things and let Him work out every circumstance. Trust in Him with your life and with your needs.