Today I read in the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 10, the account of a rich man often called "the rich young ruler" (the same account in Matthew refers to him as "young", while Luke mentions that he was a "certain ruler"), and his encounter with Jesus:

"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, Honour 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. And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:17-24)

As I read this, I immediately thought of another rich man in the scripture: Job; and I started to see a contrast between them.

The rich young ruler came to Jesus and called him "good", and his question was, "What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" His focus was on:

• the goodness of Jesus (seeing him as only a man)
• what (good thing) shall I do?
• eternal life

But strangely, in none of the accounts does he mention anything about God. This gives us a little bit of a hint that something is missing with this guy, and why there's such a difference between him and Job.

Satan had said to God, "Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now..." The devil challenged God concerning Job: Of course Job does what is right; look at how wealthy he is. Life is easy for him. He has great possessions. But let's take away his stuff and see what happens. And God accepted this challenge.

Both the rich young ruler and Job had great wealth and possessions, and both men were willing to keep God's commandments.

But take away all their stuff, and what's left?

When God allowed everything to be taken from Job, he was afraid and confused, because he thought God was against him; yet his heart was ever 100% with the LORD. God was in ALL his thoughts (see Psalm 10:4).

But when Jesus told the ruler to leave everything behind and follow him, in his heart he chose his stuff over God. God was not in all his thoughts (again, remember that little hint we started with).

Following what happened with the ruler, Jesus explained to his disciples concerning rich men: "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:23-24)

His first statement was that it's hard for those that have riches to enter the kingdom. This shocked the disciples, because it seemed like he was saying having riches was the problem. Truly, it would be a strange way to go through life, avoiding wealth and possessions like the plague, for they would make it difficult to be saved! Jesus clarified: it is hard for them that trust in riches to enter the kingdom.

Both statements are true. It is hard for those that trust in riches: in order to be saved, they must first learn to not trust in riches. It is also hard generally for men with riches to be saved. Why? Because most of them trust in their riches! (see Proverbs 11:4)

But back to the contrast. Jesus said the problem with the rich young ruler was that he trusted in his riches. He wouldn't give them up to follow Jesus. Not even for treasure in heaven. He needed his possessions for this life. He was trusting in what he had to sustain him.

Job, on the other hand, after losing all his possessions: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him." (Job 13:15-16).

The ruler was okay with keeping God's commandments, so long as he could keep all his stuff, because that's where his heart really was. However, Job's heart—stuff or no stuff—was in trusting the LORD and doing righteousness before him.

The real issue, therefore, is not whether one has riches or not. Nor is it even whether you keep (or think you keep) all of God's commandments. The issue is, Where is your heart? In what (or in Whom) are you trusting? And that's what Jesus was bringing out to the rich young ruler. Keeping some of his commandments outwardly, without your heart, will always be lacking; and God will try your heart and your reins by giving you a new commandment: one that cannot be kept without fully trusting Him.

For some, it involves letting go of stuff. For others, it involves letting go of pride. For others, it involves letting go of people, of places, of ideas, of imaginations. But it's ultimately this:

"Come, take up the cross, and follow me."

What is that called?

Perfection.

After Jesus listens to the ruler make his boast of the commandments, he says, "If thou wilt be perfect..." (Matt. 19:21) Keeping the commandments is good. But I'm missing one thing from you: your heart.

But notice what he says of Job: "Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?" (Job 1:8)

* * *

So we've contrasted two rich men; but my title says "Three Rich Men". Who is the third?

Well, as I mentioned, I read Mark 10 today. I got to the end of the chapter, and I found this guy named Bartimaeus. Blind Bartimaeus, a beggar, sitting by the wayside, begging. This man was at rock-bottom. Not only did he not have anything—he had almost less than nothing: he was blind. Helpless. He couldn't help himself to get bread to eat, let alone give anything to God, or to the poor.

And one day, Bartimaeus hears that Jesus is passing by. He's never met Jesus before, but he's heard about him, and he's convinced that Jesus is the one. He's the Christ. He's the Messiah, the Son of David. And he cries out for mercy.

Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants. He doesn't go high and ask for eternal life. He doesn't go low and ask for a penny or a loaf of bread. He asks the Lord to receive his sight. He asks by faith. And Jesus grants his request.

Bartimaeus had no boast to make concerning the commandments. He didn't make any effort to justify himself before Jesus. He wasn't looking for the "trick" or "solution"; there's no indication he was even seeking eternal life. He simply put his trust in Jesus Christ to do something that no one else but God could do.

Now Bartimaeus can see.

Jesus doesn't say, "Follow me." He says, "Go thy way." Go wherever you need to go, Bartimaeus. You don't have to beg anymore; you can finally go get a job and start getting yourself some possessions to sustain yourself from day to day.

So... where's that last rich man?

Bartimaeus has treasure in heaven.

"...and followed Jesus in the way." (Mark 10:52)