I don’t know about you, but I’ve always struggled with the story of the “rich young ruler.” Here’s a portion of Luke’s narrative:

“Ah,” Jesus said, “there’s still one thing you’re missing in your life.” “What is that?” asked the man. “You must go and sell everything you own and give all the proceeds to the poor so you will have eternal treasures. Then come and follow me.” These words devastated the rich leader, for he was extremely wealthy. (Luke 18.22, 23, TPT)

Jesus calls the young man (who said he’d kept a good many of the commandments (see Luke 18.20, 21) to sell all his possessions. Matthew the tax collector left all his possessions (dramatized beautifully in The Chosen, Episode 7). Is Jesus calling me to sell all my possessions, too?

Peter, on the other hand, was married. He left his business, but he didn’t sell his house – his wife was still in it! And here’s another interesting contrast, not far from the Luke 18 account of the rich young ruler – Zacchaeus:

Zacchaeus was amazed over his gracious visit to his home and joyously welcomed Jesus. Zacchaeus stood in front of the Lord and said, “Half of all that I own I will give to the poor. And Lord, if I have cheated anyone, I promise to pay them back four times as much as I stole.” Jesus said to him, “Your repentance shows that today life has come to you and your household, and that you are a true son of Abraham. (Luke 19.8, 9, TPT)

He left Zacchaeus in place! As a tax collector! But he put a very high demand on the other young man who, unlike the tax collector, was proud of the way he lived.

Different people, different calls.

Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?” Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” (John 21.20 – 22, MSG)