Why Jesus Said “Sell Everything”

Charles Spurgeon once said, “Consider how precious a soul must be, when both God and the devil are after it.” The story of the Rich Young Ruler in Matthew 19 shows us just how true that is. This young man approached Jesus with a pressing question: “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

What followed was a conversation that revealed not only his heart but also the way possessions can grip any of us more deeply than we realize.

A Revealing Question

At first glance, the man seemed sincere. But notice his words: “What good thing must I do?” He assumed that eternal life could be earned—checked off like an item on a list. Jesus, however, had just finished telling the crowd that the Kingdom belongs to those who receive it like children, wholly dependent on God’s goodness. The man either missed or resisted that truth.

When Jesus pointed him to the commandments, it wasn’t because those could save him. It was to reveal what held the highest place in his heart. Outwardly, he looked moral. Inwardly, his wealth had become his god.

When the man pressed further, Jesus cut to the core: “Go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:22 records the heartbreaking result: “When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.”

The issue wasn’t money—it was devotion. Jesus loved him enough to name the one thing keeping him from life. For him, it was wealth. For us, it might be something else—career, reputation, control. Whatever we prize above Christ must be surrendered.

What This Means for Us

Does this mean every believer is called to sell everything? Not necessarily. As the NIV Study Bible notes, Jesus’s command applied directly to this man’s spiritual condition. But the principle still stands: anything we cling to more tightly than Christ can become a barrier to faith.

After the man walked away, Jesus warned His disciples: “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is not evil, but it has the unique power to enslave us.

So the question for us is this: What competes for your devotion? What gives you a sense of identity or security apart from Christ?

Jesus’s words to the Rich Young Ruler are both sobering and full of hope. Wealth can blind us to our need for God, but surrendering to Christ leads to true life. The invitation is the same today: Will we cling to temporary treasures, or embrace the eternal treasure of knowing Him?

Because the problem isn’t wealth, the problem is worship.

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At FaithFi, we often talk about being “rich toward God,” a phrase Jesus used in Luke 12 when warning about the Rich Fool. It means treasuring Christ above all else, practicing generosity, and holding our resources with open hands.

That’s why we’ve created the Rich Toward God study, designed to help you see money and possessions from God’s perspective and reorient your heart toward eternal treasure. You can order a copy—or even place a bulk order for group study—at FaithFi.com/Shop.

On Today’s Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:

• My husband and I have a blended family with some grown kids and some still at home. How should we set up the beneficiaries on our term life insurance?
• Our bank suggested that we keep our HELOC open even after the mortgage is paid off, as protection against fraudulent title transfers. Is that sound advice?
• I have savings bonds that have matured, and I’d like to add a co-owner. Since banks no longer handle this, how can I update the registration?
• I’m trying to help my 81-year-old mother understand reverse mortgages, and also explain to my siblings how it would work if she gets one—especially what happens to the home’s value after she passes away.

Resources Mentioned:

• Faithful Steward: FaithFi’s New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)
• TreasuryDirect
• Understanding Reverse: Simplifying the Reverse Mortgage by Dan Hultquist
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