I have a lot of goals for my future. From my dream university to my dream of being published, I’ve got some big plans.

Often, I like to think about the wonderful places I might go, and the great things I might do someday.

But then I remember that my purpose is to glorify God. I watch as my perfect plans crumble, because all those plans are for me, and my glory.

Though I know that our calling to bring God glory with our lives is for our ultimate good, I begin to wish that my future could be all for me.

In these instances, I am completely forgetting the goodness of God and his promises. Still, I find myself easily slipping into that mindset.

As I was reading through Mark, I realized that I’m a lot like a character in it, and that there is something so much greater than a future all for me.

THE RICH YOUNG MAN

Mark 10, Matthew 16, and Luke 18 tell the story of a rich young man, who came to Jesus asking what he must do inherit eternal life.

Jesus lists the commandments, and the man says that he has followed them all (honestly, dude? you sure?). After that, Jesus tells him he still lacks one thing.

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Mark 10:21

Earthly treasure vs. treasure in heaven seems like a no-brainer. But, look what the man’s response is:

Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Mark 10:22

The man left! He felt that his earthly wealth was greater than Jesus and heavenly wealth! But, don’t we do the exact same thing? I know I do.

When I remember that the purpose of my life is to glorify God, I become sorrowful, because I have great possessions: my plans.

But I, and the rich young man, are forgetting something vital.

JESUS IS GREATER

Jesus is greater than our ‘great possessions’.

Whether you look to money, people’s opinions of you, your health, your crush, food, or your future: Jesus is better.

The things I just listed are most likely not bad things for you, but they are not meant to bear the weight of your soul. We go after these things––idols–– for worth, comfort, purpose, love, happiness, satisfaction, the list goes on. But we will never find those things in them.

We can only find true satisfaction, purpose, comfort, and all of those things, in Christ, if we put our hope in him instead of those other things.

Jesus is infinitely better than money, acceptance, fame, achievements, your health, your crush, because he can give you what those things only promise.

WHAT ARE YOUR ‘GREAT POSSESSIONS’?

So, what are your great possessions? What are you looking to for something that only Jesus can provide?

As the rich young man learned, it’s not easy to give up these things. In fact, Jesus said it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

How, then, can we give up these ‘great possessions’? The disciples wondered the same.

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10:27

Today, don’t be like the rich young ruler, and sorrowfully turn down all of Christ’s blessings, for your ‘great possessions’. Know that Christ is greater than anything this world has to offer, and with God’s help, put your hope in Christ alone.