Devotional: Love the Walk Away: Mark 10:17-22

“But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property” (Mark 10:22, NASB).

She sent him an Email asking him to pray for her oldest daughter. It had been a long time since he had heard from her. Immediately, he replied with a prayer. Then he verified that this was indeed his friends from years long ago. For three years he responded to her prayer requests. Then suddenly she stopped communication with him. She said that she could not talk at this time, but maybe she could later. If their prayer communications had been good for her, why was she cutting him off at this time?

Why do people walk away from someone who has shown that they love them; have their best interest at heart? Why do we walk away from something or someone who has done us good? Why do we then turn to something or someone that we know deep inside ourselves that this is not the best thing for us to do? Why would a spouse leave a loving mate of many years and turn to someone unknown? Why do we walk away from what is best for us and turn to that which is not good for us. How do we respond when someone we love walks away?

Maybe it is because their relationship with us requires more of them than they are able to give. Maybe it’s because the person needs love, but they do not know how to give and receive love. Maybe, we have not known this kind of love. Maybe, it’s because there is something or someone that we love more. We are not willing to give up our love for something to receive something else. We would rather hold on to that which we know and love than to take a risk on something new even though we would like very much to receive the other thing.

It causes us to grieve when we see that we are loved more by someone that we have never known. We have heard about them. We have met them; and even had communication with them. What they have to offer is appealing. The problem is that we love what we have more than we want what the other person has to offer. Life is about making choices. We choose that which we desire more. We choose what we believe that we are able to achieve.

The rich young ruler wanted eternal life, but he has never known eternal life. He did have riches and he enjoyed the pleasures of his riches. It would be too risky to give up his riches for the possibility of eternal life. He walked away grieving because he could not give up his riches in order to receive eternal life.

Jesus loved the man. He had the man’s best interest at heart. He understood that the young ruler had both the right and the responsibility to make his own choice. Jesus let the man walk away. He continued His ministry. And those that believe in Him have eternal life.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we choose you above everything that we possess. Amen.