The Sadness of Almost
OPENING PRAYER:
Holy Spirit, break my heart for what breaks Yours. Show me where I'm choosing comfort over calling, security over surrender, control over the cross.
"When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy."
This single verse captures one of the most heartbreaking moments in all of Scripture. Luke uses a Greek word here that conveys deep grief, profound sorrow. This wasn't mild disappointment or casual regret. This was a man confronting the cost of what he truly loved and choosing to walk away from Jesus. Luke 18:23 (NIV)
REFLECT:
The message called this "probably one of the saddest stories in scripture," and then said something that should haunt us: "This could have been the 13th disciple if this guy would have just said yes." Think about that. This man was standing face-to-face with Jesus. He had sought Him out. He had asked the right question. Jesus had given him the answer. The invitation was extended: "Come, follow me." Everything he said he wanted—eternal life, treasure in heaven, purpose, meaning—was right there in front of him. And he said no.
The message emphasized that he didn't say no because he was a bad person. He said no because when it came down to it, his wealth had him more than he had his wealth. This isn't ultimately about money—it's about idolatry. It's about what we've given divine attributes to, what we're trusting in for hope, security, and joy. For this man, his wealth was his god. It promised him control. It promised him the ability to smooth over problems, to get the outcomes he desired; to live the life he wanted on his terms.
And when Jesus asked him to give it up, he couldn't do it. Not wouldn't—couldn't. That's what idolatry does. It doesn't just capture our affection; it captures our will. It enslaves us while promising us freedom. It controls us while we think we're in control. The man walked away sad because somewhere deep down, he knew what he was choosing. He knew he was trading the eternal for the temporal, the real for the counterfeit, Jesus for money. And it broke his heart. But not enough to change his mind.
The message asked us to consider: what would we have done? If Jesus looked at us and said, "You still lack one thing. Give up [fill in the blank], and come follow me," would we say yes? Or would we, like this man, hang our heads and walk away sad? Because here's the thing: Jesus is still making that offer. He's still extending that invitation. He's still asking us to identify what's sitting on the throne of our hearts and remove it so He can take His rightful place.
I WILL STATEMENT:
I will take drastic action to remove my idols. This week, have an honest conversation with Jesus about what you're holding onto. Set aside 20-30 minutes of uninterrupted time. Bring a journal and write out this question at the top: "Jesus, what do You see that I'm unwilling to let go of?" Then sit in silence and listen. Write down whatever comes to mind—don't edit it or dismiss it. Once you've identified it, don't try to fix it immediately. Instead, pray this simple prayer every day this week: "Lord, I'm not ready to let this go, but I want to want to. Change my heart." Sometimes the first step of drastic action is admitting we're not ready—and asking God to make us ready.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Lord, I don't want to be a sad story. I don't want to walk away from You because I'm holding too tightly to something else. Give me the faith to let go, the courage to follow, and the trust to believe that You are better than anything I'm afraid to lose.