What’s Your One Thing?

Who Do You Serve - What's Your One Thing?

Many people, like the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16–22, hold back certain areas of their lives from God—even while appearing devout or moral. Here are common things people often hold back from God, along with brief explanations:

1. Possessions / Wealth
2. Control
3. Relationships
4. Time
5. Dreams and Ambitions
6. Sinful Habits / Secret Sins
7. Past Pain or Trauma
8. Forgiveness
9. Talents / Calling
10. Identity

Today we will learn that all of us have held back somethings from God.

Mark 10:17-31 (AMP)

The Rich Young Ruler

17 As He was leaving on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked Him, "Good Teacher [You who are essentially good and morally perfect], what shall I do to inherit eternal life [that is, eternal salvation in the Messiah's kingdom]?"

• The great question of life is how to obtain eternal life.

• He Ran to the Right Person, But Asked the Wrong Question

• He wanted a checklist, not a relationship.

• Jesus isn't looking for performance—He's looking for surrender.

• Romans 10:9-10, 1 John 1:9,Eph. 2:8-9

We Must Acknowledge | Romans 10:9-10 (AMP)

9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.

We Must Confess | 1 John 1:9 (AMP)

9 If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just [true to His own nature and promises], and will forgive our sins and cleanse us continually from all unrighteousness [our wrongdoing, everything not in conformity with His will and purpose].

It's not about what you can do, it's about what Jesus has done for you | Ephesians 2:8-9 (AMP)

8 For it is by grace [God's remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; 9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].

18 Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is [essentially] good [by nature] except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not testify falsely, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'"

A. Christ mentioned six things for him to do and these are not in order perhaps to convict the young man quickly.

20 And he replied to Him, "Teacher, I have [carefully] kept all these [commandments] since my youth."

• He Kept the Rules, But Missed the Relationship

• He was moral, religious, and rich—yet still empty.

• It's possible to obey commandments but not follow Jesus.

• He did not address Christ as a good teacher the second time.

21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love (high regard, compassion) for him, and He said to him, "You lack one thing: go and sell all your property and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have [abundant] treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk]."

• Jesus loved him and required one more thing which brought conviction and proved that he had not kept the 10th commandment about loving others as himself. Notice Jesus knew he had properties

Jesus knows your one thing | Matthew 6:21 (AMP)

21 for where your treasure is, there your heart [your wishes, your desires; that on which your life centers] will be also.

Six Commands Jesus Gave Him

1. Go your way
2. Sell all you have
3. Give to the poor
4. Come to me
5. Take up your cross
6. Follow me

22 But the man was saddened at Jesus' words, and he left grieving, because he owned much property and had many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God].

• Jesus Challenged Him

• Jesus doesn't lower the standard because He loves us.

• Love tells the truth.

• Jesus exposed his idol—his possessions.

• He Walked Away Because the Cost Felt Too High

• He didn't realize what he was really walking away from: Jesus Himself.

• Sometimes we cling to what is killing us and reject what could save us

23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How difficult it will be for those who are wealthy [and cling to possessions and status as security] to enter the kingdom of God!"

• Not because of God's mercy but their own reluctance to part with riches and use them for the Glory of God and good of others.

• It's hard for them to cease to trust and riches and rely upon God

• It is impossible for man to save either the rich or the poor but God can save both classes in all ages

• To the rich salvation is possible but difficult due to the fact that it is hard for them to keep their hearts off riches

1 Timothy 6:9-10 (AMP)

9 But those who [are not financially ethical and] crave to get rich [with a compulsive, greedy longing for wealth] fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction [leading to personal misery]. 10 For the love of money [that is, the greedy desire for it and the willingness to gain it unethically] is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves [through and through] with many sorrows.

1 Timothy 6:17 (AMP)

17 As for the rich in this present world, instruct them not to be conceited and arrogant, nor to set their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

24 The disciples were amazed and bewildered by His words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is [for those who place their hope and confidence in riches] to enter the kingdom of God!

Right here we see Jesus remind us | Matthew 6:24 (AMP)

24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money, possessions, fame, status, or whatever is valued more than the Lord].

25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth or status] to enter the kingdom of God."

• I want to have a needle and thread and biblical analogy to go with it

26 They were completely and utterly astonished, and said to Him, "Then who can be saved [from the wrath of God]?"

• Disciples were yet to learn that rich man as well as poor can be saved by grace without works of the law and human Merit and that the rich must humble themselves and meet God's terms like the poor.

• Being rich is no barrier to finding God if the rich will humble themselves and announce all human sins and human merits.

• The rich may face more temptation and problems but if salvation is important enough to them it is easily received whenever complete consecration is made.

• Man does not have to give up all his possessions to be a disciple but he must become willing to do so if God requires it of him

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, "With people [as far as it depends on them] it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

Philippians 4:13 (AMP)

13 I can do all things [which He has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose—I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]

Ephesians 3:20 (AMP)

20 Now to Him who is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly more than all that we dare ask or think [infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams], according to His power that is at work within us,

2 Peter 1:3 (AMP)

3 For His divine power has bestowed on us [absolutely] everything necessary for [a dynamic spiritual] life and godliness, through [a]true and personal knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

Colossians 1:11-14 (AMP)

11 [we pray that you may be] strengthened and invigorated with all power, according to His glorious might, to attain every kind of endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints (God's people) in the Light.

Isaiah 40:29-31 (AMP)

29 He gives strength to the weary, And to him who has no might He increases power. 30 Even youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, 31 But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] Will gain new strength and renew their power; They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun]; They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired.

28 Peter started saying to Him, "Look, we have given up everything and followed You [becoming Your disciples and accepting You as Teacher and Lord]." 29 Jesus said, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, there is no one who has given up a house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel's sake, 30 who will not receive a hundred times as much now in the present age—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms—along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

• Following Jesus Will Cost You Something—But It Gives You Everything

• The world says, "Hold on to what you have." Jesus says, "Let go so I can give you more."

• In Monopoly, you can get a hotel by first owning all the properties in a color set, then building four houses on each property of that set, and finally exchanging the four houses for a hotel by paying the hotel price to the bank, according to the official rules.

31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first."

Discussion Questions

1. The rich young ruler "ran to the right person, but asked the wrong question." He wanted a checklist instead of a relationship. In what ways do we sometimes approach God with a performance mindset rather than seeking genuine relationship?
2. Review the list of 10 things people commonly hold back from God (possessions, control, relationships, time, dreams, sinful habits, past pain, forgiveness, talents, identity). Which one resonates most with you as something you've struggled to surrender?
3. Jesus told the rich young ruler, "You lack one thing." What does it mean that Jesus knows your "one thing"? How does He lovingly expose our idols?
4. The notes say, "He was moral, religious, and rich—yet still empty." How is it possible to keep all the commandments externally but still lack what matters most?
5. The rich young ruler "walked away grieving" because he treasured his possessions more than Jesus. Have you ever walked away from something God was calling you to because the cost felt too high? What happened?
6. Jesus said, "How difficult it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!" Why is wealth such a unique spiritual danger? How can the wealthy guard their hearts?
7. The notes state: "Sometimes we cling to what is killing us and reject what could save us." What are some things people cling to that ultimately harm them spiritually?
8. Peter said, "We have given up everything and followed You." Jesus promised a hundredfold return "along with persecutions." Why does Jesus include persecution as part of the promise?
9. Jesus said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God." How does this truth encourage us when we feel like we can't surrender something to God?
10. The message ends with "many who are first will be last, and the last, first." How does this warning challenge our understanding of success, recognition, and spiritual status in God's kingdom?

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