By David Pillen

We've most likely all heard it before. The story about the young rich man and how...

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." - (Mark 10:21)

Now, for this guy, this sucks. Within his own perception, he fell into an immense sorrow because he was a person of great wealth. The story goes on as...

Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:23)

This story, I would propose, is not a story all about rags and riches. Perhaps it's a story about what you cling to?

When you place yourself in reality and look at yourself in the mirror, I think you reach an understanding of what Jesus is talking about here. Maybe the point of this story is to show that those who have nothing to bring to the table inherit the Kingdom of God.

As long as we assume we have something to offer or believe that we have things in control, we can never comprehend (and directly, a result, receive) the Kingdom, which in a sense has literally nothing to do with anything we think we know or that we think we do correctly.

In verse 27 of Mark 10 (the Message) - Jesus was blunt: "No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it."

In essence, the realization is that those who eagerly seek worldly passions will never be in right standing between Christ and His mind-blowing Grace. Once we are able to comprehend that we cannot do this life thing alone and it is only because of Christ that we can even do anything, only then will we ever truly know the love of God. When we give up and stop struggling against God, that is when we will know. That is when we as a people will be able to stand before God and say, "There is nothing that I can bring, simply to the cross I cling."

Song Check: Tim Hughes - Clinging to the Cross (featuring Brooke Fraser)

Simply to the cross I cling
Letting go of all earthly things
Clinging to the cross
Mercy's found a way for me
Hope is here as I am free
Jesus, You are all I need