One Thing Thou Lackest

There was a rich young man who approached Christ and asked what he needed to do to have eternal life. Christ answered that he needed to not commit adultery, not steal, not kill, not bear false witness, not defraud others, and to honor his father and mother—he needed to keep the commandments.

Encouraged, the young man replies that he has done all of these things from his youth.

In reply, Christ utters one of the most chilling lines for me in all of the scriptures—‘One thing thou lackest’.

Christ tells the young man to give all of his money and possessions to the poor, and to come follow him.

The young man goes away grieved because he had great possessions.

As members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is much expected of us. We are to attend church each week, take and magnify callings, study scriptures daily, pray always, raise faithful families, give tithing, follow the word of wisdom,  serve others, home teach, donate to the poor, serve missions, share the gospel, live chastely, not swear, watch only wholesome media, keep the ten commandments, repent, etc. . . There is so much for us to do and to become.

What if we do all of those things, and we have our whole lives? What if the Savior then tells us that there is still ‘one thing thou lackest’?

Would I be able to sell all of my possessions to follow Christ? How many of us would right now if asked? Would it be easy, or would it be like begrudgingly giving a gift? (Which doesn’t benefit us—just ask Cain.) I’m not sure I could right now. If I did, it would probably be difficult.

Is Christ just trying to keep us humble to let us know we aren’t there yet? If riches and possessions don’t turn out to be a challenge for you, is there another critical thing thou lackest? What do you need to work on right now in order to grow closer to Christ and to eliminate another thing thou lackest?

The disciples are astonished at Christ’s response. Christ tries to clarify by saying that those who trust in riches will have a hard time entering heaving. Despite the clarification, the disciples are astonished beyond measure and wonder among themselves who can be saved.

I’ve wondered the same thing. Is there any of us who measure up all the way? All have fallen short of the glory of God, and all of us sin. Are there any of us who can be saved?

Ultimately, the answer is yes. It is through the atonement of Christ that our very natures can change. In the exchange, the Savior tells his disciples that with man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible. Looking at the world, and looking at my own life, the process of change and perfection will take a long while.

The Savior closes this exchange with reassuring and encouraging words to his disciples. He tells them there is no man that leaves his house, or family, or possessions that will not receive an hundred fold in the world to come.

Through the atonement, the gap will be bridged between what we lack and what we need to be, as long as we endure to the end. With God all things are possible. Every sacrifice, every effort to keep the commandments, and every attempt to help others will be worth it in the end. God is eager to bless us at every opportunity we give him—even if right now there is still ‘one thing thou lackest.’

Matthew 10:17-31; Matthew 19:16-30