What has you?

In Matthew 19:16–30, a rich young man asks Jesus, “What good thing must I do to have eternal life?” He approaches eternal life as another achievement—something to acquire, possess, and add to everything else he owns.

Jesus meets him where he is, but leads him beyond rule keeping, spiritual accounting, and accumulated merit. He places his finger on the possession that has become possessive and gives the invitation:

Go. Sell. Give. Come. Follow.

The destination is not poverty for poverty’s sake. The destination is discipleship.

The man’s problem is not merely what he lacks. It is what he has—and what has him.

What possesses you? Money? Reputation? Control? Achievement? Resentment? Position? Certainty? Even a carefully maintained religious identity?

Salvation is not another human acquisition. “For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

Read the complete reflection and access the subscriber Bible study and group discussion guide:

https://tomsims.substack.com/p/what-has-you

Matthew 19:16–30

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Ready-to-Lead Group Session

Suggested length: 45–60 minutes

1. Welcome and opening prayer — 5 minutes

Invite God to give the group honesty without shame, conviction without condemnation, and freedom without recklessness.

2. Read the passage — 8 minutes

Ask one participant to read Matthew 19:16–22.

Ask another to read Matthew 19:23–30.

Allow one minute of silence.

Then ask:

What word, phrase, or question caught your attention?

3. Explore the passage — 15 minutes

Discuss:

1. What does the rich man want from Jesus?
2. What does Jesus want for the rich man?
3. Why does Jesus move from commandments to possessions and then to discipleship?
4. Why does the man leave grieving?
5. What does Jesus mean when he says salvation is impossible for mortals but possible with God?

4. Examine transactional religion — 10 minutes

Invite the group to name ways people might try to bargain with God:

• “If I behave, God must protect me.”
• “Because I serve, I deserve recognition.”
• “Because I sacrificed, God owes me success.”
• “Because I am right, I should be first.”
• “Because I have more, God must favor me.”

Ask:

What is the difference between trusting God’s promises and attempting to place God in our debt?

5. Personal reflection — 10 minutes

Invite participants to reflect silently:

• What has me?
• What do I fear losing?
• What am I tempted to use as a measure of my worth?
• What might Jesus be asking me to release?
• What would one faithful next step look like?

No one should be pressured to disclose private financial information or personal struggles. Participants may share only what they choose.

6. Commitment and prayer — 7 minutes

Invite each participant to complete one sentence:

“This week, I will practice open-handedness by…”

Close by praying:

God of impossible possibilities,
free us from everything that keeps us from following Jesus.
Show us what we hold too tightly.
Deliver us from calculating our worth, our obedience, and the worth of others.
Teach us to receive the kingdom as grace and to live with open hands.
What we cannot accomplish, accomplish in us.
Give us courage to hear and obey the invitation of Jesus:
“Come, follow me.”
Amen.

A Final Word

The invitation of Jesus is not fundamentally an invitation into deprivation. It is an invitation into freedom.

The rich young man believed he needed one more acquisition.

Jesus knew he needed release.

Perhaps we do not lack another achievement, possession, credential, explanation, or spiritual accomplishment.

Perhaps we do not lack enough.

What has you?

Release it.

Come.

Follow Jesus.