ONE THING YOU LACK
One Thing Thou Lackest
Text: Mark 10:17–27
Today is the first Sunday in March. In just about a month, we will celebrate Palm Sunday — the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Later that week He would go to the cross, then to the tomb, and three days later He would rise again in victory.
All of that is on the horizon.
So today, I want us to step back about a month before the cross and look at a powerful encounter Jesus had along the road. It is the story of the rich young ruler. This story is so important that it is recorded in three of the four Gospels — here in Mark 10, as well as in Matthew 19 and Luke 18.
It is the story of a salvation that never happened.
Most everyone who came in contact with Christ followed Him. Most who heard Him obeyed Him. Most who desired something from Him received it.
But not this man.
Why?
Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest.”
Let’s look at what was missing.
I. He Truly Was Seeking
Mark 10:17
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Let’s not criticize this young man. He was seeking something. He ran. He kneeled. He asked about eternal things.
He had likely heard Jesus speak of eternal life. Perhaps as a ruler he had crossed paths with Nicodemus, another ruler, who once came to Jesus by night.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This young man needed it. He wanted it. He came in a hurry to try to get it.
But notice his question:
“What shall I do?”
He lived in a world of doing. He was a mover and a shaker. A buyer. A fixer. A man used to achieving outcomes. So he assumed eternal life must be achieved the same way.
Let me remind us all:
Ephesians 2:8–9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation cannot be earned. It cannot be bought. It comes at the cost of surrendering to Christ.
He was truly seeking something.
II. He Was a Perfect Candidate
Mark 10:19–20
“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”
This was a good man.
He was moral. Upstanding. Disciplined. Religious.
If anyone looked like a candidate for heaven, it was him.
But something was missing.
Isaiah 64:6
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”
We cannot live so clean that we do not need a Savior.
Even if we could keep all the commandments, we would still be lost apart from Christ.
James 2:10
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Living a good life is not the same as living a godly life.
Living a moral life is not the same as surrendering your life to Christ.
He was the perfect candidate — but he still lacked one thing.
III. The Truth in Love
Mark 10:21
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest…”
Jesus could have said, “You’re doing great. I think you’ll be fine.”
But real love tells the truth.
The Bible says Jesus loved him.
He did not want him to live and die moral.
He did not want him to live and die religious.
He wanted him saved.
I’m glad we have a God who loves us enough to confront us about our sin.
If we truly love people, we will speak the truth in love. Love does not flatter someone into hell. Love tells them what they need to hear.
And what was the truth?
“One thing thou lackest.”
IV. Surrender Was Necessary
Mark 10:21–22
“...Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”
Was Jesus saying he could buy salvation?
Was Jesus saying he could earn it by good works?
No.
The issue was not his money — it was his master.
His possessions possessed him.
Jesus still said, “Come… take up the cross… and follow me.” The question was whether he was willing to surrender.
Jesus did the same with others.
To Peter, a fisherman settled into routine:
Matthew 4:19–20
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
To Matthew, the tax collector, living in profit and corruption:
Luke 5:28
“And he left all, rose up, and followed him.”
To Paul, the religious zealot climbing the ladder of influence:
Philippians 3:8
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
To Peter, it was surrendering his routine.
To Matthew, it was surrendering his dirty money.
To Paul, it was surrendering his religion.
To this rich young ruler, it was surrendering his wealth as his god.
There are people today who know they need Christ. They have questions. They don’t want to miss eternal life. But there is a part of them they refuse to surrender.
Maybe it’s an addiction.
Maybe it’s a relationship.
Maybe it’s pride.
Maybe it’s religion.
And we often have the same struggle as Christians.
We want a Savior — but not a Lord.
We want eternal life with Christ — but not an earthly life for Christ.
Let me say it clearly:
We want a Savior, but not the Lord.
We want eternal life with Christ, but not an earthly life for Christ.
Jesus closed with this:
Mark 10:27
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Salvation is impossible with men. It is not earned. It is not achieved.
But it is possible through surrender to Christ.
I’m glad Jesus does not require every one of us to sell everything we own. But there must be a surrender of the will if we are to possess eternal life.
Many will seek it.
But to some He still says:
“One thing thou lackest.”
Text: Mark 10:17–27
Today is the first Sunday in March. In just about a month, we will celebrate Palm Sunday — the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem. Later that week He would go to the cross, then to the tomb, and three days later He would rise again in victory.
All of that is on the horizon.
So today, I want us to step back about a month before the cross and look at a powerful encounter Jesus had along the road. It is the story of the rich young ruler. This story is so important that it is recorded in three of the four Gospels — here in Mark 10, as well as in Matthew 19 and Luke 18.
It is the story of a salvation that never happened.
Most everyone who came in contact with Christ followed Him. Most who heard Him obeyed Him. Most who desired something from Him received it.
But not this man.
Why?
Jesus said, “One thing thou lackest.”
Let’s look at what was missing.
I. He Truly Was Seeking
Mark 10:17
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
Let’s not criticize this young man. He was seeking something. He ran. He kneeled. He asked about eternal things.
He had likely heard Jesus speak of eternal life. Perhaps as a ruler he had crossed paths with Nicodemus, another ruler, who once came to Jesus by night.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
This young man needed it. He wanted it. He came in a hurry to try to get it.
But notice his question:
“What shall I do?”
He lived in a world of doing. He was a mover and a shaker. A buyer. A fixer. A man used to achieving outcomes. So he assumed eternal life must be achieved the same way.
Let me remind us all:
Ephesians 2:8–9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Salvation cannot be earned. It cannot be bought. It comes at the cost of surrendering to Christ.
He was truly seeking something.
II. He Was a Perfect Candidate
Mark 10:19–20
“Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”
This was a good man.
He was moral. Upstanding. Disciplined. Religious.
If anyone looked like a candidate for heaven, it was him.
But something was missing.
Isaiah 64:6
“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…”
We cannot live so clean that we do not need a Savior.
Even if we could keep all the commandments, we would still be lost apart from Christ.
James 2:10
“For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
Living a good life is not the same as living a godly life.
Living a moral life is not the same as surrendering your life to Christ.
He was the perfect candidate — but he still lacked one thing.
III. The Truth in Love
Mark 10:21
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest…”
Jesus could have said, “You’re doing great. I think you’ll be fine.”
But real love tells the truth.
The Bible says Jesus loved him.
He did not want him to live and die moral.
He did not want him to live and die religious.
He wanted him saved.
I’m glad we have a God who loves us enough to confront us about our sin.
If we truly love people, we will speak the truth in love. Love does not flatter someone into hell. Love tells them what they need to hear.
And what was the truth?
“One thing thou lackest.”
IV. Surrender Was Necessary
Mark 10:21–22
“...Go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”
Was Jesus saying he could buy salvation?
Was Jesus saying he could earn it by good works?
No.
The issue was not his money — it was his master.
His possessions possessed him.
Jesus still said, “Come… take up the cross… and follow me.” The question was whether he was willing to surrender.
Jesus did the same with others.
To Peter, a fisherman settled into routine:
Matthew 4:19–20
“And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.”
To Matthew, the tax collector, living in profit and corruption:
Luke 5:28
“And he left all, rose up, and followed him.”
To Paul, the religious zealot climbing the ladder of influence:
Philippians 3:8
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
To Peter, it was surrendering his routine.
To Matthew, it was surrendering his dirty money.
To Paul, it was surrendering his religion.
To this rich young ruler, it was surrendering his wealth as his god.
There are people today who know they need Christ. They have questions. They don’t want to miss eternal life. But there is a part of them they refuse to surrender.
Maybe it’s an addiction.
Maybe it’s a relationship.
Maybe it’s pride.
Maybe it’s religion.
And we often have the same struggle as Christians.
We want a Savior — but not a Lord.
We want eternal life with Christ — but not an earthly life for Christ.
Let me say it clearly:
We want a Savior, but not the Lord.
We want eternal life with Christ, but not an earthly life for Christ.
Jesus closed with this:
Mark 10:27
“And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
Salvation is impossible with men. It is not earned. It is not achieved.
But it is possible through surrender to Christ.
I’m glad Jesus does not require every one of us to sell everything we own. But there must be a surrender of the will if we are to possess eternal life.
Many will seek it.
But to some He still says:
“One thing thou lackest.”
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