“But he was stunned at this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭10:22‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

Jesus’ command to sell all he had and give to the poor did not sit well for this rich young ruler. At this point, he would not put down his baggage and make Jesus Lord of his life. Because he could not let go of His wealth he could not follow Christ and therefore could not inherit eternal life. Jesus has His reasons to ask us to let go of our stuff, but the biggest reasons are to free our hands to embrace Him and work for Him.

“But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:62‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/luk.9.62.hcsb

“Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:1-2‬ ‭HCSB‬‬

https://www.bible.com/72/heb.12.1-2.hcsb

Each of us approaches Jesus with a backpack full of sin and an armful of stuff. Salvation is allowing God to remove the backpack of sin off our back but sanctification allowing God to remove the backpack and opening our arms to let go of our stuff to freely worship and serve him.

This rich young ruler was only looking for eternal life through salvation, but Jesus was looking for sanctification so that this young man could be used by the kingdom of His God.  Jesus is after the same thing for us. Complete surrender of us to open our hands to let go of our stuff and follow Him. The question remains are we willing to do what Jesus commands us to do and inherit eternal life?