What Do I Still Lack?
The cost of Almost

Matthew 19:16–30

THE QUESTION THAT RATTLES THE SOUL

He knelt in the dust, his clothes clean, his conscience—so he believed—even cleaner. He was young. He was rich. He was powerful. But something inside him screamed louder than all his silks, louder than the voices of his servants, louder than the accolades of men. So he came to Jesus. And he asked the question that should haunt every human soul:

“Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” (Matthew 19:16)

And Jesus answers. Not with flattery. Not with approval. Not with an easy affirmation. But with surgical precision—He slices the man’s soul open and exposes the one thing that separates him from life.

“If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
(Matthew 19:21)

And what does the young man do? Does he rejoice? Does he run into the kingdom like a man set free?

No.

“He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
(v. 22)

Oh! What a tragedy! Standing face-to-face with the Savior of the world—and he walked away. Not because he hated Jesus. But because he loved something else more.

Let me ask you something: What do you still lack?

THE ILLUSION OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The rich young ruler was not a rebel. He was religious.

He obeyed the commandments—or so he thought.

“All these I have kept,” he said. “What do I still lack?” (v. 20)

Here is a man who has built a castle of morality and stands upon its highest tower shouting, “I’m almost there!” But Jesus doesn’t look at the tower. He looks at the heart.

Just like God did with King Saul, who obeyed… almost. He offered the sacrifice. He fought the Amalekites. He spared the king. He kept the spoils. He told Samuel, “I have obeyed the command of the Lord.” But Samuel thundered back:

“To obey is better than sacrifice… because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has also rejected you from being king.”
(1 Samuel 15:22–23)

Almost obeying is disobeying.

Partial surrender is rebellion.

You can keep all the laws, show up to all the services, and still walk away from Jesus if He does not own your heart.

What do you still lack?

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

Jesus was not impressed by the ruler’s morality. Jesus was not swayed by his status. He went straight to the core: his treasure.

“Sell all you have… give to the poor… follow me.” (v. 21)

Why? Was Jesus setting a rule for salvation? No. He was exposing an idol.

He did what only God can do: He placed His finger on the throne of the man’s heart and said, “This must go.”

This is what God did in Genesis 22, when He said to Abraham:

“Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love… and offer him.”
(Genesis 22:2)

Not because God wanted Isaac dead. But because God wanted Abraham’s heart wholly alive unto Him.

The rich ruler’s idol wasn’t gold. It was security. It was self-sufficiency. It was a life he could control. And Jesus shattered that illusion in one sentence.

And here’s the hard truth, brothers and sisters:

Jesus does not come to rearrange your idols. He comes to destroy them.

He doesn’t want to be number one on your list. He wants to own the list.

What is the one thing you cling to that Jesus is telling you to surrender?

Your reputation? Your comfort? Your control? Your relationships? Your theology? Your image? Your dreams?

Let me ask again—what do you still lack?

THE GATE IS NARROW

“Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven… it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…”
(Matthew 19:23–24)

Don’t sanitize this.

Jesus was not talking about a small gate in Jerusalem. He was speaking in shocking, impossible terms.

It is easier for a camel—the largest animal in Israel—to go through the eye of a needle—a tiny sewing needle—than for a self-sufficient, self-righteous, self-exalting man to enter heaven.

That is the gate to glory.

And the disciples were stunned.

“Who then can be saved?” (v. 25)

And Jesus answers with the only hope we have:

“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
(v. 26)

You cannot buy your way in. You cannot behave your way in. You must be born again—by grace, through faith, through surrender.

Heaven is not a prize for the polished. It is the inheritance of the poor in spirit (Matthew 5:3).

THE COST AND THE REWARD

Peter, bold as always, steps forward.

“See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” (v. 27)

And Jesus does not rebuke him.

He responds with promise:

“In the new world… you will sit on thrones… and everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands… will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
(vv. 28–29)

Jesus doesn’t hide the cost. But He magnifies the reward.

In the 16th century, John Hus, a Bohemian reformer, was burned at the stake for preaching the gospel. As the flames rose, he sang a hymn. And he died not with bitterness, but with joy—because he believed what Jesus said.

In the 18th century, George Whitefield thundered through England and the colonies, preaching the new birth with passion. He was mocked. Threatened. Reviled. But he declared, “Let the name of Whitefield perish, but Christ be glorified!”

These men gave up all—and gained everything.

And we sit here today, soft and satisfied, asking, “Do I really have to let go of this one thing?”

The answer is clear.

Yes.

Everything.

THREE BOLD QUESTIONS FOR YOUR SOUL

Now, dear listener, we turn the spotlight on ourselves.

1. What do you treasure most?
   Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21)
   Is your heart chained to earth or anchored in heaven?

2. What is Jesus asking you to surrender?
   Is it your possessions? Your pride? Your plans? When Jesus speaks, He doesn’t negotiate. He commands.

3. Are you following Christ or admiring Him from a distance?
   The ruler admired Him. He even called Him “Good Teacher.” But he would not follow. Admiration is not discipleship.

THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

Jesus ends with this chilling and hopeful word:

“Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
(v. 30)

The rich. The powerful. The admired. Many will be last.

But the broken. The surrendered. The despised. The obedient. The repentant.

They shall be first.

Don’t go away sorrowful. Go away surrendered. Don’t walk away from Jesus holding onto dust and ashes.

Drop your idols. Take up your cross. Follow Him.

Because He is not just worth your possessions.

He is worth your life.

PRAYER: A PLEA FROM THE HEART

Let us pray.

O God of all glory, search our hearts. Expose what we still lack. Rip the idols from our grip. Shatter the lies we’ve believed. We lay before You our pride, our plans, our possessions, our reputations—take them all. We do not want to walk away sorrowful. We want to walk away sanctified. Give us courage to follow. Give us grace to surrender. Give us eyes to see that what we give up is nothing compared to what we gain. You are the Pearl of Great Price, the Treasure hidden in the field, the King of Kings, the Savior of our souls. We believe, Lord—help our unbelief. In Jesus’ name, amen.

FINAL CHALLENGE

Now go.

Go and ask Jesus, not with pride but with trembling, “What do I still lack?”

And when He answers—don’t walk away.

Fall on your knees.

Lay it down.

Follow Him.

Because eternity hangs in the balance.

And Christ… is enough.