What Is The Least Amount of Service I Can Give to God? (Mark 10:17-22)

As a teacher, from time to time when grading assignments, I will write a

note on a student’s paper that reads, “I am expecting more than the bare

minimum from you.” There are some students who try to just “get by” by doing

the least amount of work possible to pass. When it comes to serving God, some

have the same mentality. In the workplace, one might consider the “MDR” or

“Minimal Daily Requirement.” An employee can have the mentality, “I’m here to

work my 9 to 5 and go home” not really caring about being invested in the work.

Healthcare professionals promote the “MDRS” or “Minimum Daily Requirements”

from a nutritional perspective. Spiritually speaking, one may say in his heart,

“What is the least I can do and still be pleasing to God?” When we consider all

that God has done for us, we must realize that we are simply “unprofitable

servants doing that which is our duty to do” (Luke 17:10). In today’s study, we will

examine a man who wanted to do the “bare minimum” and still be accepted by

God. Hopefully, if we have the same mindset, the Word of God will prick our

hearts to make us realize that we need to give God our best because He has

never failed to give us His best (John 3:16-17; Rom. 5:8-9)!

The passage under consideration comes from the book of Mark while the

same account can be found in the books of Matthew and Luke (Mark 10:17-22; cf.

Matt. 19:16-22; Luke 18:18-23). There is a unique detail Mark brings out by

inspiration of the Holy Spirit that I want to emphasize which is one of the reasons

why we are studying from his Gospel account.

First, notice the humility and posture of the “rich, young ruler” (vs. 17). He

came running to Jesus which shows the urgency and importance of approaching

the Son of God. Then, he knelt before Him showing his respect for Jesus as

kneeling was and is a sign of reverence. Next, he asked Him showing that he

valued Jesus’ perspective and answer to an extremely important question. Finally,

he called Jesus, “Good Teacher” recognizing Jesus’ goodness and ability to

accurately present truth.

Second, notice the response Jesus gave to him (vs. 18). Jesus first asked if

the young man really knew what he was saying when he said, “Good Teacher.” By

stating this, he was referring to God in the flesh (John 1:14) for “no one is good

but God.” Jesus then, knowing that the young man knew the commandments,

pointed him back to important commands from God: “Do not commit adultery, do

not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not defraud, and honor

your father and mother” (vs. 19; cf. Exo. 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20). It is interesting

that the order in which these commands are listed are different from the list of

commandments we find in the Book of Exodus (Exo. 20:12-16). Something else

that is very interesting is that Jesus did not point the young man to one of the

commandments: “You shall not covet” (Exo. 20:17). Covetousness, as defined by

the Bible is idolatry (Col. 3:5) and countless souls have pursued the god of

money and obtaining earthly wealth more than they heave pursued the God of

Heaven and being rich toward Him (1 Tim. 6:9-18)! Jesus said, "And He said to

them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in

the abundance of the things he possesses” (Luke 12:15).

Third, notice the response of the young man: “Teacher, all these things I

have kept from my youth” (Mark 10:20). He kept all the commandments of which

Jesus spoke and had done so “from his youth.” This is a young man who had

been taught, who knew the law of God, and was a “doer, not a hearer only” (Jas.

1:22).

Fourth, emphasizing an important detail, notice the compassion and deity

of Jesus. Jesus looked at him with love in His heart. The word “looked” means,

“to direct one’s gaze toward.” It is as if Jesus was looking into the young man’s

soul which He had the ability to do! The word “love” is a form of the word

“agape” which is a selfless love; the kind of love that truly wants what is best for

someone else and denotes great affection and care. Jesus knew that there was

something “lacking” and He instructed the young man saying, "Go your way, sell

whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;

and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21).

Fifth and finally, notice the sad demeanor and implications. The rich young

ruler was sad at the Jesus’ word and went away sorrowful. Why did he leave

sorrowful? It was because “he had great possessions.” Yes, he knew the

commandments and kept them, but ultimately, his love for his wealth and

possessions exceeded his love for God. He wanted to do the “bare minimum”

and keep his love of possessions while also serving God with all of his heart. As

Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters” (Matt. 6:24).

If we want to be pleasing to God we must keep His commandments from

the heart (John 14:15; 1 John 5:3). God wants people to love him and serve him

out of gratitude for what He has provided and is not pleased with one “doing the

bare minimum.” What about you? Are you giving God your best or just trying to

do enough to “get by?” Will you give to God that which costs you nothing (2 Sam.

24:24)?