The question that started this: "Surely Jesus doesn't want us to not have possessions?"
"You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
— Luke 18:22 NIVContext First
This is the Rich Young Ruler passage. It starts at verse 18. A man approaches Jesus and asks, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus runs through the commandments—don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't bear false witness, honor your parents. The man says, "All these I have kept since I was a boy."
Then verse 22. "You still lack one thing."
Jesus was not issuing a universal command to all believers to liquidate their assets.
He was performing surgery on this specific man's heart.
What Was the Actual Problem?
Jesus saw that this man's wealth was his idol. His possessions weren't just possessions—they were his identity, his security, his god. When Jesus said "sell everything," He was testing whether this man loved God more than what he owned.
And verse 23 tells you exactly what happened: "When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy."
He couldn't do it. He chose the money. Which proved Jesus was right—the wealth owned him, not the other way around.
The Principle, Not the Literal Command
The teaching isn't "possessions are sinful." Scripture is full of wealthy people who served God faithfully:
Abraham — enormously wealthy. Called the friend of God.
Job — blessed with abundance, lost it all, had it restored double. God wasn't punishing wealth—He was testing faithfulness.
Joseph of Arimathea — rich man who gave his own tomb for Jesus' burial.
Lydia — successful businesswoman, first convert in Philippi.
Paul doesn't say money is the root of all evil. He says in 1 Timothy 6:10: "The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil."
The issue is never the possession itself. The issue is the position it holds in your heart.
What Jesus Is Actually Saying
He's asking: What would you not give up to follow me?
Whatever that thing is—money, comfort, reputation, control—that's your idol. For this particular man, it was wealth. For someone else, it might be status, or approval, or the need to be right.
Jesus doesn't want you destitute. He wants you unattached. There's a difference between having things and being had by things.
"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
— Matthew 6:21
The question isn't "Do you have possessions?" The question is: "If God asked you to let it go, could you?"
— Sebastian, from the prayer table