Letting Go to Follow Christ

Letting Go to Follow Christ

Reflection on Matthew 19:16-22

In today’s Gospel, a young man comes to Jesus with a question that lies in every human heart: “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” It is such an honest question, and notice—he is not careless or rebellious. He is a good man, someone who has followed the commandments from his youth. He is serious about God.

But then Jesus invites him to go deeper. He says, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At that moment, the young man’s enthusiasm fades. He walks away sad, because he had many possessions.

This is one of the saddest lines in all of Scripture—not because the young man is wicked, but because he is trapped. His possessions are not evil, but they own his heart. He wanted eternal life, but he wanted it on his own terms, without letting go of the things that held him back.

And isn’t that true for us as well? Each of us has something that makes it hard to follow Jesus completely. For one person it may be wealth, for another pride, comfort, resentment, or a certain habit or attachment. Jesus looks at us with love, just as He looked at that young man, and He asks: “Are you willing to let this go so you can follow me freely?”

The truth is, discipleship is not about doing the minimum or simply following rules. It is about surrender. It is about putting Christ first, even above the things we hold most dear. Eternal life is not earned—it is received when we give our hearts fully to the One who calls us.

The young man walked away sad because he could not say yes. But we are invited to choose differently. When we loosen our grip on what binds us, we find freedom. And when we let go of what is temporary, God gives us treasure that will never fade.

So today, let us ask: What is my “one thing”? What is keeping me from following Jesus with all my heart? And am I willing to trust Him enough to let it go?

Key Takeaway: Eternal life is found not in clinging to possessions or attachments, but in surrendering everything to Christ. True discipleship means letting go, so that we can follow Him freely and discover the joy of His kingdom.