Most of my talk had been about situations where the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak, and I was being encouraging about that.
https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2025/10/empathy.html
I am not sure that was the case with the rich young ruler.
I think about money a lot, and greed.
Maybe "greed" is not the right word, but when you have people being so judgmental about the poor, and where actions that create economic inequality and suffering are justified based on people needing to work, even though they do work... and this is among Christians!
I mean, it's a sore spot.
Still, I had used a lot of examples of people offering to do things and being turned away, probably because they aren't ready for it.
In this case, the rich young ruler is asking what to do. He is given an easy out, but persists, then gets told to give away all of his possessions and follow Jesus.
When you think of all of those people who had made that request and been denied, it could be construed as an honor.
That is probably the wrong way of thinking. Still, it would be saying, "You can do this." That is not the same as saying, "This will be easy for you; you are going to crush it," but it is saying that he would be capable.
He doesn't want to give away all of his possessions.
It doesn't say that he had objections to following Jesus, per se, just that "... he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions." (Matthew 19:22)
I guess that could still be an example of the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak, but it seems more like the spirit is not that willing.
I admit now that there are things I wonder about it. For example, what if he had tried to follow but kept his possessions?
I can see where it might be harder to keep having to go and preach and face rejection and maybe hunger and hard beds when you know you don't have to.
I do have some thought about asking for what you need to do, getting a firm answer, and then not doing it, but I still think it's good to search and know. You just need to be prepared and follow through.
I admit, though, that when I had to mention it in my talk it was because of that stupid wreath-making class:
https://preparedspork.blogspot.com/2025/03/retirement-and-responsibility.html
That I was thinking about it before didn't surprise me, but I didn't think it would make it into the talk. When I was actually up there, I had to mention it.
I said how if you had gotten the advice to give away all of your possessions, that would be very hard to follow and then people would judge you for following it.
We put so much fear around money and not having enough, but it turns people into hoarders. Nope, it's not the piles of possessions blocking pathways and becoming fire hazards. Instead the hoard is balance sheets of numbers you may never touch or use, when it could bless people right now.
My ward covers a fairly small area, but it contains run down apartments by the railroad tracks and spacious homes on Cooper Mountain.
I know it is not my job to figure out anyone's finances or what their retirement plans should be or how large their homes should be. Hey, we just got back from vacation.
I do think everyone should ask themselves those questions.
Since the world's wisdom leans in one definite direction that is wrong, they should probably also ask God those questions.
There are a lot of people who could use help right now.
Related posts:
https://sporkful.blogspot.com/2025/10/old-bag-with-extra-baggage.html
