(adapted from monologues written in 1992 as sermon illustrations)
The Rich Young Ruler
His clothes are of the finest cloth. His posture is noble. He is clearly “somebody.” And yet, when he looks at you, he betrays no pride or arrogance. (Well, maybe a little. He is, after all, very young.) He speaks.
‘I am one of the fortunate ones. My family has money. In fact, we have lots of money. We are rich.
‘I like being rich. It’s very pleasant. All around me are beautiful things. I have servants to do my every bidding. Anything I want, I can have. This is truly a fine way to live; I’d recommend it to anyone. But the best thing about it is that whenever I look around me and see all that I own, I know who I am.
“My family has never felt that because we are rich we have the right to lord it over others. On the contrary, we have always devoted ourselves to public service. It’s a tradition with us to serve as rulers. We are skilled administrators, making things run smoothly and efficiently. It’s important for me to be involved like this, because when I see the good things I accomplish, I know who I am.
“This all makes my life very gratifying. And for the most part I am happy. But sometimes, just sometimes, mind you, I sense that there is something important missing in my life. I don’t know what it could be. I am a good, moral person, a law-abiding Jew. What more could I need or do?
“And sometimes, in the middle of the night, I wake in a cold sweat. I dream that I have lost everything: all my money, my things, my position. I have nothing, I do nothing. I am nothing. And then for a while I lie in the darkness, wondering what it would be like to be completely emptied like that. What in heaven or on earth could be so great as to be able to fill such a void? And who would I be if that happened?
“Then reality returns and I remember that I am a rich young ruler with splendid possessions and noble work to do. My possessions and my place in society: I don’t know which would be harder for me to part with. I don’t know who I would be without them. And I hope I never have to find out.”
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For more of his story, read Mark 10: 17-30 in your own Bible, or with Bible Gateway: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+10%3A17-30&version=NLT