Why the Rich Young Ruler Walked Away Sad 😢 | Matthew 19 Devotional (7-Step QT)
7-Step QT Notes
1. 🙏 Quiet Time
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Ask God to give you a childlike heart—open hands, honest faith, and quick obedience.
2. 📅 March 2, 2026
Today’s passage reminds us:
The kingdom is received with childlike trust, but it’s refused when we cling to what we can’t surrender.
3. ✝️ Matthew 19:13-22
Jesus welcomed the children, telling his disciples not to hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these, and he laid his hands on them. A rich young man asked what good deed he must do to have eternal life; Jesus pointed him to keep the commandments, which the man claimed he had kept. Jesus then told him to sell what he possessed, give to the poor, and follow him, but he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.
4. 📖 Key Verse
When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (v. 22)
5. 📝 Reflection
Many Christian young adults desire to become wealthy and successful. And there is a pledge they often attach to that desire: “If God makes me successful and allows me to earn a lot of money, I will give generously to spread the gospel.” This hope certainly contains good intentions and seems harmless on the surface. Yet there is something we often overlook when we speak this way: we are exceedingly weak and fragile beings.
Solomon, the son of David, did not ask to become rich or successful. When God appeared to him in a dream and asked what he wanted, Solomon sincerely requested wisdom to govern God’s people well and discern between good and evil. God was greatly pleased and granted him even wealth and honor—things he did not ask for (1 Kings 3:1–15). But we also know what happened afterward. Though he possessed so much, he eventually provoked the anger of the LORD (1 Kings 11:1–13).
Dear brothers and sisters, today we see a wealthy young man who hears from Jesus the way to become complete, yet ultimately fails to follow that path. In following God, wealth and honor often hinder us rather than help us. The vow, “If God gives me wealth and honor, then I will be more faithful,” can easily become an empty promise in light of our weakness. Such wealth and honor may even steal our hearts and become a stumbling block.
As Jesus teaches, the path to becoming whole begins simply by following Him. That path grows in the daily practice of quiet time—meeting God in His Word and obeying promptly. Is there something today that is turning your steps away? If so, I earnestly pray that you will lay it down and choose to follow Jesus.
6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?
- Where am I tempted to approach Jesus with a “checklist” instead of childlike trust?
- What is my current “security blanket” (money, career, relationships, comfort, control, image)?
- What would it look like for me to respond to Jesus with open hands today?
- Is there something Jesus is asking me to release—and why does that feel so hard?
7. 🙏 Prayer
Lord Jesus, give me a childlike heart that trusts You without negotiating.
Expose what I’m clinging to for security, and free me from anything that competes with You.
Teach me to obey promptly and follow You with open hands.
Amen.
Scriptures
📖 13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.
16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions (Matthew 19:13-22, ESV).
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