This is a classic.  But don't let familiarity make your eye skip down the page.  This young man was not as inept as some suggest.  Jesus was on the road again with His disciples who were being trained to be apostles and they would learn another lesson as they observed this young man's conversation with Jesus (Mark 10:23-31).  As Jesus moved away from a crowd of adults and children, a man came running; eager not to lose his opportunity to get the answer to a burning question.  He fell on his knees, respecting the authority of Jesus' teaching.  It was a fine start to the interview, but would he find a place in God's eternal life?  The story deserves closer examination.

The man sincerely flattered Jesus by calling Him a 'good teacher', but Jesus said that only God is good.  He pointed out that goodness cannot be separated from God (and He embodied both).  Then the man asked his question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"   This young man was clearly pious and had a respectable moral history, which Jesus did not reject.  But He wanted to test how much he really wanted to please God.  The Saviour was less concerned about his past than his future.  What would he be like after his encounter with Jesus?  Alas, although he was willing to add lots of good things, he was unwilling to subtract anything - especially money.  It would prove to be a challenge too far (Mark 10:22).  

Christless religion of all types assumes that we can do enough good to be acceptable to God.  But we are sinners; we can never achieve the 100% righteous lifestyle God demands.  The real answer to the question about inheritance, is that someone must die.  Jesus died for our sins, and those who believe in Him must die to our selfish desires each day (2 Corinthians 5:15).  The inheritance of God's kingdom is given to those who are trusting in the death of Jesus Christ to cover their sins: and their grateful response is to make it their business to please the Lord (1 Thessalonians 4:1) – what they do cannot earn the inheritance but validates their relationship with the Saviour who gave everything for us.

Most people will do a few good things for good causes, and even give a little money.  But unless you have had a life-changing encounter with Christ, you are unlikely to take anything significant away from your own mini-empire.  Unless your values have been changed, as you understand the nature of eternal life - you will inevitably hang onto this life ... and hang on with an iron grip.  Sacrificial giving is a hall mark of eternal life: as modelled by Jesus.  So, perhaps it is now time to choose to take some things out of your life.  To the unconverted around you, it will be a potent example of Gospel living: a model for those who Jesus is calling to follow Him.