The Biggest Loser

“When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.”
ESV Luke 18:22-23

Melisa and I were eating out the other night, getting in one of our last unrestricted meals prior to New Years, when the subject of The Biggest Loser came up. Now, for the uninformed (me being amongst you) The Biggest Loser is a TV show/contest. I don’t know exactly how the game is played, but apparently it involves weight loss and some guy named Bill just won the game for the season. The things we amuse ourselves with…

I suspect that weight loss will be a hot topic for a lot of folks as we begin a new year with fresh resolutions to uphold. Of course, it will be one of many resolutions abandoned early on when wishful thinking is confronted with reality.

Anyway, the name of the show kept ringing in my ears; The Biggest Loser. And I got to thinking, who is a big loser; really? Who is The biggest loser? As I pondered the question, one person from scripture stood out as a prime example. He is the rich ruler from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke identifies the person as a ruler which would suggest that he was blessed with earthly riches. This ruler makes inquiry unto Jesus, asking “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” After a short interaction, we get to our text where Jesus tells him to abandon his earthy treasure and follow him. Sadly, the text does not give us any indication that the ruler followed through in following Jesus.

Here’s my point. The ruler had come face-to-face with Jesus; God in the flesh. The ruler had asked the most important question that anyone can ask. And rather than being overcome with joy at discovering the answer, he has become sad because the answer Jesus gave was contrary to his lifestyle and the desires of his heart. I think the text lends itself to concluding that the ruler left without accepting Jesus’ terms. In doing so, he left as the biggest loser.

Yet how many folks who will see this paper and do the same thing? Think about it. We are confronted daily with the truth that Jesus Christ is the only means of eternal life. Without his perfect sacrifice and triumph over death, we would be without hope of eternal life. And still many will stubbornly and unrepentantly ignore this truth to their own demise; content with the status quo.

Jim Elliot got it right when he said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” You see, in reality losers are content with the status quo while winners willing, happily place their faith and eternal hope in Christ alone; treasuring, worshipping and exalting Him as their most prized possession.

Resolve today to follow Christ. What a great way to start the new year!

-Ken Askew