“What Shall I Do?” — When Eternal Life Becomes a Performance

There is a question that lives in many religious hearts, even when it’s never said out loud: “What must I do to be sure I’m right with God?” Mark 10 records a meeting where that question is brought to Jesus as clearly as it possibly can be—and Jesus answers in a way that doesn’t smooth the surface, but reaches all the way down into the depths of the heart.

In this teaching, we will examine Mark 10:17–27, because here we see two things at once:

• how the question of “eternal life” can easily turn into a performance question, and
• how Jesus leads the conversation toward the issue of who truly rules the heart.

First, here is the key opening of the passage in full, so we can clearly see where the story begins:

“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.” (Mark 10:17–19, KJV)

This is where we start. And from here it becomes clear that Jesus is not giving an etiquette lesson—He is testing the heart: what does “good” really mean, what does “what shall I do” reveal, and who truly sits in the first place within a person?

The man’s question is: “What shall I do…?” That mindset can easily suggest that eternal life is something a person can obtain through the right kind of performance. So Jesus points him toward the commandments:

“Thou knowest the commandments…” (Mark 10:19, KJV)

The man answers confidently:

“Master, all these have I observed from my youth.” (Mark 10:20, KJV)

Jesus does not start an argument, and He does not “tear him down.” Scripture adds a striking line:

“Then Jesus beholding him loved him…” (Mark 10:21, KJV)

The love of Jesus is not sentimental flattery. It is truth-telling love. And out of that love comes the “knife”—the sentence that exposes what truly sits on the throne of the heart.

“One Thing Thou Lackest” — Jesus Asks for the First Place of the Heart, Not Religious Decorations

Jesus says:

“One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor… and come, take up the cross, and follow me.” (Mark 10:21, KJV)

Jesus is not merely assigning a new religious task, and He is not preaching a simplistic “poverty ideal.” He is pressing the deepest question: Who holds first place in the heart?

“Sell what you have” is not a universal salvation formula, and it is not a command given in the same way to every believer. It is a specific heart-surgery. Jesus touches what, for this man, sits in the place of deepest security and control. The point is not money in itself, but where the heart runs for safety, where identity is anchored, and what a person clings to as though it were the savior.

Notice also that Jesus reaches into the two great directions of God’s law at the same time. He presses for God’s first place (“follow me”—meaning, I am Lord), and He presses for real love toward neighbor (“give to the poor”). He is not rearranging religious scenery; He is putting the heart into proper order: who is first, and how that order shows up in love.

The call to “follow” is not a momentary burst of enthusiasm. It is enduring allegiance. Jesus is not merely asking for a donation; He is exposing the condition of true discipleship—nothing may remain in the heart as a stronger “support” than Jesus Himself.

When the Heart Will Not Let Go: He Went Away Grieving

And here it becomes visible what the man truly depends on:

“And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:22, KJV)

The passage does not say, “He didn’t understand.” It shows that he could not let go. His sorrow exposes it: there was something that provided security, identity, and a grip on life—and Jesus asked for that place to belong to Him.

Here the question is decided: will Jesus remain merely a “good teacher”—a respected religious figure—or will He be Lord, the rightful King of the heart?

An Illustration from the Church: James 2 and the Heart’s Value System

The same kind of heart-value system can appear in church life as well: when people give the “shining” one the front place because outward impressiveness seems to promise security, advantage, or comfort—while the poor are pushed aside.

“For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment;
And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool:
Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?” (James 2:2–4, KJV)

James is not only speaking about bad manners; he is exposing an inward order: what we esteem, what we place “in front,” what we quietly idolize. The story of the rich man reveals the same thing: Jesus will not allow the heart to enthrone “goodly apparel” while He remains only an honorable title (“Good Master”). Jesus restores the heart’s order: He must be first.

What This Passage Reveals About Jesus

This encounter shows not only the man, but also the heart and method of Jesus.

Jesus seeks the heart, not merely outward order.
It is not enough to say, “I’ve kept the commandments,” if the heart is serving another master.

Jesus will not allow politeness to dodge truth.
When someone says “Good Master,” the issue must be settled: is this merely respect—or real recognition? If Jesus is “good” in a God-worthy sense, He cannot remain merely a rabbi.

Jesus confronts in love.
“Jesus… loved him”—and then speaks what hurts. Love does not always soothe; sometimes it frees.

Jesus calls to discipleship, not religious bargaining.
Eternal life is not a “wage earned.” It is God’s gift, received by faith—and real relationship, obedience, and following become visible as the fruit of that faith.

The Final Message: Impossible with Man—Possible with God

After this story, Jesus says:

“With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27, KJV)

This is not an excuse; it is hope. The idols of the heart are not defeated merely by willpower. God is the One who can give a new heart—one that truly chooses Jesus as Lord, and not merely as a “good teacher.”

Closing Thought

The story of the rich man still asks the reader today: Is Jesus, for me, a “good master”—or Lord?

Because Jesus does not stop at respectful words. He asks for the first place of the heart. Not to take life away, but to free us from what will ultimately leave us empty.

“Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.” (Mark 10:18, KJV)
The question remains: if Jesus is “good,” then who is He truly to you?