In Mark 10 a wealthy, prestigious young man asked Jesus what the requirements were to achieve eternal life. Jesus asked questions and determined that he was a believer in Jesus and tried to follow all of the commandments.

“I’m a good man,” the young ruler said.

Jesus replied, “Good start, but there’s more yet. I want you to leave behind this life where you practice goodness that comes only from you and make me a part of every minute of every one of your days. I want to guide your direction, your conversation, and your actions. I want to be the one to set your agenda for every day.”

That was asking too much, and the young man went sadly on his way.

I believe it wasn’t that Jesus asked him to leave his riches behind, but that Jesus wanted him to choose to give up control over his life and how he would live it.

We don’t have to be rich to be unwilling to give that up.

Jesus is saying to the rich young ruler, and to me: “Believe in me. I set the course for the river of your life flow. Trust me. I’ve already set the riverbanks, but you meander and eddy, overflow your banks, stagnate in a shady side pool, or dry up.”

This is what I believe. Jesus set the banks of my river (personality, place, family, experiences). I can flow anywhere inside those banks, but how I flow depends on whether or not I invite the water of life to flow through me.

I can fill the river with flotsam and jetsam, pesticides, and silt. Or I can go with His flow.