Surrendering One's Life to God Like the Rich Young Ruler
The concept of surrendering one's life to God is exemplified in the story of the rich young ruler, who approached Jesus to inquire about inheriting eternal life (Luke 18:18-30) [5]. Jesus' response to the young man emphasized the importance of devotion to God above material wealth. The young man's inability to part with his riches revealed his true priorities, highlighting the challenge of surrendering one's life entirely to God.
In the biblical narrative, surrendering to God involves a deep commitment, as seen in the examples of Hannah dedicating her son Samuel to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:28) [2]. This act of devotion is echoed in David's thanksgiving prayer in 1 Chronicles 29:10, where he acknowledges God's sovereignty over all things [3]. The Psalmist also exhorts the faithful to "offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving" and to "pay your vows to the Most High" (Psalms 50:14) [1].
The early Church Fathers understood the importance of surrendering one's life to God. Tertullian, for instance, emphasized the need for obedience to God's authority, citing the apostle Paul's admonition to be subject to all power because there is no power but of God (ANF Vol 3, CHAP. XIV) [8]. Similarly, Augustine reflected on the nature of true sacrifice, highlighting the importance of a contrite heart and a life devoted to God (NPNF1 Vol 2, CHAP. 26) [4].
John Calvin's Institutes also explore the concept of surrendering one's life to God, emphasizing the need for a "real conversion of our life unto God, proceeding from sincere and serious fear of God" (Institutes, section 58) [6]. This involves a turning away from self and towards God, laying aside the old nature and putting on a new mind. Calvin's commentary on the rich young ruler's story underscores the difficulty of relinquishing material attachments in order to follow Christ.
The Jewish tradition also grapples with the idea of surrendering one's life to a higher purpose. In Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet Rabbah 2:15:1, Abraham is presented as one who has come to terms with his own mortality, recognizing that true wisdom lies in acknowledging the transience of human life [7].
Sources
- Psalms “Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving. Pay your vows to the Most High. -- Psalms 50:14”
- I Samuel “I Samuel 1:28 (KJV) — Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there.”
- 1 Chronicles (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Chronicles 29:10: HIS THANKSGIVING. (1Ch. 29:10-25) Wherefore David blessed the Lord--This beautiful thanksgiving prayer was the effusion overflowing with gratitude and delight at seeing the warm and widespread interest that was now taken in forwarding the favorite project of his life. Its piety is displayed in the fervor of devotional feeling--in the ascription of all worldly wealth and greatness to God as the giver, in tracing the general readiness in contributing to the influence of His grace, in praying for the continuance of this happy disposition among the”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 26.--OF THE SACRIFICES OFFERED TO GOD BY THE SAINTS, WHICH ARE TO BE PLEASING TO HIM, AS IN THE PRIMITIVE DAYS AND FORMER YEARS. (part 2): most innocent happiness before their transgression. It is this period, then, which is properly understood when it is said, "as in the primitive days, and as in former years." For in Isaiah, too, after the new heavens and the new earth have been promised, among other elements in the blessedness of the saints which are there depicted by allegories and figures, from giving an adequate explanation”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 18:18: 18:18-30 The story of the rich religious leader warns against trusting in riches rather than pledging complete allegiance to God. 18:18 The man was probably a religious leader (traditionally ruler), not a political ruler. • what should I do to inherit eternal life? This question was commonly discussed by the rabbis of Jesus’ day (see 10:27).”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 58: both derivations, for it is substantially this, that withdrawing from ourselves we turn to God, and laying aside the old, put on a new mind. Wherefore, it seems to me, that repentance may be not inappropriately defined thus: A real conversion of our life unto God, proceeding from sincere and serious fear of God; and consisting in the mortification of our flesh and the old man, and the quickening of the Spirit. In this sense are to be understood all those addresses in which the prophets first, and the apostles afterwards, exhorted t”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Kohelet Rabbah 2:15:1: “I said in my heart: Like the fate of the fool, so will befall me; and why did I become wiser? I said in my heart, this too is vanity. For there is no remembrance of the wise man with the fool forever; with the passage of the coming days everything is forgotten. How can the wise man die like the fool?” (Ecclesiastes 2:15–16). “I said in my heart: Like the fate of the fool, so will befall me…” – I am called king 45 This is presented from the perspective of Abraham. A midrash ( Bereshit Rabba 42:5) asserts that after Abraham defeated the four kings in battl”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 3: Tertullian — CHAP. XIV.: No doubt the apostle admonishes the Romans[11] to be subject to all power, because there is no power but of God, and because (the ruler) does not carry the sword without reason, and is the servant of God, nay also, says he, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. For he had also previously spoken thus: "For rulers are not a terror to a good work, but to an evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and thou shall have praise of it. Therefore he is a minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil”