About two years ago Michael Jordon, the world's greatest basketball player, announced his retirement. Later he repented and returned to the hardwood. But at the time of his retirement the owner of his Chicago Bulls team said this: "Michael is living the American dream. This American Dream is to reach a point in your life where you don't have to do anything you don't want to do and can do everything you do want to do." That is the American Dream, isn't it? Even we Christians yearn for a situation in which our desires and preferences dominate our lifestyles.

Maybe that's why we cringe when we read about the rich young ruler who encountered Jesus. He was told by Jesus, "Go sell what you have, give to the poor, and come and follow me." The young man could not bear to part with his comfortable…