What About the Rich Young Ruler?

In Mark 10: 20-26, we read of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus to find out what he must do to be saved. We are taught that salvation is by faith alone, not by doing anything... why then did Jesus instruct the rich young ruler to DO something in order to be saved (i.e. sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor).

By Pastor Ken Burisek, The Ole Country Church, Medford, Wisconsin
Email: kburisek@taylorelectric.org
At first glance, this passage seems like it doesnt quite fit in the natural flow of Scripture, because there are no works that we can do that measure up to Gods holiness. In Isaiah 64:6 (NLT) we read, We are all infected and impure with sin. When we proudly display our righteous deeds, we find they are but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall. And our sins, like the wind, sweep us away.
Another verse that clearly tells us that our works alone just dont cut it in Gods eyes is Ephesians 2:8-9, For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. These verses tell us that our works fall short of Gods righteousness. That being the case then, just what was Jesus saying in the story of the rich young ruler?
I believe that Jesus was telling us that even though we are saved by grace through faith, there is also sacrifice on our part of giving up our attachments to the things of this world. I John 2:15 says, Love not the world, neither t ...