If you’ve ever played darts or tried your hand at archery, you know the goal is deceptively simple: get your dart or arrow in the bullseye. But it is harder than it may initially seem. In lesson planning, the most critical step is establishing the lesson’s objective or target. Defining the target, or the desired outcome of the lesson, is essential for true learning to take place. During Jesus’ time on earth, every single thing He did and said was purposeful. In Mark 10, Jesus was teaching the Pharisees and “crowds of people” (v. 1). Many subjects were brought up, including reasons for divorce, receiving the kingdom of God like an innocent child, and the perils of riches. One man in the audience, however, struggled to meet the target and learn what Jesus was teaching. The rich young ruler asked: “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 17). Jesus took a minute to review what the man already knew, all of the commandments he had carefully learned (vv. 18, 19). From the young man’s perspective, it seemed he had more than passed the test. But Jesus showed him otherwise. Despite his efforts to keep the commandments, the young man was not meeting the target. Jesus reveals that he was unwilling to take the next step. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor” (v. 21). The text tells us that “he went away sad, because he had great wealth” (v. 22). By his actions, the rich young man showed that he was not as devoted to God as he had thought. >> What about you? Are you open to what God is teaching you? When work responsibilities are overwhelming, when a child is ill, when we just feel sad, or even when all seems well ...remember your primary target: trust Christ and serve Him with all your heart.