The Lukan story of the Rich Ruler is also in Matthew and Mark as the story of the Rich young man. The three are similar in that wealth and power take precedent over God. Jesus offers a difficult teaching that we place God above all else, not only possessions but family and friends. It is in the first love of God that the kind of love we need so that every person is our family has its origin. Are we able to love in this way, to give up what we hold onto so dearly in this life to make a full offering of our selves to God? The rich ruler was saddened by this request. Are we?