When a rich man asked Jesus the way to eternal life, Jesus told him to sell all he had, give it to the poor, and follow him (Mark 10:17-22). Jesus' ruthlessness here is overwhelming; he refused even to use the occasion of the man's conversion as a way to fund his own band. Nor did he plead with the man to change his attitude toward his wealth and practice better stewardship of the "largess bestowed upon him by God," as our preachers like to put it. Instead, he demanded complete divestiture of the rich man's wealth. - Walter Wink