What Lack I Yet?

In Matthew 19, we read the story of the rich young man who kept the commandments and wanted to know what more he needed to do to gain eternal life. He asked the Lord, "What lack I yet?" When the Lord told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, the young man couldn't do it. He valued his possessions more than he valued the counsel of the Lord. So, he walked away sorrowfully. He had the faith to ask the Lord for something, but he didn't have enough faith to do it.

How often have we asked the Lord for something and then walked away from His response because it was too hard or because it wasn't the answer we expected or hoped for? How often do we reject the Lord's attempts to improve us by refusing to accept a challenging calling or by not listening to the counsel given from our prophet?

To help us accept the Lord's answers to our prayers, especially those prayers asking for help in improving ourselves, we need to be humble and we need to be in tune with the Holy Ghost. This life is the time for us to improve ourselves and the Lord wants to help us do that. Elder Larry R. Lawrence stated, "If we are humble and teachable, the Holy Ghost will prompt us to improve and lead us home, but we need to ask the Lord for directions along the way."

We shouldn't worry that the Lord will ask more from us than we can give. We should have the faith to do whatever the Lord asks us to do.

Elder Lawrence continued, "The Holy Ghost doesn’t tell us to improve everything at once. If He did, we would become discouraged and give up. The Spirit works with us at our own speed, one step at a time, or as the Lord has taught, 'line upon line, precept upon precept, … and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, … for unto him that receiveth I will give more.'”

Reference:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/10/what-lack-i-yet?lang=eng