Paul describes two kinds of sorrow in 2 Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.” This verse provides the framework through which we must interpret the sorrow of the rich young ruler. 

“But not all who enter the storm remain there. The prodigal son offers yet another glimpse into the anatomy of guilt and shame. … “

There is a kind of shame that hides in the pews. It dresses itself in obedience, smiles through worship, and serves without complaint, yet walks away each week with a silent ache: "Do I really measure up?" …

The rich young man was not necessarily weighed down by a list of wrongdoings, but by a haunting sense that he hadn’t “done enough.” His soul was restless, not because of what he had done, but because of what he had left undone.

When we allow the Bible to define the word perfect, we would find a deeper, clearer understanding, one that brings peace and unity of thought to the Church, rather than division and confusion.

“Naming, then, is more than attaching a label. It defines identity, establishes accountability, and affirms purpose.”