Joy.

There is nothing we can do to "earn" or "deserve" eternal life. It is a free gift of grace. Poverty is not God's requirement - if it was, who could ever help the poor? Prov 13:22 says "a good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children...", not an easy task if you are poor? However, God calls different people to different walks. He asked this young man to follow him because he loved him. To be offered an opportunity to walk with Jesus and learn from him first hand - to be one of his disciples - is a privilege and honour. It is still today. This man loved his riches more than the prospect of following Jesus. He chose to hold onto them and walk away from Jesus and all he had to offer.