Mark 10:17
Now as He was going out on the road, one came
running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I
may inherit eternal life?”
With the arrival
of Pastor JJ’s son this week, his stepfather – Phil Smith, Chaplin of the
County of San Bernardino Sheriff’s Adelanto, California Correctional facility bailed out
our preacher. Continuing in our Study of the gospel of Mark, He told us that
all accounts of this young man that ran to Jesus and fell on his knees before
Him, say that he was wealthy and had great possessions. But this rich young
Ruler came to the Lord not looking for material goods or healing; he came for
spiritual advice, because he knew that he lacked what it took to get into
heaven. Good
Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” No more
significant or appropriate question could be asked of Jesus than this one that
this man asked. This is one of the most important questions of theology: the
most important question to an ultimate reality. “Where am I going to go when I
die?”, “I want to go to Heaven, but how do I get there?” and the “end all”
question: “What shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
Mark
10:21-23 Then Jesus,
looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell
whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven;
and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was
sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Jesus looked at his heart, identified and exposed
the problems. Great possessions and wealth can be a great distraction in life;
a diversion that draws our mind in different directions than God and godliness.
Distractions are whatever takes our
attention off of where it should be.
(1) Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:24 “No one can serve two masters; for
either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the
one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (wealth &
riches).” This
was the rich young ruler’s situation and many of ours also. The inherent dilemma
with wealth is that we dwell on getting it, keeping it, protecting it and who
is going to inherit it, mastering our mind. In Ecclesiastes 5:11-13, King Solomon explains that when goods increase, they increase who eat them; so what
profit have the owners except to see them with their
eyes? The sleep of a laboring man is sweet,
whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not permit
him to sleep. There is a severe evil which I have seen
under the sun: Riches kept for their owner to his hurt. Wealth and all it
brings to us can become an idol.
(2) Man’s pursuit through time has been self acceptance
through material achievement and social success. People may believe that “the
one who dies with the most toys wins”, but “keeping up with the Jones” has a
high cost and it may be an eternal loss in the end. Coveting (the envious
desire of that which belongs to another) made the “Big Ten” list of Commandments
of God. Seeking earthly material possessions and existential social success/status
as our goal is playing the greedy and lustful “Rat Race” game. Where is our
focus and love?
(3) Who are we depending
upon to provide for our needs? Deuteronomy 8:10-14, 17-18 tells us: “When
you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good
land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to
observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied,
when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and
your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will
forget the Lord your God. You may say to
yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this
wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he
who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” There is no room for self-centered pride. By our lives, do we say: “I need you Lord Jesus!” or “I don’t need
you Lord Jesus!” Psalm
37:16 “A little that a
righteous man has is better than
the riches of many wicked.”
What this Ruler needed was the sweet surrender of
this material life that ruled him. It was not that he had many possessions;
rather, the possessions had him. He was enslaved to what should have been his
servant. The price was too great and his love for the world’s goods prevailed. He
rejected the love of the only one who alone can impart true riches. How about
us? 1
Timothy 6:7-9 says, “For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we
can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be
content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and into many foolish
and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.”
“Good Teacher, what shall I do that I
may inherit eternal life?” “Come, take up the cross, and follow
Me.” Where are we today? Distracted by possessions, position status, or
busyness in the pursuit of wealth and pleasures? Today could be a good day to
know who we are distracted from and what we are attracted to, then make the
change to trust the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Why? Because all things are possible with God.
Mark 10:21-27 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Mark 10:21-27 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
In Christ, Brian