What Shall I Do?

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.”

In Christ, Brian