Right on!
Gospel of Mark: Jesus a life to serve • Sermon • Submitted
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· 16 viewsPotential problem with riches that may lead to wrong decision
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Right On!
Right On!
(insert Right on picture here)
Have you ever thought you were right on only to discover you were dead wrong? Or everything appeared to be right on but in the end you were left in the wrong? Our passage today has some great rights, but also a sad truth.
In the passage today we see:
Rich young ruler coming to the RIGHT person (Mk10:17)
He came with the RIGHT questions (Mk10:17)
Jesus gives him the RIGHT answers (Mk10:19-21)
Jesus gives some RIGHT direction (Mt19:17-21)
But in the end the man makes the WRONG decision (Mk10:22)
Now that sounds right doesn’t it, but it needs to be backed up with scripture
The rich young ruler came to the right person
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
He came to Jesus, he knew Jesus knew the answer to his desire
He asked the right questions of Jesus who was the right man to ask
He asked what shall I do? What do I lack to inherit eternal life?
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?”
He got answers, the right answers from the right person to answer them.
19 “You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
Mk10:19-20
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
Keep the commandments
Sell what you own and give to the poor (will expand on this shortly)
Let me add in some of the parallel passage
17 And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 Then he said to Him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not commit murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness;
19 Honor your father and mother; and You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
and then you can see if want perfection look at this
21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
Mt19:21
In the time, in the time of Jesus it would be fitting to say sell off and follow Him in the physical sense, today we are asked in the spiritual sense to do this.
In the end the rich young ruler made the wrong decision
22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
He left Jesus in worse shape than when he came to Him
He walked away saddened and grieving
Reason for it, was not willing to let go (sell) his possessions for he had many.
What a great set up for another great teaching moment for Jesus; a teaching moment about the problem with riches, the deceitful promise of riches , the foolish pride of riches and the selfishness of riches (Mk10:23-25); leading to another question and another right answer (Mkt10:26-27)
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.
19 “You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”
Mk10:
21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?”
Mk10:2
27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”
What do you see, what do you notice, what sticks out to you?
Here we have this rich young ruler who had lots of potential, had everything going for him, but yet even with all the right things the wrong decision was made. He was respected by others, but not accepted by God; He had good morals and manners but the wrong method. He had the right desire but still yet made the wrong decision. He had superficial view of sin, the scripture, the Messiah and salvation. So now lets look at the problem today and the solution too.
The problem with riches
The problem with riches
Riches do not satisfy, they are vanity of vanities (Ecc1:8 Ecc5:10)
8 All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing.
10 He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves abundance with its income. This too is vanity.
Riches can consume you, how get them, how to get more, how to maintain them and how to use them and how to store them up. (Mt6:19-20; Lk12:16-21)
Riches can consume you, how get them, how to get more, how to maintain them and how to use them and how to store them up. (Mt6:19-20; Lk12:16-21)
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;
There is the store of the rich man who wanted to store up everything for himself found in (Lk12:16-21); he wanted to hoard for himself so could live lavishly, but that very night his life was demanded of him.
The accumulation ofriches can absorb what time and energy we have, and we have so little in the grand scheme of things. The pursuit can take away from your relationship with God, with your family.
Deceitful promise of riches
Deceitful promise of riches
Sometimes deceit can be hidden just below the surface and it can get you when you are not looking. Riches can be good, but they can also be deceitful. We need to know, we need to be careful of such.
Jesus previously warned about the deceitfulness of riches (Mk4:19)
In the middle of the parable of seeds Jesus speaks of the deceitfulness of riches
19 but the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
Riches can be stolen and can rust or easily disappear (Pro23:4-5; Mt6:19)
4 Do not weary yourself to gain wealth, Cease from your consideration of it. 5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
5 When you set your eyes on it, it is gone. For wealth certainly makes itself wings Like an eagle that flies toward the heavens.
Riches can be stolen and can rust or easily disappear (Pro23:5; Mt6:19)
It comes it goes and it can decay or be stolen
19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.
Riches cannot buy your way into heaven, your salvation (Ps49:6-9)
Riches cannot buy your way into heaven, buy your salvation (Ps49:6-9)
6 The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered; He raised His voice, the earth melted. 7 The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.
6 Even those who trust in their wealth And boast in the abundance of their riches? 7 No man can by any means redeem his brother Or give to God a ransom for him—
Riches cannot protect you from God’s wrath (Zep1:18)
8 For the redemption of his soul is costly, And he should cease trying forever— 9 That he should live on eternally, That he should not undergo decay.
Ps
Ps49:8-9
Riches cannot protect you from God’s wrath (Zep1:18)
18 Neither their silver nor their gold Will be able to deliver them On the day of the Lord’s wrath; And all the earth will be devoured In the fire of His jealousy, For He will make a complete end, Indeed a terrifying one, Of all the inhabitants of the earth.
As you have heard, money can’t buy you love, it cannot buy you satisfaction, it cannot guy you salvation, money, riches can be deceitful and in the parable of the rich fool you can read more (Lk12:16-21) I challenge you to read that on your own. Don’t get deceived by thinking you have it all going on if you have riches for they are deceitful for they can give you a false sense of security. and bring about false pride.
Foolish pride of riches
Foolish pride of riches
Pride can slip in unnoticed at times too, can’t it. Riches are good fertilizer to foolish pride. Giving a false sense of security and bring about an attitude of arrogance.
Trusting in riches can promote arrogance and pride (Deu8:11-17)
In Deu8:11-17 there is God’s warnings and instructions about when things seem to be going good, don’t loose sight of God, you can read the passage but let me give you one verse of it.
17 “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’
Pride can blind you from God whereas you no longer seek Him (Ps10:4)
Pride can blind you from God whereas you no longer seek Him (Ps10:4)
4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him. All his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
If you trust and rely in you and your works then why even seek God? You then can believe there is no God and have your heart hardened by the selfishness of riches
17 “Otherwise, you may say in your heart, ‘My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth.’
Selfishness of riches
Selfishness of riches
Selfishness, is a serious stumbling block, for it is self-love; looking out for self-interest, with self-obsession and you become self-serving and self-seeking.
People are given riches not for themselves, but for the benefit of others (1Tim6:17-19); Don’t let riches close off your heart in helping others
17 Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. 18 Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share,
19 storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.
Don’t get self-confident that you get self-absorbed which was one of Israels sins (Amo2:6: Amo5:11-12; Amo8:4-6)
The book of Amos speaks of judgment that was being handed down on Israel because of the harness of their heart in looking out only for themselves and bringing oppression on the poor and not helping them.
Don’t get self-confident that you get self-absorbed which was one of Israels sins (Amo2:6: Amo5:11-12; Amo8:4-6)
Amos and the
Abusing the poor, failing to respond to their cry for justice
Not everyone who is rich, has wealth, has money is guilty of these things. There are plenty of biblical examples of rich people who lived and used their resources for the glory of God. People like (Job, David, Solomon, Joseph Barnabas, Philemon and Lydia)
Don’t let mammon (money, riches) become your God (Mt6:24)
24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
If mammon, money is what you have faith in, put your trust in then your reward is now and you have no reward in heaven since you don’t have your faith in God you would not be there.
Lessons to learn from problem of riches
Lessons to learn from problem of riches
From the problem of riches, seeking them, the deceitfulness of them, to the foolish pride in them to the selfishness there is much we can learn about them and from them, riches that is and the kingdom of God.
Some quick observations, thoughts before getting to the lessons learned from the passage.
Don’t let our faith be superficial
He had superficial view of sin. Sin is rebellion of God and he thought he had it going on by his works. One is not saved by works, but by faith. Sin has a consequence and it must be paid, works cannot pay it.
He had a superficial view of Jesus Christ, he came with flattering words without concern with what he was saying. Saying Jesus is good is saying Jesus is God, Jews only thought God was good and good was used in that context alone.
Jesus taught the youngman too, taught him through the Law of Moses that he is a sinner, and as a sinner he needs to bow down before him, not as a man thinking he is already righteous. We cannot be saved by the Law, by keeping the law. The Lw is a mirror that shows us how dirty we are, but the mirror cannot wash us, only the blood of Christ can.
The youngman thought he had everything, Jesus told him he lacked one thing (FAITH).
One commentator quoted a quote and I will give it to you here.
“The Law can bring the sinner to Christ, but the Law cannot make the sinner like Christ, only grace can do that.”
The youngman, the rich young ruler that had all the advantages, had everything going did not see himself as a condemned sinner before holy God, so he here also had a superficial view of the Law.
Lesson learned: Can lead to covetousness, which is folly (Eph5:5; Col3:5; 1Tim6:9; Pro28:20; 1Tim6:10 and Lk12:15)
Covetousness is a terrible sin; it can be very subtle and difficult to detect, and yet it can cause a man to break all the other commandments too, for if you break one you break them all (see Jm2:10).
5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
In looking at this (Eph5:5) what can we know for certainty?
5 Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry.
What are we to consider dead?
9 But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.
What is the warning here? What are the results if we do not heed the warning?
20 He who curses his father or his mother, His lamp will go out in time of darkness.
20 A faithful man will abound with blessings, But he who makes haste to be rich will not go unpunished.
There are a couple more verses on your outline to look up and consider on your own, but let me get to the next lesson learned.
Lesson learned: Learn to be content (1Tim6:6-7; Php4:11-12; 1Tim6:8 and Heb13:5)
6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either.
Paul spoke other places of it too
11 Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 12 I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
and then the Hebrew writer
5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,”
Lesson learned: We need to be sympathetic for the rich (Mk10:21; Rom3:23; Rom6:23)
Lesson learned: We need to be sympathetic for the rich (Mk10:21; Rom3:23; Rom6:23)
Jesus loved the rich young ruler according to (v.21) as should we for we all are sinners who fall short of the glory of God and deserve death.
Lesson learned: Put your faith in the power of God (MK10:23-27; Rom1:16-17; Lk8:1-3)
Jesus explained how hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom; but the power if found in God, through Christ to be able to enter (see Mk10:27)
Paul understood the power of God and shared it.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous man shall live by faith.”
We have the power of God at our avail when we use the mammon GOd gives us to help others (1Tim6:17-19) and as exampled in the ministry of Jesus when others helped him in his work by their support (see Lk8:1-3)
Money is a marvelous servant can help you accomplish much; but it is a terrible master and can keep you from much, including the kingdom.
Use your money, your resources to serve the living God and not be like the rich young ruler in our passage today.
Use your money, your resources to serve the living God and not be like the rich young ruler in our passage today.
May we remember what is impossible for us (man) is possible for God through Christ Jesus! !