One Thing He Lacks Script

 

What is the right attitude to have toward wealth? Does wealth bring difficulty to devout Christians? Is it even possible to be wealthy and a Christian? Can wealth cost you your soul? What does God do for the Christian with the right attitude?

We will answer these questions as we examine 5 of Jesus’ essential teachings about wealth.

INTRO

We find 5 of Jesus’ many teachings on finances and wealth in Mark 10:17-30. We will be reading through this section, discovering each of his life-altering teachings as we go. So, pause the video long enough for you to get your Bible so you can read along and mark things in your Bible for yourself.

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Jesus was starting the most important trip to Jerusalem he would ever make. It was not going to end well for him, but wonderful for all humanity. He would die an excruciating death for us.

He was interrupted. A man came to him, worshipfully asking (Mark 10:17) “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He was told to keep the Old Testament commandments. Jesus said, Mark 10:19 “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.'”

In verse 20, the man says he has been doing these all his life.

Verse 21 shows that Jesus had a love for this man who wanted to do something outstanding to secure his eternal life. Jesus could see he was performance-oriented. Just like all Jews of his day, it was about doing the right thing. It was not about being right in the heart. It was not about establishing priorities. Jesus told him, “Mark 10:21 “…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.”

What did the young man do? He was told what to do, but it was more about changing his attitude about wealth. Mark recorded, “Mark 10:22  But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.”

He made a choice. He chose to keep his property, to keep his wealth, instead of shedding all his wealth and becoming a follower of Jesus. What he lacked was the right attitude about wealth.

That is the first essential teaching. Everyone needs to have the right attitude about wealth.

Paul the apostle told Timothy, 1 Timothy 6:17-18  “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,”

Did you see that Jesus didn’t beg him to change his mind or chase after him? Instead, he looked over at his disciples and shared with them the 2nd essential. He told them, “Mark 10:23 “…How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” The 2nd essential is that the wealthy will have difficulty

The kingdom was not present when Jesus said these words. It would come into being in Acts 2, as the first sermon is preached, ushering in God’s system of grace instead of works. But he was saying that the wealthy will have difficulty as they try to enter God’s new system. Jews thought that if someone was wealthy, they must be living the way God wants them to because he is blessing them so well. Wealth was their tangible way of measuring their salvation. The more wealthy, the more secure their salvation. But that is NOT the way God works in this new system, found in the New Testament. Their trust in the wealth would make it hard for them to enter the kingdom.

Jesus’ own disciples were amazed, shocked at what Jesus was saying. They had that Jewish mindset that wealth equals salvation and God’s blessings. This sets the stage for the 3rd essential, the Degree of Difficulty: Impossible. Jesus not only told them again that it would be hard, but he also illustrated it very clearly. He said, Mark 10:25  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” Many people have tried to make sense of this idea of a camel going through the eye of a needle. But it is Jesus simply using a hyperbole, an overstatement, to make a point. Is it possible for a camel to go through the tiny opening on a sewing needle.Most people have great difficulty trying to put a thread through the needle’s eye, even with some incredible hacks.

So, as Jesus makes this overstatement, his point has not moved. The Degree of Difficulty has not moved from Impossible. Some scientists have conjectured that if you get the camel going the speed of light you might be able to shoot it through the eye of a needle. Well, good luck on getting a camel up to that speed. And even more, if you could get him through the needle, how are you going to get him stopped. Yes, it is impossible for a man trusting in his wealth to enter the kingdom.

This whole idea has now shocked, even stunned, Jesus’ disciples. It is so counter-cultural to everything they have witnessed their entire lives. So they ask Jesus, “Mark 10:26 “…Then who can be saved?”

Are you ready? Here comes essential #4. Mark 10:27  “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Essential #5 is that Salvation is impossible for man, but not impossible for God. You see, salvation is something that is impossible for men to achieve. It is not a matter of how much money, or possessions, or prestige you can gather. This is because men sin, and we can not atone for that sin on our own. The entire Mosical Law is proof that no one could keep it perfectly to merit salvation. So Salvation is impossible for men to achieve.

But God has found a way to offer man a path to salvation. Salvation is possible with God’s help. All things are possible with God’s grace and mercy. Jesus, being God in the flesh, was able to live a sinless life, the one thing man can’t do. And he became God’s atoning sacrifice for our sin debt, a debt that we can’t pay for with money or enough good works. Paul wrote, Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  (9)  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

So, after Jesus reminded them about salvation, Peter reminded Jesus of what he and his friends had done for Jesus. He said, Mark 10:28  “… Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” Was he reminding Jesus how they were better than the man who walked away grieving? Was he trying to claim eternal life? We are not told.

But Jesus’s next statement brings essential #5 into clear focus. Jesus told them, “Mark 10:29-30  Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake,  (30)  but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Essential #5 is With the right attitude toward God, He can bless you with everything, including persecution & eternal life. If we Americans can separate ourselves from our relationships and our businesses and start living for Jesus and the gospel, we will be creating the right attitude. And if we steer or drive our lives with Jesus as navigator, with God’s help, we will receive multiple rewards. We will need to stick with Jesus through the persecutions that will come. And if we have that attitude that God is supreme, and he is helping us, we will obey whatever he says – better than the young man at the beginning, and we will follow through and receive Eternal Life. When you get that right attitude, You begin to allow God to bless you. Maybe not with the same things you have set aside, but many times more blessings, possibly a bigger variety than you could ever imagine.

How can you get this particular attitude? We have several videos we would like to suggest you watch over at TimelessTalks.Net. To get that list, you need to call or text this number you see here, or visit our contact page, or better yet, use this QR code. Touch it and let us know you want the improved attitude.

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Thank you for sharing these few minutes with us. Until we can visit again, well, goodbye for now.