THE MAN WHO HAD EVERYTHING BUT THE MAIN THING
Mark 10:17-22
INTRO: If we could have walked down the pathway of life with Jesus, we would have had many thrilling experiences and would have seen many wonderful things. Let’s walk with Him on a certain day. As we walk along, we see a young man dressed in very rich apparel running up to Jesus. He kneels down before the Savior and says, “Good Master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Now Jesus looked deep down into the soul of that young man and saw what the world couldn’t see. The world saw him as rich and young and powerful. But Jesus saw a great hunger in his heart. The young man had so much but he was not satisfied. He longed for joy and peace that the world could not give him.
The world is full of such people, some are rich and some are not. They are running all over the world, seeking some new thrill. They indulge in all that the world has to offer them, but they are never satisfied. Deep down on the inside there is an aching void and the pleasures of sin and the world soon lose their enthusiasm for them, leaving them empty and hungry. All because they are looking for satisfaction in the wrong place.
I. WHAT DID THE YOUNG MAN HAVE?
1. He Had Wealth. Many people think that money is everything. They say, “If I only had money, I would be truly happy.” But some people who have money have been absolutely miserable.
ILLUS: Some years ago a preacher told of working alongside another young man for a dollar a day. The other man became a millionaire. The preacher remained poor. Twenty-five years later they met again. The millionaire said that the responsibilities and burdens of his great wealth far outweighed the joy and happiness it brought.
The Bible does not condemn money, just the love of it. Money can do many wonderful things for God and man, if it is made honestly and used rightly.
2. He Had Morality. He could say, “I have lived a clean life all of my days.” It is fine if you can say that, but your morality, your personal goodness, will not save you.
This young man would have made a good neighbor and a fine citizen. The good people would say, “Let’s elect him as our mayor.” If a woman had a marriageable daughter, she would have said, “I hope she can marry a man like that.” If he had been a member of one of our churches we would have said, “He would serve well as the chairman of our deacons.” But human goodness without Christ is not true goodness.
So how can we say that any man is a good man who lives a good life and is good to everybody, if that man rejects and tramples under foot the Savior? He is guilty of committing the greatest sin. A man who rejects Christ is not a good man.
3. He Had Youth. Oh, what a premium we put on youth today! A church doesn’t want to call a man over forty, and the world of business demands men who are young and vigorous.
The time to come to Christ is when you are young. Statistics say that of all the unsaved people in America between 25 and 35, we are told that only 1 in 5,000 will ever be saved. Of all the unsaved people in America between 35 and 45, only 1 in 25,000 will ever be saved. Of all the unsaved people in America between 45 and 55, only 1 in 80,000 will ever be saved. Above 55 only 1 in 150,000.
4. He Had Social Rank. Oh, what some of our people do to rise up in the social world! They’ll give up their service for the Lord, they’ll turn their backs upon the church, they’ll neglect their families, they’ll spend money they don’t have, just to gain some social recognition. The height of their ambition is to get their pictures in the paper or to be elected to some office.
5. He Had a Form of Religion. He fasted and tithed and went through all the forms of religion, but this did not satisfy his inner hunger. These things will leave you cold unless Christ is in your heart.
6. He Had a Right Spirit. He had the spirit of humility. He came and knelt before Jesus. That’s the manner in which a sinner must come to Jesus, not in his pride or self-righteousness.
7. He Came Seeking the Right Thing. Eternal life. You may search for wealth, for health, for an education or for many other things. But the most important search in life is the search for God and eternal life.
8. He Came to the Right Place. He came to Jesus. If you need spiritual help don’t try to find it in the world. II. WHAT WAS THE YOUNG MAN OFFERED?
1. He Was Offered a Savior. Jesus did not argue theology with him. He simply offered Himself. He said, “Come and follow me.” What a friend we have in Jesus. He is the solution to every problem, the answer to every question, the satisfaction for every need. He is our BEST FRIEND. He comes to save us, to wash away our sin, to take us into His family, and write down our name in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
There are many fine people in this world, good people, clean people, generous people. They are too good to go to hell, but there is no hope for them if they will not come to Christ.
2. He Was Offered a Cross. To him the cross would be the giving up of his money, the thing he loved best. So he said “no” to Jesus. His money bags stood between him and the Savior and they shall haunt him throughout eternity. What is it that stands between you and Christ? Give it up or it will take you to hell.
Jesus comes to give us His salvation and to guide us through life and death into heaven. But some people care not for Him or anything He has to offer. They are holding on to some sin, some habit, some pleasure that is dear to them. These things will take them to hell.
3. He Was Offered a Home in Heaven. Jesus told him that if he would follow Him he would have treasure in heaven. He was simply promising him that when he came to the end of the way he would not go down to hell, but up to heaven.
III. WHAT DID THE YOUNG MAN DO?
1. He Rejected the Only Savior and Forfeited Eternal Life. He wanted eternal life, but he wanted to be saved on his own terms, through his good deeds and good life.
So the young man turned away from Jesus. It was all over in a minute, his decision was made, his doom was sealed. In the twinkling of an eye he decided for hell instead of heaven.
2. He Walked Away in Sorrow. No wonder. He had made the most awful mistake of his life. He is not laughing, he is grieving, he is on the way to hell.
If you met him on the street you would have said, “Friend, what’s the trouble? You look downhearted and dejected.”
Then, after he had told you what had happened, you would have grasped him by the arm and said, “Come on, let’s go back and find Jesus. He is a great compassionate forgiving Savior. I’m sure He’ll still save you and give you eternal life.” But then he would have jerked away from you and said, “No, I can’t do it, I can’t give up my sin.” And then he would have told you good-by.
CONC: Oh, the tragedy of it all! The tragedy of it then and the tragedy of it now. But on every side men are holding on to their sin and giving up eternal life. How about you?
