Trustbusters: Guarding Against Choices that Ruin Relationships
Sermon #3 - Trust and Possessions
Mark 10:17-27
Sermon Objective: As seasoned Christians we are to live a life of radical obedience to God; including how we approach and utilize our possessions.
Some people are just waiting to see faith make a difference in the lives of Christ’s followers. They want to see it work. They are not asking too much. As God’s Spirit is allowed to inform and transform it builds trust in those watching. If we live in such a manner as to undermine God’s values and promises it erodes trust.
In Mark 9 Jesus began to show us that discipleship expresses itself through relationships. In chapter 10 that theme is extended into more complex relationships that include elements of society. Mark 9:50 serves as a good transition between the two … it hits the nail on the head. Mk 9:50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
We have already looked at
“Trust and Marriage” (Mark 10:1-12)
“Trust and Children” (Mark 10:13-16)
In coming weeks we will look at
• Trust and Duty (Mark 10:32-45)
• Trust and Opportunity (Mk. 10:46-52)
These issues go far in enforcing or destroying the world’s confidence in us as the People of God. When they are handled with wisdom, compassion and obedience, trust is established. When they are handled in a selfish and carnal manner trust is eroded.
This week we will look at Mark 10: 17-27
Mk 10:17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Mk 10:18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone.
Mk 10:19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’’”
Mk 10:20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
Mk 10:21 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.”
Mk 10:22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Mk 10:23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
Mk 10:24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
Mk 10:25 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.”
Mk 10:26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?”
Mk 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”
Whew! Aren’t ya glad you’re not rich!? You get to set back this week and hear a sermon directed at someone else.
Congrats on being poor.
Now, I don’t want to burst your comfortable bubble but I found some data a month or so back that you might find interesting. It comes from the Census Bureau’s 2005 annual report on poverty in the United States.
According to Robert Rector’s analysis there is a significant difference in being “destitute” in the U. S. and being classified as “poor.” Material hardship and destitute are certainly different things. In fact, most of America’s "poor" live in material conditions that would be judged as comfortable or well-off just a few generations ago – according to the 2005 statistics the poor today live better than many middle income families in the early 1970s – even after it is adjusted for inflation.
The following are facts about persons defined as "poor" by the Census Bureau:
• 43% of all poor households actu¬ally own their own homes.
• The average home owned by persons classified as poor by the Census Bureau is a three-bedroom house with one-and-a-half baths, a garage, and a porch or patio.
• 80% of poor households have air conditioning. By contrast, in 1970, only 36 percent of the entire U.S. population enjoyed air conditioning.
• Only 6% of poor households are over-crowded. More than two-thirds have more than two rooms per person.
• The average poor American has more living space than the average individual living in Paris, London, Vienna, Athens, and other cities throughout Europe.
• Nearly 75% of poor households own a car
• 31% own two or more cars.
• 97% of poor households have a color television
• Over 1/2 own two or more color televisions.
• 78% percent have a VCR or DVD player
• 62% have cable or satellite TV reception.
• 89% own microwave ovens
• More than 50% have a stereo
• More than a 33% have an automatic dishwasher
• As a group, America’s poor are far from being chronically undernourished. The average consumption of protein, vitamins, and minerals is virtually the same for poor and middle-class children and, in most cases, is well above recommended norms.
• Most poor children today are, in fact, well-nourished and grow up to be, on average, one inch taller and 10 pounds heavier than the GIs who stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II.
Now I am not trying to be callous regarding the poor. That’s not even my point. What I am trying to do is help you recognize that, in fact, this sermon is NOT for someone else. It is for us.
The story of this rich young man speaks volumes about how we interact with society. Few things will erode trust or build confidence in a Christian’s witness like the management of their possessions. It goes right to the heart of how we understand ourselves.
There is much to be admired about this young man in Mark 10.
• He is moral.
• He is humble.
• He is spiritual.
• He is a high achiever.
• He is open hearted.
He’s the kind of guy most churches would quickly take into membership and give positions of leadership too.
Even Jesus was pleased by the man and saw his potential. But Jesus also saw his heart and saw that even though he was a good human being he was not qualified for Heaven.
I believe Jesus had great hope that this man would follow him. In fact, this is the only man in Mark’s Gospel whom Jesus offered to follow him that refused. But Jesus had to shoot straight with him. Jesus had to show him what was required if one was to be a follower. As a result, Jesus goes to the heart of this man’s problem and illustrates it via his wealth & possessions.
WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS ARE A RESPONSIBILITY MORE THAN THEY ARE A PRIVILEGE.
Sometimes we need to be reminded that wealth is a responsibility more than it is a privilege. Do you remember what Dick Bernier said two weeks ago when he preached here? He said “The problem is not when we have possessions – the problem is when the possessions have us.” We do not have to take a vow of poverty in order to follow Jesus but we do have to make sure that our wealth and possessions are surrendered to His sovereignty.
Jesus strikes the nerve when he tells the man “Do not defraud”. This an interpretation (or application) for command #10. It is the final command of “the second table” or second portion of the Ten Commandments and they focus on man’s relationship with his fellow men. It shows the man his error.
And that was all the law could do. The law serves as a mirror but not as a wash basin. It cannot qualify one for heaven it can only show one their need for grace. The law reveals that the man is NOT blameless … he is, in fact, covetous. He loved his money.
• Covetousness is subtle and hard to detect but it can make us break all the other commands. (1 Timothy 6:10)
• Money was his source of security – what he trusted – his god.
• He worshipped it.
• He got his fulfillment through it.
• His morality and manners concealed a depraved and covetous heart.
Jesus called the man to greater obedience than the Decalogue did. Jesus shows him that his possessions were a responsibility and that using his wealth to bless others superseded his own comfort. But the man could not do it because he could not part with his money. The “one thing” this man lacked was trust in God. He placed far more faith in his money and never understood it was subject to God’s sovereignty.
Jesus’ call is not to poverty – it is to genuine discipleship. And discipleship is characterized by faith, obedience, and sacrifice.
WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS ARE PRONE TO FIX OUR HEARTS ON THIS WORLD INSTEAD OF THE NEXT.
You see, wealth and possessions are prone to fix our hearts on this world instead of the next. For some people, “Things” make it difficult to die.
The Bible says "He went away sorrowful, for he had great wealth."
Would you go away sorrowful if you had great wealth?
Why was he sorrowful? Because there was no way he could serve two masters. He knew he had to surrender something precious to him in order to have eternal life. Indeed, some things make it difficult to die.
WEALTH AND POSSESSIONS GRADUALLY ENSLAVE THOSE THAT ATTACH THEMSELVES TO THEM.
It is sad but true that wealth and possessions gradually enslave those that attach themselves to them. Many a person has awoke to the discovery that their possessions own them! This young man is a perfect illustration of one’s possessions calling the shots and determining one’s course of action rather than the living God. They compete for allegiance.
One pastor said, "I have a number of wealthy people in my congregation, and they trouble me, because" as he put it, "they dabble with Christianity."
WRAP-UP
The Bible says:
6But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.
(1 Timothy 6)
This young man had a good dose of religion. It made him moral and conscientious. But it did not save him. Religion often does that … it’ll give you a conscience and a baseline to judge your actions but that does not guarantee God’s acceptance.
This young man knew something was missing – something significant and something essential. He discovered what it was when he met Jesus.
• He had a misplaced trust
• He had a misplaced Lordship
• The cost of obedience was significant – nothing short of giving His whole life away.
When a person gives their heart to Christ they give their whole life too. Nothing short will suffice. What will you do today?
• Will you give yourself away in complete abandonment to a trustworthy God
• Or will you, like this young man, go away sorrowful?
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear
