Intro: The African hunters have an interesting strategy when it comes to catching monkeys. The hunter will take a hollow gourd, cut a hole in it just large enough for the monkey to fit its hand through, but too small for the monkey to pull its closed fist out, bait the trap with peanuts, rice, or fruit, and then wait for a curious monkey to come by and attempt to take the bait. Amazingly, once the monkey grabs the bait, it will not turn loose of it, in spite of imminent capture.
We’ve been in a series of messages that we are calling “Say What!?”, and we are looking at some of the head-scratching statements of Jesus. These are KINGDOM TRUTHS, that are both counter-cultural and counter-intuitive.
THIS WEEK:
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.”
At first glance, it sounds like Jesus may have had something against rich folks and that there won’t be any rich people in heaven. If Jesus were a modern-day American politician, he would be joining the ranks of those who vilify the one-percent. When we look at this verse in the overall context in which it was given, Mark 10:17-31, we learn that this really wasn’t the case at all.
Mark 10:17, And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
This guy approaches Jesus, and when we piece together what we are told about him from the other Gospel accounts, we can conclude that he was a good guy. He was well-to-do. He was young. He was most likely part of the aristocratic class. And, he was a religious man.
This rich-young-ruler didn’t approach Jesus with a trick question, like the Pharisees and scribes were prone to do. I think he was sincere. Even though he had means and morals, it appears that something was missing in his life. His theme song could have been the 1987 U2 hit, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.”
10:18-20, 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, all these I have kept from my youth.”
Jesus answers this man’s question by listing out several of the Ten Commandments, and this many replies by saying, “I’ve kept them all.” Notice here, that Jesus did not call him out on this. I’m sure this fellow was perfect in keeping the commandments, none of us are. But, let’s assume he was above average: 70% good, or maybe 80% good, or maybe even 90% good. What I want you to see is that this fellow is the kind of person you would like to have as a next door neighbor. (If you have a humorous neighbor story, you may want to use it here).
10:21, And Jesus, looking at him, loved him (IMPORTANT!!!), and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”
In this story, we actually find THREE HEAD-SCRATCHING STATEMENTS.
Here’s the first one: “SELL ALL”
Some people have attempted to make this a blanket command that Jesus gave to everyone. They would have us believe that anyone who follows Jesus must sell everything they have, give it away, take a vow of poverty and follow him.
However, nowhere in Scripture do we find a blanket statement to give all to the poor. Jesus encountered other rich people. The tax-collectors of his day were very well-to-do, yet when Jesus called Matthew to become one of his disciples, he did not tell Matthew to sell everything he had. In the same way, when Jesus crossed paths with Zacchaeus, Zack was never commanded to give everything he had to the poor. In another of Jesus’ teachings, he told his followers to use worldly wealth to gain friends. You cannot use it if you don’t have it! Also, in 1 Timothy 6, Paul states that worldly wealth comes from God and a portion of it is intended for our enjoyment.
This rich-young-ruler’s issue was not that he had money, but that his money had him. Notice what happens next:
10:22, Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Interestingly, Jesus did not chase this fellow down and make a counter offer. Instead he uses this man’s reaction as an opportunity to teach his followers:
10:23-25, And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult 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 person to enter the kingdom of God.”
HEAD-SCRATCHING STATEMENT #2: 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.
Jesus was a master communicator. An amazing communication tool is humor. As I told you last week, in ancient Jewish culture, hyperbole—using an exaggerated statement in order to make a point—was a popular form of humor. This means that instead of gasping in horror at what Jesus said, those listening probably burst out laughing! At the same time, truth was received.
It’s easy for many of us to dismiss this encounter because none of us are rich. At least that’s what we would like to think. However, if you drove to church today in a car and will go home to a house or apartment that is an enclosed dwelling with running water, electricity, and climate control… guess what? By the world’s standard you are rich! If you had a choice of which pair of shoes you were going to wear to church today… you are the rich!
Again, the real problem this man had was not that he had money, but that his money had him. Money was his God. He was surrendered to the lordship of Greed. And let’s be honest, greed is not a 1% problem, it’s not a rich-folks problem. I’ve encountered my share of greedy poor people.
This story isn’t over yet:
Mark 10:26-27, And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Then Peter inserts himself into this:
Mark 10:28, Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
It’s like he’s saying, “Jesus, what about us? We have left everything.” Jesus replies:
Mark 10:29-31, 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 lands, for my sake and for the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
HEAD-SCRATCHING STATEMENT #3: (Read v. 30 again)
Peter viewed the disciples forsaking everything to follow Jesus as a SACRIFICE. Jesus viewed their leaving behind everything to follow him as an INVESTMENT.
It’s easy for us to confuse SACRIFICE with INVESTMENT. For instance, the average monthly car payment is $475 per month and many people always have a car payment because they like having the newest vehicle available. These folks would look at driving a less expensive car, something you could pay cash for, even if it were just a hooptie as a sacrifice. However, if you took $475 per month and instead of making a car payment, invested it in a good mutual fund, over a 25-30 year time period you would accumulate $1.6 million. If you made a $475 car payment for 30 years, all you’ll have to show for it in the end is an old, depreciated car that you don’t want anymore!
Or take your health. There are those who consider the commitment that some of us have made to eat healthy meals, avoid the bad stuff, and hit the gym three to five times a week as a sacrifice. I’ve even heard people make the statement, “I’m paying the price for good health.” The truth though is that you’re not paying the price for good health. You pay the price for bad health. Taking care of yourself is not a sacrifice, but an investment.
When it comes to the Kingdom of God, what we give up in order to follow Jesus is not a sacrifice at all, but an investment. (Read the above verses again)
I like the way Gordon B. Hinkley put it, “What appears to be a sacrifice will prove to be the greatest investment you will ever make.”
God does not let our sacrifices go unnoticed:
Hebrews 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
CONCLUSION: Here’s the ONE THING I want you to take away from our time together today. There’s really just ONE POINT:
• DON’T MONKEY AROUND AND MISS OUT ON GOD’S KINGDOM.
What are you HOLDING ON TO, that’s really holding on to you?
