What are some of the qualities that our present-day culture put’s value on?
Our society values youth. The beauty industry capitalizes on the quest for the eternal youthfulness. They sell skin creams, facial packs, hair color and offer cosmetic surgery. It is all because people value youthfulness.
Another value is for riches. You will see programs on the rich and famous far more than on the poor and obscure. People think if they have riches that they will have it made.
Then there is power and position. People are highly seeking after these because they covet having the power and position. They seek power and position to have control over others.
All of these are highly valued in our society. If you combine all of these together then you would have the rich young ruler: Rich, Young, Powerful.
Read Mark 10:17-27
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?” 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, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, 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.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 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.” 26 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.” (Mark 10:17-27)
The preceding passage in Mark 10:13-16 Jesus gathered the little children and blessed them and made an important spiritual illustration. If you are to become a Christian, it will only be done by childlike faith in the savior Jesus Christ.
When the rich young ruler comes to Jesus, we have a living example before the eyes of the disciples of the contrast. Here is someone willing to pay the price of spiritual discipline, yet someone who could not with childlike faith give his all to Christ.
Not only was he rich, young and a powerful ruler, he was so religious and devout. That is no small thing that he kept all the commandments and did not break any of the important laws of Moses. It is not enough to bring saving faith, but it is not small thing just the same.
There are three gospels that mention the rich, young ruler, and only Matthew tells us he was young in Matthew When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:22)
Jesus is about to leave on a journey when this man runs up to Jesus and kneels down. This is an unusual sight that in the Palestine heat a rich ruler comes running u to Jesus and kneels down before him. He asks a great question. He was asking the most important question about eternal life.
“Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17b)
This needs to grab our attention. We all need to know the answer to that question of what we must do to receive eternal life. This young man was asking the right question and he was asking the right person. He would undoubtedly receive the right answer and now we are privileged to the answer that Jesus gave.
Yes, he had riches, position, power but there was a void in his life. He has come to Jesus to fill a spiritual void in his life. He was desperate for the answer, so much so that he would run up to Jesus kneel and ask the question. There is no true meaning in life without the proper relationship with God Almighty.
He addressed Jesus with the title, good teacher. So before Jesus answers his question he asks this man a question. Why do you call me good.
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. (Mark 10:18)
Do you know what you are saying young man? Only God is good. You are asking for eternal life, but Jesus wants to know if he is prepared to accept Jesus as God. All three gospels, Mark, Matthew and Luke record his question, but none mention any response to why he called him good.
Only God is good and only God can forgive sins and only God can give eternal life. This is already getting pretty heavy for this man because Jesus says only God is good and directs him to following the commandments. All of these commandments are in relation to other people.
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.’” (Mark 10:19)
He was a very upright and moral individual. He could answer yes, he has kept these commandments his whole life.
And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” (Mark 10:20)
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, 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.” (Mark 10:21)
Jesus looks on him with love and sees a person lost that needs salvation. Jesus sees a person that he is going to die on the cross for. A person who needs the childlike faith that Jesus just illustrated. Jesus does not desire any to perish. Can the rich young ruler receive the kingdom of God like a little child, with childlike faith?
Jesus looks in love and says, one thing you lack. Go and sell all your possessions and give to the poor. The Lord has not told this to his disciples. He has not made this demand for all his followers. Why this? Why sell all possessions and give the money to the poor?
Jesus put his finger on exactly the point his young man had come short. The very point of childlike faith. It was riches, his money that was an area that he was not willing to sacrifice to Jesus. He lacked one thing. This man’s trust was in his riches. It was exactly the reason that this young man would not exhibit the childlike trust Jesus talked about.
It was with complete faith in Jesus he would have eternal life. If he could give up his earthly treasure, he would have heavenly treasure. With complete trust in Jesus he would have eternal life.
Jesus looks at you in love. Do you lack one thing? Let go of the obstacle, for you it may not be riches, it may be something else. It could be merit, achievements, accomplishments or it may also be riches. We must put Christ first and have an open hand to be willing to let go of anything and everything.
Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:22)
It is simple and it is difficult. It is simple because it is just a childlike faith in Jesus Christ. It is difficult because we must sacrifice all and give Christ total control. This man supposedly had everything, but in this moment of decision he lost everything. He walked away from eternal life.
In all of eternity he will regret it. To come this close to Jesus and walk away. In 2 Kings Naman is told by the prophet to wash in the river seven times and be cleansed of leprosy. He was angry and went off in a rage. It was too easy. For the rich young ruler it was too difficult.
If you have anything that keeps you from Christ, let it go. Is there a habit or a lifestyle that keeps you from Christ? Let go of it. Jesus makes a teaching lesson to what just happened with this rich, young ruler.
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!” (Mark 10:23)
It is easy for children to have a saving faith. It is difficult for the rich and powerful to have childlike faith. The disciples are amazed.
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! (Mark 10:24)
In the thinking of the disciples the rich are blessed of God. How could they turn away. The disciples sent the children away and Jesus welcomed them. No Jesus sends away the rich man that they believe should be welcomed. Jesus has turned everything upside down for them. Jesus uses a figure of speech to make a point.
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.” (Mark 10:25)
The idea of a camel going through the eye of a needle is ridiculous. The camel is a huge beast. A needle is something you hold in your hand and they eye is so small you need good eyesight to even thread a need. In the same way you will never earn eternal life. It will never be merited on obeying the law and moral purity. It is impossible.
It is not easy for the sophisticated, the self-satisfied moralist, to put their total trust in Jesus. At that point you are trusting in something within yourself. You can’t enter the kingdom of God that way. No, that would be impossible. Look at the disciples reaction.
And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” (Mark 10:26)
The disciples are astonished at all that has taken place. Now they have a question. If this man has turned away who then can be saved?
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10: 27)
Jesus is not bringing a good works salvation. That is as ridiculous as trying to fit a camel through the eye of a sewing needle. We are saved by grace through faith. Here that saving faith is demonstrated by selling possessions. It was by no means one more good deed. It is what represented saving faith in Jesus Christ. It is possible with God.
It was the attitude of the heart that kept such a fine young man that Jesus looked at with love, to walk away from the eternal life he was asking for. Jesus paid it all, but our total surrender to Christ is costly for us. It is dying to self. It is a faith that we sacrifice ourselves on the altar. Jesus said to him you just lack one thing. That one thing was not one more moral deed. That one thing was faith in Christ. On this side of the cross we trust in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He died the just, for the unjust to bring us to God.
He just lacked that one thing, saving faith. What is an airplane lacked a propeller? What if a car lacked a driveshaft? What is a person lacked a heart? Then in all those cases it is useless without the one essential thing. For eternal life that one essential thing is saving faith in Jesus Christ.
Don’t walk away. Put your faith in Jesus Christ.
