THE RICH YOUNG RULER - THE MAN WHO LEFT GRIEVED
TEXT - Mark 10: 17 - 22
INTRO. - There have been many sermons preached on the Rich
Young Ruler. They have been titled "The Fatal Refusal" and
"The Man Who had Everything but the Main Thing" among others.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the incident.
You cannot read this passage without a touch of
sorrow in your heart. There is a loneliness, a heartache, a
chill in vs. 22 - "he went away". It was not that Jesus
pushed him away, refused him, disqualified him, or saw some
soiled page in his past that would make it impossible to
accept him as a disciple. This young man on the contrary
held his destiny in his own hand. Having the power to say yes
or no, he turned his back on Christ and refused to follow
him.
His story is one of the most disappointing in all
the New Testament. The reason is because we know of no
single man that came into personal contact with Jesus during
his earthly ministry who was richer in possibilities. No man
has a more hopeful beginning than this man. Therefore it is
all the more sad to see this man who in one moment is running
to Jesus and kneeling at his feet and the next minute is
walking away from Jesus with sadness in his heart.
I WANT US TO LOOK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NOTICE FIRST THE MANY
GOOD QUALITIES THIS MAN PRESENTS AND THEN SECONDLY I WANT US
TO LOOK AT SOME LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.
I. NOTICE THE MAN’S GOOD QUALITIES
1. He was EAGER - vs.17
He came running to Jesus. He had apparently made up his
mind. He must get to Jesus. No time must be lost. Oh, for
more people like this. Too many linger like Lot or are
waiting for a more convenient day like Felix. Whatever you
say about this young man, at least he was eager.
2. He was HUMBLE - vs.17
He knelt before Jesus. He knew that Jesus commanded
respect. This was unusual with the difference in social
station and dress between him and Jesus. Here the rich and
powerful knelt before the poor and lowly. Oh, for more
respect and reverence like this for the things of God
among the young people of our day as well as the older.
3. He had COURAGE
He ran when no one else ran. It is easy to run with the
crowd. It is harder to run alone. Here was a man alone.
Nobody else in his social circle was a fellow disciple of
Jesus. Here was a rich ruler wanting to join a group of
poor fishermen. It took courage to come to Jesus that day
and it will take courage for you to come to Jesus today.
4. He showed DISCERNMENT and REVERENCE - VS.17
He called Jesus "Good Master". He saw in Jesus what many
failed to see. He saw the goodness and holiness of God. He
showed a reverence to what he saw. Oh, how we need more of
this in this day in which we live.
5. He had SPIRITUALITY - vs.17
"What shall I do..." He had a concern for spiritual
things. He came with a solemn, urgent, vital, spiritual
question. Here is a man concerned about his eternal soul.
We do not see much of this today. Notice also that nobody
went to him about his soul. He went to Jesus.
6. He was MORALLY CLEAN - vs.20
Here is a morally clean young man with power and
authority. There are no bad habits to stain him. There is
no shady past to deal with. He is not a sassy, hippy,
free-love, rebel. He would make a good citizen and fine
neighbor. He is the type of man a city council would want
for their mayor. Many a mother would like to see her
daughter marry a man like this. many a church would put
this man into a church office.
7. He was RELIGIOUS - vs.19-20
Religious but lost. He fasted, tithed, went to church,
knew the law, but was not born again. He had a hunger in
his soul but he was not saved. He is like the average 20th
Century American church member.
8. He was WEALTHY - vs.22
Money does not bring happiness. The bible does not condemn
money but the love of it. What possibilities this man’s
wealth could have done for the Kingdom of God had it been
dedicated and put to work for God. Have you dedicated your
money to God?
9. He was YOUNG - Matt.19:20 tells us this.
This man was young and came to Jesus. He did not want to
sow his wild oats first and then turn to God. He was not
going to blow out the candle of a life burned in the
service of the devil in the face of God. He came with his
youth. Oh, the possibilities of years of service for the
Lord. Most people are saved in their youth. Solomon said
to remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth.
Someone has said that the devil has no happy old people.
Have you given your life to the Lord?
10. He was of SOCIAL RANK - Luke 18:18 tells us this.
Luke 18:18 says he was a ruler. Many in our day will
forsake God for social prestige, power, and popularity.
Here was a ruler willing to fall at the feet of a
carpenter’s son. He was among the class who later
crucified Jesus. How much he might have done to win those
of his social standing to the Lord had he surrendered his
soul to Jesus that day.
11. He had GOOD SENSE . He went to the right place, seeking
the right thing, at the right time. He came running to
Jesus while most today run to drugs, the beer hall,
etc...
II. LET’S LOOK AT SOME LESSONS TO BE LEARNED
1st - The basic needs of man cannot be satisfied by the
possessions of fame, fortune, or anything in this
life. This world cannot satisfy the soul of man.
2nd - This passage shows us something about our
opportunities. They don’t last forever. Many pass
away very swiftly. Here this young man stood at the
gate to heaven and then left. He came running and
went away sad. Opportunities once rejected seldom
if ever return. Every day that you reject God
increases the possibility that you will be lost
forever.
I think of Felix in Acts 24 ---"when I have a more
convenient season I will call for thee"
I think of Herod Agrippa in Acts 26 ---"almost thou
persuadest me to be a Christian"
3rd - Usually it is only one thing that keeps a person
from accepting Christ. There was only one thing in
the life of the Rich Young Ruler. See vs. 21 "One
thing thou lackest..." He lacked the willingness to
put Christ first above all in his life. This is
what God requires of all of us. Jesus put his
finger on the spot ---- the man loved his gold. One
little thing but it was too big to surrender. Many
people have only one thing --- strong drink, lust,
money, popularity, fame, possessions....one thing!
Mark 8:36 - What is a man profited if he gain the
whole world and lose his own soul..."
IN CLOSING ---
Look at what he was offered.
He was offered a Savior - that would save his soul.
He was offered a Cross - that would lead to a crown.
He was offered a home in heaven.
Look at what he refused. He refused it all.
Look at Jesus as He begins to lead this young man step by
step into what he must do. The young man passes all the
requirements so far. If he will but take one more step he
will be saved. All else is done. If he will but surrender his
all...the angels will sing and the Church of God will be
richer for all time. If he will just step over that line and
surrender...what joy for time and eternity would be his.
Do you not possible see yourself here. He came but he went
away. Do you not see how you can climb to the very door of
heaven and yet fall into hell. Do you not see how much you
can know and yet be foolish. Do you not see how much you can
do and yet do nothing.
It is possible to talk to Jesus and into his face and yet go
away. You can live with Jesus and not know Him. Judas did it.
The Rich Young Ruler --- WHERE DID HE GO?
Did he go to his friends? He had not found in his friends
what satisfied or he would not have sought out Jesus.
WHERE DID HE GO? Back to his pleasures? I doubt if he found
satisfaction there. WHERE DID HE GO? DID HE GO TO HEAVEN?
Come now, I appeal to your knowledge of scripture. Did he go
to heaven? REMEMBER HE CAME TO JESUS BUT HE ALSO WENT AWAY.
HE LEFT HEAVEN WHEN HE LEFT JESUS!
If you could climb the steps of gold, enter the gates of
pearl, walk the golden streets, and search for him, your
search would be in vain. If you could cross the landscapes of
eternal bliss in the city four-square you would not find him.
If you looked in the procession of triumph you would not find
him. If you looked through the many mansions or among the
multitude that no man can number you will not find him. HE IS
NOT THERE! How sad that amid the fires of eternal woe dwells
one who once ran to Jesus, fell at his feet and
asked,"Master, what must I do that I might have eternal life.
