Explore the cost of following Jesus, the value of our possessions, and the importance of prioritizing our relationship with Christ.
Good morning, church family! Today, we're going to dive into a passage that may feel a little uncomfortable, but it's important because it challenges us and gives us a fresh perspective on our lives. We're going to look at Mark 10:17-27, where a wealthy young man asked Jesus about eternal life. You see, this rich young man wanted to follow Jesus, but when Jesus asked him to sell all he had, he walked away sad. This story will help us understand the cost of following Jesus, the value of our possessions, and the priority of our relationship with Christ.
Before we start, let me share with you a poignant quote from Randy Alcorn, who once said, “The more you give, the more comes back to you, because God is the greatest giver in the universe, and He won't let you out-give Him. Go ahead and try. See what happens.”
The cost of following Jesus is a theme that reverberates throughout the New Testament, and our passage today brings this into sharp focus. When the rich young man asked Jesus about inheriting eternal life, Jesus didn't give him an easy answer. Instead, He challenged him to sell all his possessions and follow Him. This was a high cost indeed, and it left the young man crestfallen.
Our modern world: We may not be asked to sell all our possessions to follow Jesus, but the cost is still significant. Following Jesus requires us to surrender our lives completely to Him. It means giving up our own desires, ambitions, and plans and submitting to His will. It means living a life of obedience, even when it's difficult or uncomfortable. It means being willing to take up our cross daily and follow Him, as Jesus Himself instructed in Luke 9:23.
What are we giving up?: This cost is not just about giving up material possessions or personal ambitions. It's also about giving up our pride, our self-sufficiency, and our desire for control. It's about acknowledging that we are not the masters of our own lives, but that we are under the lordship of Christ. This is a humbling and challenging process, but it's also liberating. When we surrender our lives to Christ, we find true freedom and joy.
A relational cost: Jesus said in Matthew 10:37, "Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me." This doesn't mean that we should neglect our family responsibilities. Rather, it means that our love for Jesus should be so profound that all other loves pale in comparison. It means that our allegiance to Christ should take precedence over all other allegiances.
May cost us our popularity or reputation: In a world that often values self-promotion and personal success, choosing to live a life of humility and service may not win us many accolades. We may face ridicule, rejection, or even persecution for our faith. But as Jesus said in Matthew 5:11-12, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."
The cost is high, but the rewards are infinitely greater: We gain a relationship with the living God, the forgiveness of our sins, the promise of eternal life, and the joy of living a life of purpose and meaning. We gain a peace that surpasses understanding, a hope that does not disappoint, and a love that never fails.
This is not about earning our salvation: We cannot earn our way into heaven by our good deeds or sacrifices. Salvation is a free gift of God's grace, received through faith in Jesus Christ. But once we have received this gift, we are called to live a life of discipleship, which comes with a cost.
Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about a time when you had to count the cost of following Jesus, and how that experience deepened your relationship with Him.
As we delve deeper into the story of the rich young man, we come to our second point: the value of our possessions ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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