Possible with God

Introduction

Pray, then read Mark 10:17-27 Recap the last week The irony is that the man is a ruler but he is a slave to his own wealth. Jesus loved the man and gave him a chance to be a slave no more

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” — Jeremiah 2:13

Explanation (and minor points)

v. 23-24a

Notice that he doesn’t say “those who love having wealth”

It is difficult to have riches in general because simply having them causes us to love them

The disciples assume being rich = being blessed by God

How much time do you spend working for something that Jesus says is a stumbling block?

Money is a dangerous potential idol.

In Andrew’s words, “It’s a really dangerous game.”

We need to be really careful before we dismiss our thinking about money/standards of living as not idolatrous.

Money Idolatry Test:

Do you hope that this passage only directly applies to the rich young ruler? Why?

Did you pick your major in part because of the money it would make you?

Do you spend more time praying about what a God-honoring, simple lifestyle would look like or do you spend more time getting your idea of what your standard of living should be from this campus, social media, etc?

Do you find yourself thinking about how you’ll be generous when you’re established even though you’re not generous now?

When you envision your ideal future, is it about who you are or what you have?

v. 24b

This time Jesus says it’s difficult for anyone, rich or not.

“All of us are rich in something.”

We all have idols, money or not. We all probably have multiple idols. Several of us in Guys’ Group mentioned our futures/plans.

The rich are not the only ones who are slaves.

Cheap shelters (I11)

The perfect income, the perfect future, the perfect relationship, the perfect social life, the perfect achievements are all cheap shelters. If you wait until the storm comes to learn that lesson, your life will be ruined.

v. 25

It’s beyond impossible for the rich to be saved.

The irony in the camel is that if it weren't already too big to fit, it’s even more weighed down by the possessions it carries.

v. 26-27

First it was difficult for the rich. Then it was difficult for everyone. Then it was impossible for the rich. Now Jesus says it is impossible for everyone.

Everyone is a slave to something. Everyone has traded what God designed for a cheap shelter.

Jesus shifts the subject of the conversation from the group that will be saved to the one that will do the saving. The point is not to focus on how hard it is to save, but how good God is at saving.

If we’re not careful, though, we say that it’s only about Jesus bringing forgiveness. The reason the rich (and others) can’t inherit the Kingdom is because they won’t put Jesus on the throne.

It is only by the power of God that we’re able to put Jesus on the throne. If we don’t get that out of the passage, we’ll end up twisting God’s grace to excuse our idolatry of our relationships, social status, money, future, etc.

Old quote wrongly attributed to Martin Luther, “When I look at myself, I don’t know how I could be saved. But when I look at Christ, I don’t know how I could be lost.”

In the same way, if you keep your eyes fixed on the things of the world, you will never see how you could give them up. But if you keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, you will never see how you could hold onto them.

Exhortation (and major point)

We learn how to give up our idols and put Jesus on the throne by focusing on him and how he gave up everything for us.

“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” — Philippians 2:5-8

“For the joy that was set before him, [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of God.” — Hebrews 12:2

He emptied himself and joy waited on the other side. Do you want to be free from the cheap shelters that have you enslaved? Fix your eyes on Jesus, empty your hands and let go of your idols, and trust that lasting joy is on the other side.