Mark 10_17_29

Text: Mark 10:17–22.

Title: Heart Issue

Intro: One of the greatest men I knew was Mark Tessler.

1st time I saw Mark.

Mark was wise, generous, and filthy rich. All the things society regards as great. But, God doesn’t measure greatness as we do.

Mark had everything except for the only thing. Jesus.

Society would argue the greatest is the rich and powerful, but they depend on themselves, their power, and wealth.

This is one of the great tragedies in Scripture. The young man came at the right time to the right person; asked the right questions; got the right answers. But did the wrong thing.

He was close to salvation, but went away.

CPS: The kingdom of God belongs to those who are humble and embrace Jesus with total dependency.

The Man Vs 17

His quest

We find a man on a mission, a quest to inherit eternal life. A man that had so much in his favor. He was young, ambitious, powerful, and had great wealth.

He had manners and morals, and there was enough desire in his heart for spiritual things that he ran up to Jesus and bowed at His feet.

In every way, he was an ideal young man; and when Jesus beheld him, He loved him.

With money one could sit under any teacher he wanted to, he could have the best and most popular perhaps even all to himself.

He understood there was something different about Jesus. This young man called Him good. – this is not customary for Jews to call a rabbi good.

The Jewish rabbis would teach the goodness of God alone.

(Jesus) Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone.

This young man knew that Jesus was sent from God.

– Nikodemus “said Rabbi we know you are a teacher sent from God because no one can do these signs you do unless they are sent from God.

The man wanted to enter into life eternal.

His Question

what shall I do to inherent eternal life?

He certainly had a shallow view of salvation, for he thought that he could do something to earn or merit eternal life.

That was a common thing then and it is common now.

As we visit or talk to people about their spiritual condition, most say I have lived a good life, having never really hurt anyone. I deserve to go to Heaven.

Illustration: Gramps funeral – Uncle Tony said if anyone deserves to go to heaven it was her.

Most unsaved people think that God will one day add up their good works and their bad works; and if their good works exceed their bad works, they will get into heaven.

Behind this good-works approach to salvation is a superficial view of sin, man, the Bible, Jesus Christ, and salvation.

Sin is rebellion against the holy God. It is not simply an action; it is an inward attitude that exalts man and defies God.

Did this young man actually think that he could do a few religious works and settle his account with the holy God?

I’m afraid he did. What about you? Do you think you can inherit life eternal based on your good works out weighing your bad?

No one is righteous, not one. Our good works are just as filthy before God as our bad works are.

George Whitfield would preach “Repent of your sin and repent of your goodness.

Transition: No one can come into the kingdom of God based on their works, only the finished work of Jesus Christ

The Master Vs. 18-21

His investigation

Jesus Points the rich young ruler to the Law.

(Jesus) “You know the commandments.”

DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, DO NOT DERAUD, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER

Interesting Jesus brings up commands that have to do with our relationships with others

1st half Vertical – our relationship with God

Shall have no other god’s before me, shall not make for yourself any idols, Lord’s name in vain, remember the Sabbath,

2nd half horizontal – relationships with people

Jesus summed up the Law by saying the 1st Commandment is to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. The 2nd is like it love your neighbor as yourself.

He said teacher I have kept all these from my youth – I have loved my neighbor as myself –

Jesus brings up the law to produce a knowledge of sin. – the man is under the delusion that he could inherent the kingdom of God on the principle of doing.

Jesus looked at Him with love and said you are lacking one thing still.

Test Him – “do you really love your neighbor as yourself?

His Invitation

“one thing you lack”…..Go sell everything you have and give it to the poor,

THEN FOLLOW ME

What did he lack? Faith

Transition:

The Mistake Vs.22

He was remorseful rather than repentant

NB) Sad – he went away grieving because he had much

The rich young ruler made up his mind, that following Jesus was too costly.

He loved his money more than people.

Yet instead of repenting of his sin he grieved his sin understanding that eternal life wasn’t his.

He chose material rather than spiritual

Of all the people who ever came to the feet of Jesus, this man is the only one who went away worse than he came.

The man’s choice of the material things in life revealed his heart problem.

He loved money more than he loved God

Do you love people? He answered yes – Jesus showed him that He did not

Ultimately Jesus is asking do you trust me.

Do you love the LORD with the totality of your being?

Jesus doesn’t bring up the 1st commands - love the Lord but invites Him… saying “Follow me”

Ultimately saying ….. Come to the end of yourself – your desires – your preferences – your opinions and follow me

While faced with the answer to his question – what must I do to inherit eternal life - He saw that loving God first was more than he could give.

He traded being spared from God’s holy righteous wrath – for mere earthly possessions

He traded glory for dollars

He traded eternal peace – for pride

Application:

Nobody is saved by selling everything and giving the money to the poor. We are saved by trusting the Son of God who gave everything to make us rich

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Cor. 8:9).

Our problem ….. We focus on outer appearances.

Wealth is tangible we can get our hands on it and buy what ever we want.

It gives certain claims in society. Everyone sees the wealthy differently. We admire the rich and powerful.

But outer appearances fade and wealth dwindles away.

What would we see if we were able to step back and see ourselves as God sees us?

Would we be disturbed as we look at our inner most desires and have understanding in what we love the most?

There is no one so good that the kingdom of God belongs to them.

Jesus says - It is impossible with people to enter into heaven

Man has no such power, goodness or belongings that can qualify him for eternal life

Only God has the power……. His name is Jesus

Power of God unto salvation – for anyone who believes

What are you trusting in?

We all trust in something.

Perhaps it’s our abilities

Our savings account or 401K

Maybe a spouse or a loved one.

Perhaps it’s our good name and reputation.

If you are trust in anything other than Jesus you are trusting in the wrong thing!

By trusting Jesus, we will have exceeding riches in glory even if we are penniless on earth.

We will have Him!

Conclusion: This young ruler had great possessions. The real tragedy is that his possessions had him.

He wanted God but not at the price of his gold.

We wanted life, but not at the price of his luxury.

He kept his riches, but lost his redeemer.

Turn away for what keeps you from Christ.