Simplicity Mark 10:17-31

We have a paradox that we use some times: “less is more”. Truth be told, we believe that more is more. It just makes sense doesn’t it. Less can never be more, except when it is. When our time, energy, and finances are consumed by material things, we miss out on the life that God intends for us to have.

The novelist Rudyard Kipling once gave a commencement address at McGill University in Montreal. He warned them about making money, position, or glory their life ambition. “Some day” he said, “you will meet a man who cares for none of these things. Then you will know how poor you are.”

-The Materialistic Life has Serious Consequences!

Materialism Can:

I. Blind You to the Beauty of Christ vv. 17-22

In this passage, Jesus is approached by a young man who is marked by various qualifiers: rich, young, and ruler

The man understands two things:

Jesus is a “good teacher”

Jesus knows the secret to eternal life:

This is more than heaven when you die

He is asking Jesus for the secret of an abundant life

However, the man makes two major mistakes:

He believes that eternal life is earned through acts of obedience to the Law

He believes that eternal life is something to possess alongside material goods here; it is one more thing to have

Jesus loves the man and has genuine compassion towards him

He challenges his understanding of eternal life

In Jesus’ view, eternal life is only gained when we forsake everything else and follow after Him

When confronted with this truth, the man goes away sad

He misses out on the eternal life that Jesus has for him, for the sake of his “great possessions”

Many of us share this man’s danger:

We are afraid of the cost of a life of obedience to Christ; we may have to lose some things that we consider precious

We must be careful lest we foolishly choose to invest our lives and selves and things that are ultimately of little worth

Remember the Beanie Baby craze of the 90’s? I remember collectors snatching them up like crazy, hoping to get rich on stuffed animals. In retrospect, it seems crazy, but at the time, it seemed to make total sense. People invested themselves in something that was ultimately worthless. The kingdom of Christ, on the other hand, will never lose its value. It is like a pearl of great price!

Matthew 13:45–46

[45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, [46] who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (ESV)

II. Bar You from Entering the Kingdom vv. 23-27

Launching out from this encounter, Jesus teaches His disciples an important truth about the Kingdom:

It is difficult for a rich man to enter the Kingdom!

This would have come as a surprise to the disciples

They understood earthly riches as the mark of a righteous life

Now, Jesus has turned this understanding of things on its ear; wealth may not be a sign of righteousness at all

Jesus goes deeper and uses the image of a camel trying to go through the eye of needle

I believe that we don’t need to deemphasize or downgrade what Jesus is saying here

It is entirely possible that your “full life” marked by “success” is a sign that you are far from God, not near to Him

We live with an ever present danger of trusting our riches

There’s good news; there is a gospel that is able to free a man from the love of his own treasure

It is completely possible for a rich man to enter the Kingdom

However, he must master his possessions rather than let his possessions master him.

Whenever we choose a life of simplicity, we are making a statement of faith that we want the Kingdom of Christ more than we want the things that the world has to offer

In the fifth century, a man named Arenius determined to live a holy life. So he abandoned the comforts of Egyptian society to follow an austere lifestyle in the desert. Yet whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria, he spent time wandering through the bazaars. Asked why, he explained that his heart rejoice at the sight of all the things he didn’t need.

Those of us who live in a society flooded with goods and gadgets need to ponder the example of Arenius. A typical supermarket in 1976 stocked 9,000 articles. In 1994, it carried 30,000. Today, everything you could want is just a click away. How many of them are absolutely essential? How many are completely superfluous?

III. Block You from Eternal Rewards vv. 28-31

In closing this section, Peter responds to the teaching of Jesus

He reminds Jesus, “we have left everything to follow You!”

Jesus affirms Peter, but points him further forward

There are absolutely blessings for us in this age

We will find that the Lord meets our need

What we gain from Him will be far greater than whatever we gave up!

However, this does not mean that there will not be a cost:

A life of simplicity is costly

It causes you to live an outsiders’ life separate from many others

It will mean saying no to some good things

However, there are rewards waiting for those live in preparation for eternity

Are you willing to trade the life of plenty here for the sake of plenty there?

Men who trap animals in Africa for zoos in America say that one of the hardest animals to catch is the ringtailed monkey. For the Zulus of that continent, however, it's simple. They've been catching this agile little animal with ease for years. The method the Zulus use is based on knowledge of the animal. Their trap is nothing more than a melon growing on a vine. The seeds of this melon are a favorite of the monkey. Knowing this, the Zulus simply cut a hole in the melon, just large enough for the monkey to insert his hand to reach the seeds inside. The monkey will stick his hand in, grab as many seeds as he can, then start to withdraw it. This he cannot do. His fist is now larger than the hole. The monkey will pull and tug, screech and fight the melon for hours. But he can't get free of the trap unless he gives up the seeds, which he refuses to do. Meanwhile, the Zulus sneak up and nab him.

O that Pearl of great price! Have you found it?

Is the Savior supreme in your love?

O consider it well, ere you answer,

As you hope for a welcome above.

Have you given up all for this Treasure?

Have you counted past gains as but loss?

Has your trust in yourself and your merits

Come to naught before Christ and His cross?

Den Kostliga Parlan (an anonymous Swedish Hymn)