When Riches Rob You of Jesus

Introduction:

vv. 17–22) Harmful Riches:

Having everything in this life doesn’t guarantee your standing for eternal life.

Jesus sees the difference between a subdued behavior and a surrendered heart.

Owning something and being owned by something are two completely different things.

vv. 23–27) Harsh Realities:

Decorating our earthly kingdoms can distract us from preparing for God’s eternal kingdom.

Riches have a dangerous tendency of numbing us to our need for God’s grace.

It is impossible to reach heaven if we think we have to earn the admission ourselves.

It would seem that our Lord finds our desire not to strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.–C.S. Lewis

vv. 28–31) Heavenly Rewards:

You are not fully following Jesus if you are attempting to limit His involvement in your finances.

Follow Jesus in the big things and trust that He can handle the small things.

Anything you give in this temporal life cannot be compared to what you will gain in eternal life.