Trading Wisely

Introduction

On this, the last Sunday of the year, I thought of going a few different directions with the message. Ultimately, the Lord led me to this passage.

The key elements that are found in this passage of scripture are the ones that the Lord impressed upon my heart.

Before we get into the message, I want us to take a few moments and consider what has taken place this past year.

Our theme for the year was, "Be Strong and of a Good Courage."

We began the year in our morning worship services with a series on Joshua and God's imploring of him to be strong and of a good courage and take in the land that was before him.

After that, we had three main series of messages throughout the year.

The first was through the book of Galatians titled, "The Defense of the Gospel by Faith."

In this series, we went verse-by-verse and precept-by-precept, laying a foundation needful for today that the gospel of Jesus Christ is won by grace through faith alone.

In addition to that, I, as your pastor, have urged you to stand firm with strength and courage in this most vital doctrine to the faith.

The second series was in the book of Job titled "On the Job Training."

In this series, we examined many principles found therein, and how they apply to you and I.

In this series, it was my intention to strengthen you and give you courage when faced with trials and tribulations that this world affords. Knowing that your suffering is not forgotten and your faithfulness through adversity will certainly be rewarded.

The third series was titled "The American Experiment."

In this series, we examine the history of the United States from about the time of the war between the states through the Second World War, and how the direction of our country, our churches, and our people changed dramatically. We saw an initial revival, but ultimately how America turned from God and the effects of that we still feel today.

I challenged you to be strong and courageous and stand for truth in spite of the prevalence of wickedness all around us.

In our evening services, we begin by going over the foundations of our faith, the basics of our belief.

Then, beginning in the summer, we started (and continue still) a series examining Elijah and Elisha and seeing how God used these great men in the midst of calamity in a perverse nation, showing us how God can use us in like fashion.

On Wednesday nights, for the first half of the year, we examined about half of the kings of Israel and Judah, and then reviewed them in the latter half where we learned principles of life and how to live in a manner that pleases God and understand the things that these men did that God judged.

As I look back at what the Lord has impressed upon my heart to feed you, I feel satisfied that I have done what he has called me to do as your pastor.

These, along with several individual messages or small, short series of messages, is what I traded a year of time in this pulpit for. This, of course, does not count the hundreds of hours that were spent in preparation simply to deliver these messages unto you.

My record of faithfulness to what God has called me to do for you is before both you and God. I am not, nor have ever been, nor ever will be perfect. But I can honestly say that I am satisfied with how I have traded my time in ministry.

My question for you is this: As you look back on this past year and consider all of the preaching and teaching and instruction that you have been under, are you satisfied with what you have done with it?

Are you satisfied with how you responded to the Word of God and the impact you have allowed it to make on your life?

Have you traded your time under the ministry of the Word of God wisely?

Today, we are going to examine a man who traded foolishly. He is known as the rich young ruler in our text. He was not a bad man, but Moose certainly made a bad choice.

We look first at his pursuit

I. His Pursuit (v17)

He Came to Christ

We want to recognize first off that this man wasn't dumb, and he wasn't ignorant of Christ, for he came to Him.

There are plenty of people that are ignorant of the Christ. They seek out help and advice at a variety of places.

False religions such as Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, etc.

Some turn to Popes, priests, therapists, and the like.

This man had enough sense about him to know where to go for the answer, for the truth.

Just by you being here today, I am assuming that you are giving some credence to what the Word of God has to say. You may not be fully persuaded by it, but you are at least going to give it a listen and go from there.

You think that at least maybe, just maybe, that the Word of God has some answers when it comes to eternity.

Because that's what he was concerned about. He was concerned about eternity.

He was Concerned about Eternity

I was just talking with someone recently about salvation and the true meaning of the word "repentance" concerning it. I stated an observation I made years ago and hold fast to it today. That observation is that everyone is trusting in something concerning eternity / the afterlife. I think few people think of it much, but everyone has thought about it at least some. And everyone is trusting something about eternity.

Some are trusting the Muslim view of eternity.

Some are trusting in the Buddhist view of eternity and have their faith in reincarnation.

Some are trusting in Catholicism and trusting that they will say enough "Hail Marys," or pray the Rosary enough, and have some man absolve them of their sin, that they may have salvation. And if not, hopefully, their family can pay the priest enough to get him out of purgatory.

Many within the church of Christ are trusting in baptismal waters to wash away their sins.

Then along the broad scope of humanity, they're not necessarily trusting any religion, but they're trusting in that God will weigh their good vs. their bad, and that they will merit heaven that way.

The atheist is trusting that there is no God or afterlife at all.

The majority of Christian denominations are teaching a Jesus+ gospel. Jesus+ works or keeping the law, and that's how you'll be saved.

I want to pause right here during the message and just ask you, What is it that you're trusting in concerning eternity? Are you just thinking you'll figure it out when you get there?

We see in his pursuit that he came to Christ because he was concerned about eternity.

We see his Pursuit

II. His Purity (v19-20)

He was a ‘Good’ Man

This was not what people would consider trash, or low rent, or less than. This was a pillar of the community. This was what you and I would consider to be a good man.

Now, as I say that, I say it with the understanding that that's what we consider good. For what did Christ say in this very passage of scripture? Mark 10:18 “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.”

David would write: Psalm 53:1 “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: There is none that doeth good.” Paul would say in Romans chapter 3 Romans 3:10 “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”

However, you and I judge by a different standard, and by our standards we would call him good.

That being said, understand that when you stand before God, you will not be judged by your standards, but His. And Jesus said “there is none good but God”.

But to us, he was a good man.

He was Morally Upright

Jesus laid out a laundry list of sin:

Adultery

Murder

Thievery

Lying

Defrauding

Honoring mother and father

And according to his testimony, he believed that he had observed them as an adult.

Here's the thing, though: If he was completely honest and did believe that he had kept these throughout his adult life, he's not alone. Many people think that they have kept these. Either that, or they excuse the times in which they have broken them.

They may not have physically committed adultery. But Jesus said to look upon a woman to lust after her, you've committed adultery in your heart.

They may not have murdered anyone, but to hate without cause, Jesus said, is committing murder in your heart.

We make excuses for lying all the time. Whether it's little white lies or lies “for their good”.

I could go down the list of each one of these and give the exceptions that people give, but regardless, many people fit into this category, is my point.

(Ill.) For over 20 years, I witnessed to my parents as they would have fit into this category. They were good moral people in the eyes of man.

He was morally upright.

He was Mistaken about Accountability

This man had the assumption that just because in his eyes he had kept these laws, somehow his sin prior to that he was unaccountable for.

Church, understand this principle. Just because you clean yourself up now and never sin again for the rest of your lifetime, it does not negate the sin that you have committed previously. You are not made right in the eyes of God because you “turn over a new leaf”.

(Ill.) A man goes to traffic court. He was caught the month prior doing 95 on the interstate. He stands before the judge and says, "Judge, yes, I know that I did 95, but ever since I got that ticket, I have kept the speed limit every time. Not once have I broken the speed limit since”. The judge's response would be, "That's fine and dandy, but just because you kept the law since does not make you innocent of breaking it before."

There's a multitude of people that have turned over new leaves, but just because you turn over a new leaf does not absolve you from the sin you have committed before.

He was mistaken about accountability.

We see his pursuit and his purity. Now we're going to look at Christ's response. His prescription.

III. Christ’s Prescription (v21)

Jesus Saw Him, and Loved Him Still (v21a)

I think the beginning of verse number 21 is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. “Then Jesus beholding him loved him”.

Who this man was, what his priorities were, and everything about him, Jesus knew - And yet, still he loved him.

It is very difficult for you and I to love unconditionally. For the more we see in people, the more it affects the way we feel about them.

When we see good things and attributes in people, it generally causes us to love and appreciate them more. Conversely, when we see bad things, sickening things, evil things in people, we tend to not only love them less but to hate them.

(Ill.) There is no one in here I know everything about. Not even my wife or my children. But I know that God knows everything about me. Everything I've done, every thought that I've thought, every word that I've said. And to think that He knows all of that and He loves me even still!

This young ruler didn't know what his problem was, but Jesus did. And yet even when he looked at Him, He didn’t look at him with contempt and hatred but with love and compassion.

You may be like me and recognize that there's not much there to love, but I want you to know emphatically that Christ doesn't have the same problem we do. He does love us unconditionally so much that he would give his life's blood for us.

Jesus saw him and loved him still.

Jesus Identified His Stumbling Block (v21b)

How much did Jesus love him? Enough to show him the truth.

While this young man was morally upright, there was still something that hindered him that was affecting his eternity. And that was his stuff.

The stumbling blocks are varied for different people on what prevents them from coming to Christ. But it's always an unwillingness to surrender something.

It might be their status. It might be their pride. It might be their sinful pleasures. It could be a variety of things, but it's always something, some stumbling block that keeps them from coming to the saving knowledge of Christ.

But these stumbling blocks aren't isolated to salvation. They were also there for service.

(Ill.) I ask you today, are you fully surrendered unto the Lord in doing what he desires of you to do? What is your stumbling block? If you just open your heart, I guarantee you. During the invitation, the Holy Spirit will tell you what that is.

Jesus identified his stumbling block and called him to surrender, submit, and serve.

Jesus Called Him to Surrender, Submit and Serve (v21c)

Surrender the thing that is keeping you from Christ.

Submit unto the cross and bear the burdens and hardships for others, as Christ has borne for you.

Serve the Lord by following him wherever that may lead.

He told him that if he'd do that, he not only has eternal life but riches in heaven.

Jesus gave him a prescription for his life. Jesus had a plan for his life. But as we will see, this is not the plan that this young ruler chose.

We see his Pursuit and his Purity in Christ's Prescription

IV. His Priority (v22)

His Possessions were more Important than Christ

This sounds absurd, does it not? But isn't this exactly what we demonstrate when we choose the things of the world over the things of God?

What's more important than the things of God on Sunday and Wednesday evenings?

What do you spend your leisure time doing instead of reading the Word of God?

How much scrolling do you do instead of praying?

What things of this world are more important to you than Christ?

His possessions were more important than Christ.

He Traded Salvation for Stuff

Jesus said in: Mark 8:36–37 “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Surprisingly, very little.

(Ill.) One question I hope to have an answer to when I get to heaven is: How many people sat under my preaching and lifted up their eyes in hell because they were too prideful to come to the altar and be born again?

One might say, "Well, you don't know what was in their heart." But I do know what it says in Romans 10:9–11 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

If someone won't swallow their pride enough to admit Jesus Christ before a congregation of Christians, their faith is dead.

This man traded salvation for stuff, but many trade it for far less.

Others Trade Eternal Riches for Temporal Satisfaction

Now let's move past the topic of salvation onto Christians who are saved. There is a multitude of Christians who spend all their time gathering treasures here upon earth and they're too busy to worry about eternal riches.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:19–21 “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

May I ask, if you were to compare your treasures on earth versus your treasures in heaven, how would you fare? (Ill.) Many will claim ignorance and couldn't name a single thing, but if I were to ask you the contents of the things in your living room, you could name some. Shouldn't we be able to do this with heavenly treasures?

His priority was not eternal things, but temporal.

We see his Pursuit of Purity, Christ's Prescription, and his Priority.

V. The Postscript

Lastly, I want to recap just a few points made during this message.

Intentions Only Get you So Far

This man came to the right source with the right question. He had intentions about seeking the truth.

But you see, intentions only get you so far. This man walked away from Christ and the salvation that he offered.

You might have intentions by coming to this church today, but that will only get you so far. That will only get you to the truth. But unless you do what's right with the truth, you are damned at just the same.

Intentions only get you so far.

Christ Sees Truth Through the Smoke

You and I may have an elevated opinion of ourselves and think we're good at keeping the law, but Christ sees through all of that.

There is no fooling God. He knows not only your actions but your intentions.

He knows not just what is public, but what is private.

Christ sees through the smoke.

He Loves us Even Still, and Calls us to Submission

Thank God, no matter where you're at or what you've done. The love of God is greater still!

Make no mistake, God is calling you to something today.

If you're lost, he's come calling unto you for salvation.

If you're saved, he's calling for you to have a deeper relationship with him.

He loves you even still and is calling you to submission.

We Have One Life to Offer…

… Will we Trade it Wisely or Foolishly?

There is no do-over, there is no reset. You have one life. You have a limited amount of time left in this world, and you will trade it for something.

Will you trade it wisely or foolishly?

Will you trade it for eternal riches or temporal glory?

The choice is yours.

Conclusion