Choose Jesus or…

Matthew 19:16–20 CSB

16 Just then someone came up and asked him, “Teacher, what good must I do to have eternal life?” 17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” he said to him. “There is only one who is good. If you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18 “Which ones?” he asked him. Jesus answered: Do not murder; do not commit adultery; do not steal; do not bear false witness; 19 honor your father and your mother; and love your neighbor as yourself. 20 “I have kept all these,” the young man told him. “What do I still lack?”

Mark 10:21–31 CSB

21 Looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 But he was dismayed by this demand, and he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were astonished at his words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 They were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.” 28 Peter began to tell him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” 29 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel, 30 who will not receive a hundred times more, now at this time—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions—and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

At the outset we are introduced to someone coming to Jesus - as we read the whole of the story, we discover he is young, rich and a ruler (most likely a religious leader)

It is not a point this morning but as we often discover - the best place to go when you have a question is to Jesus…

He went to the right place but asked the wrong question…

We cannot “do” enough to earn our way in.

Jesus quotes commandments 5 through 10: do not murder #6, do not commit adultery #7, do not steal #8, do not lie #9, honor your parents #5, and finally love your neighbor which encompasses #10 plus is the culmination of these 5 as the second half of Jesus’ answer (Matthew 22:37–38 “37 He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the greatest and most important command.”)

Nobody is perfect…no matter how hard you try.

This young man knew he checked off certain boxes in the quest for eternal life but wanted to make sure there were not more

There must have been a sincere heart behind the young man’s question because Mark says, “Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him…”

He was close but…

Following Jesus requires us to sacrifice everything.

The reality is this young man created for himself idols - wealth, possessions, fame, etc.

Notice Jesus did not quote the first 4 commandments: #1 no other gods before God, #2 no idols, #3 do not take the Lord’s name in vain, and #4 remember the Sabbath and keep it holy

Jesus knew where this young man’s true loyalty was

The mindset of Jesus’ day was that the more you had especially wealth meant God was blessing you

Jesus was addressing this specific person (and maybe a group of religious leaders)

Notice Jesus said, “How hard is it for those who TRUST in riches…” - Jesus was not necessarily saying we cannot have money or things, but we need to keep the right attitude…

Jesus > worldly possessions.

Our “sacrifice” will give us more, both now and eternally.

It is not easy that is why it is called sacrifice

The world calls us to put faith in stuff, but Jesus calls us to put our faith in Him

When it seems too great a task to follow Jesus remember this…

God makes it possible for us to succeed.