Money Doesn't Buy Everything

In 2018, a person from South Carolina won the Mega Millions jackpot. The jackpot was worth 1.5 billion dollars. While driving to work in Camden County, I passed by a billboard on I-95 that constantly showed me the climbing jackpot. My mind would often drift to what I could do with that kind of money. I thought of the people I could help, the missions I could support, the debt I could pay off, and the stuff I could finally have. Alas, no one ever dropped the winning ticket for me to pick up.

That is human nature, to think if I only had more money I could…fill in the blank. We are oh so benevolent in our fantasies. We also think that being able to magically pay off debt and buy stuff will make life so much better. However, that is almost never the case with instant wealth. Most star athletes who get large signing bonuses finish their sport dead broke and filing bankruptcy due to debt. Lottery winners often end up in worse poverty after winning than before they won. Substance abuse and suicide are very common for those who acquire instant wealth.

Why is this? Most of us are tempted to think that money will bring peace of mind. So, why does that not work? The answer is our happiness is dependent upon who or what we are reliant on for our security.

Mark 10:23–31 KJV 1900

23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! 24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. 26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? 27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible. 28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. 29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, 30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. 31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.

I. Money doesn’t buy everything (Mark 10:23-27)

I’m not going to preach against money. Money is not sinful. Being rich does not make us evil. However, it does often reveal a condition of our heart which is evil. That evil condition is self-reliance.

We try to teach children to be self-reliant. When it comes to dressing yourself, personal hygiene, feeding, and providing, those are generally good things for us to be self reliant with. I say generally because even with those things, it is only by God’s grace that we can do those. A better word than self-reliant would be responsible.

The problem that comes with wealth is that we have a tendency to trust in our wealth instead of God. When a problem arises, the temptation is to throw money at it rather than pray. Since we can throw money at the problem, we realize that we need more money. So, we work harder, try to climb the ladder at work, and accrue large amounts of debt for degrees so that we can make more money.

Looking back at last weeks text, this rich young man was “self-reliant”. He believed between his good works and his money he should have access to eternal life. Had Jesus told him, “You have kept my commandments, now give $1,000,000 to the temple and you will have eternal life” this man would have emptied his accounts, cashed in his CDs, sold his stock, and mortgaged properties to pay the price. Yet, when Jesus asked him to give up everything and serve, that price was too high. What was the difference? Control! As long as he was using his abilities and money he was in control but the moment he sold everything and became a servant, he lost control. That was where he drew the line

When it comes to eternal life, money is worthless.

His disciples did not understand this because they were still thinking with human reasoning. Rich people have whatever they want, so why wouldn’t eternal life be included in that? Don’t we tend to think the same way? Do we not know of churches that “ordain” politicians and wealthy people? Have we not heard of church positions being changed because a wealthy person had a meeting with certain church leaders? Have we not heard of pastors being fired because their message crossed the wrong rich person? Even when we know the truth of God’s word, there is the temptation to elevate those with money and influence above truth.

I, nor the text, is saying that rich people are evil. The passage does not say that rich people cannot get to Heaven. It absolutely does say that wealth makes it harder. Not because anything changes in the plan of salvation, but because the heart tends to change as we acquire wealth.

II. Losses and Gains (Mark 10:28-30)

Peter, hearing what Jesus said about giving up everything to follow him realized that that is exactly what they had done. I do not believe Peter was saying this in pride. I honestly think it was a realization that Jesus had called this man to do exactly what he had called the 12 to do. It is the same call that he gives to us today.

A. Loses

There is not man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s…(v.29)

Jesus tells here that those who serve him will sacrifice There will be things we give up. As his servants, we are called to stop trying to take care of everything around us and let him do that. We are to make him our master. By master, we do not mean the didaskalos that the rich young ruler used. The word he said means teacher or rabbi. No, Jesus wants to be our Kyrios. That word is the same word that the Greeks used for Adoni and Yahweh. As our absolute master, it is his responsibility to provide for our needs. All he requires is that we allow him to provide for the things he responsible for.

Think about how liberating that is. Jesus, as our master, is responsible to provide for all of our needs. This may not always be how we would like, but that is not our call. He, as a good master, does what is best for us. Our responsibility on the other hand is to do what he commands us to do. We are to be faithful in the areas he has called us to serve.

B. Gains

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethern ,and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. (v.30)

Yes, we will suffer lost in this world, but we will gain in eternity. We are rewarded in eternity for our faithfulness “in this time”. While Jesus does not speak of rewards par se, eternal life is in itself a reward for surrender to his authority. What we gain in Heaven is far greater than what we lose here on earth.

III. Real redistribution of wealth (Mark 10:31)

But many that are first shall be last; and the last first (v.31).

Status on earth does not necessarily equate to status in heaven. Many Christians who live is absolute poverty here on earth will be the elite among the most rewarded in Heaven. It will have absolutely nothing to do with their socioeconomic status on earth. Let me say that another way, being rich on earth does not mean you will be rich or poor in Heaven, and being poor on earth does not guarantee that you will be rich in Heaven.

What does matter is that you are dependent on God. If a rich person can completely surrender to the will of God and faithfully serve Him, he will be rich on earth and in Heaven. If a poor person can completely surrender to God’s will on earth, they will be poor on earth but rich in heaven. If either accept Christ as Savior but do not faithfully serve him, they will be poor in heaven.

The poor on earth will learn that it was very much worth being poor to learn to completely rely on God.

The rich will realize that wealth was a temptation that they either had to overcome or they succumb to.

They will also learn that their wealth on earth was nothing.

Conclusion

Jesus is not asking us to throw everything away. This does not devalue personal relationship. It does not mean that we must live under a bridge and eat from dumpsters to be completely obedient to him. What it does mean is that we turn all relationships and all possessions over to him. We are willing to sacrifice, if need be, to follow him. Anything that would stand in our way of obedience is removed. However, this does not mean that we get to be negligent to God given responsibilities either. A Christian is not permitted to neglect elderly parents because he has “Forsaken all for Jesus”. On the other hand, a disciple may wish that he could personally care for his aged parents, but he has been sent to a different mission field. Then, God will provide a way for another to provide the physical care while enabling his follower to see that such care is rendered. In that situation, the Christian must be willing to surrender control and authority to Jesus and trust Him with the outcome.

Sadly, there are times when we will indeed lose relationships. This is because people do not like Jesus. If they see Jesus in us, then we are as much the enemy as Jesus. We must choose to surrender that relationship to Jesus. We must also still pray for that individual and for their salvation.

The question we must ask ourselves is, what are we holding back from Jesus? Is there something or someone in our lives that we draw the line with? Do we say, “Jesus, everything I have is yours, except...”

If so, we need to surrender that today. We need to trust Jesus to do what is best, even if it is not what we would chose. We must believe that he is a good and faithful master and also that he is honest. If he says that he will provide all of our needs, then we must believe him. Until then, we are like the rich young ruler. Every time we are confronted with surrender, we will go away sorrowful. Is there something or someone in your life today that you are holding onto above Jesus?