Untitled Sermon

Introduction:

The words “then said jesus” connect this passage to the one regarding the Rich young ruler. From the young rulers rejection, Jesus warned all men about the dangers of wealth.

wealth is a dangerous pitfall...

for the man who is seeking to be rich

for the man who is already rich

23. Then Said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly inter into the kingdom of heaven.

The Fact: Wealth pulls a person from the kingdom

Wealth creates the Big I. The wealthy are usually envied and it brings comfort, possessions, position, power and recognition.

***position*** People seek positions because they feel a power attached to it. Stop looking for position and look for service.

Makes one ego big and makes them independent it this world. In this position God is forgotten

Forget the things money can buy or save you from

2. Wealth tends to make a person hoard

Ep.4:28

Here we should talk about the Orphans, the elderly, and the sick

3. Riches tend to make a man selfish.

The more we get the more we want.

This limits the contributions we are willing to make. Not willing to give enough to lower the values of their estate or level of recognition

4. Wealth attaches a person to the world

it enables a person to buy things that...

make him comfortable * challenge his mental pursuit

stir his ego * stimulate his flesh

expand his experience * stretch his self image

Hardly (duskolos)- barely or with great difficulty

Why?- Because he his unwilling to die to himself.(Pride, money, ego, position)

Rich- ppersons who have anything to put back beyond meeting the needs of their own family

Kingdom of Heaven-eternal life, salvation

24. And again i say unto you, 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.

The great difficulty illustrated: is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom

Interpretations:

Some have said The needle was a small gate in the wall of the city for travelling public. The large gate was closed at night to protect from the enemies.

It was so small that it was difficult for even a single person to pass through.

Others say the transcribing of the story was wrong:

kamilos- a ships rope or cable

kamelos- camel

So it was putting a giant cable through the eye of a needle.

This is a proverbial saying for an impossiblilty.

The camel was the largest animal to the jews.

Christ’s illustration of the camel:

Camel too big to go through a needles eye: a rich man is too big to go through the gates of heaven

1Ti.6:17 Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;

American Standard Version.

2. A camel never thinks about going through the eye of a needle; a rich man seldom, if ever, thinks about going into heaven.

Lu.12:19-20 19.And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry. 20.But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?

American Standard Version.

3. A camel was not made to go through the eye of a needle; a man was not made for wealth, not made to be possessed and enslaved by the things and possessions of the world.

1 Ti.6:9-10 But they that are minded to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and hurtful lusts, such as drown men in destruction and perdition. 10.For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil: which some reaching after have been led astray from the faith, and have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

American Standard Version.

4. A camel works for it’s master; a man is to work for his master(God; not Wells Fargo, GM, Ford, Bank of America, Fannie Mae, etc…)

Mt.6:24 24No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

American Standard Version. (1995)

25. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?

The Shock: Who is saved if wealth is not God’s blessing and a blessing of righteousness.

The disciples believed like us and all generations prior that:

prosperity (wealth, comfort and things) are God’s blessing

A person receives and has because God is blessing him

that prosperity is the reward of righteousness and obedience

that God blesses a person with the things of this earth if they are righteous and obedient

Christ was saying the opposite: a prosperous person would most likely never enter into heaven

The world believes be good and you will be blessed by God with things.

Are you wondering? Who then can be saved, the rich has too much and the poor sits around dreaming and seeking prosperity.

Gods concerns are spiritual bleAssings, not material blessings.

Mt.6:33 But seek ye first his kingdom, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you

American Standard Version. (1995)

Things God meant food, clothes and shelter. God meant he will give you what you need to survive.

Not to say that God can’t bless you with all of these other things, he is after all, God.

Prosperity does not equal righteousness. My prior teaching said that inorder to maintain wealth means that you must accuire someone else’s wealth.

2. Wealth is seldom a good thing. The whole world puts it’s focus on the riches which takes it’s focus off of God.

Ex. I had to work extra hours Saturday to pay the light bill, because I bought that outfit to go out with John, so I am not going to church today, I am gonna sleep in.

Fast forward to Corona time. It’s Covid anyway, I am going to lay in bed but i will tune in on facebook.

A. Is that giving God what he is do? Instead of getting into the worship phase that I owe God, I am going to give him a half hearted bible study by laying down and listening to somebody else praise God.

God I don’t feel like sacrificing today so here is a half hearted attempt, I hope you satisfied cause that’s all I got.

3. Wealth is secured by man himself, by his own energy and effort.

***A man that has no God can acquire wealth, so wealth is not of God, it is your dreams and initiative to make it. You may trust God will help you.

**God’s choosing to bless a believer is for the purpose of helping others

Mk.12:41-44 41.And he sat down over against the treasury, and beheld how the multitude cast money into the treasury: and many that were rich cast in much. 42.And there came a poor widow, and she cast in two mites, which make a farthing. 43.And he called unto him his disciples, and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, This poor widow cast in more than all they that are casting into the treasury: 44.for they all did cast in of their superfluity; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.

American Standard Version.

#### Let us remember man was not made for things, but things were made for man. What are you saying Preacher? Don’t allow yourself to become enslaved to things. Wealth is only a means to help man carry out his purpose and service on Earth

Je.17:5 Thus saith Jehovah: Cursed is the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from Jehovah

American Standard Version.

26. But Jesus beheld them and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

The reality: the only hope for the rich.

There is hope for the Rich Man-God

Repentance

A. A rich man must turn away from man( what man say is important, or how man ranks or rate you.

No man can save you, no man has the power to break that natural urge. ( Pastor can’t, Elders can’t, The President can’t)

No man can recreate the soul of a man.

B. A rich man must turn to God and His power

He is the only hope for a rich man. We must give all we have and are.

4 Steps to help a rich man

Immediately turn to God and never turn away. (inner voice that tells you to do right)

Study God’s word daily for direction. Talk to God about what to do and not men

Use his wealth to help the needs of others.

Develop a strong desire for heaven. ( The same desire that he had for the world use to seek heaven.

Homework Assignment

Study some rich people that turned to Christ

Jame and John(Mk. 1:20)

Zaccchaeus (Lu. 19:1-10)

Joseph of Arimathaea (Mt. 27:57)

Ncodemus (Jn. 20:39) May or may not have been saved

Lydia (Ac. 16:14-15)

Manaen, foster brother of Herod (Ac. 13:1)

Some women who supported Jesus (Lu. 8:2-3)