The Risk of Riches vs the Riches of Redeemption: Mark 10:17-31

Pre-reading Introduce

Three weeks ago we saw Jesus dismantle divorce. We learned that marriage belongs to God, so He makes the rules and we keep the rules.

Two weeks ago we observed Him talk about the kids of the Kingdom. Jesus taught us that the kid’s of God’s Kingdom are those who receive Him by humble and dependent faith. This is why I charged you to hinder no one and bring everyone, for Jesus will not and we should not cast anyone out who comes to the Lord for help and salvation.

Now we come to an illustration of and teaching about the risk of riches. That is the title of the present sermon, “The Risk of Riches.” So, as you are getting to today’s passage, I’ll lead us in a word of prayer.

Introduce

What do you love most? What do you trust in for safety, security, and salvation? Whatever your answer is, that is your god. The true God doesn’t share His people or His status. If your god is not the living and true God, then you are in for a great deal of pain and misery. Perhaps your god is riches. Perhaps your god is the person you see in the mirror. Perhaps your God is the one true God. Regardless, the teaching of today’s text is important for you to understand. Not only is it important it is dire. If you don’t get it and respond accordingly, then only disaster awaits you in life and death.

Here is the question the text answers: How do you inherit eternal life? It is similar to the question the rich young ruler ask our Lord. How do you inherit eternal life?

The answer should become clear as we go through the story and will be stated plainly as I apply it to us all.

In this story, we see the risk of riches encountered from different angles. You should and will see the risk of riches represented, revealed, and redeemed. Let’s consider each of these ways in detail.

Retell

To begin with, see the risk of riches represented (10:17-22).

Jesus and His disciple’s had just set out on there journey, when a man ran up and knelt before our Lord. This man came in an undignified and urgent manner. He showed at the very least a semblance of respect for Jesus, as his kneeling and question evidence. The man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was a man of substance, as verse 22 states. He didn’t have the wants of the poor. However, He did believe that there was a life after this one. He wanted to make sure that he fared well then as he did in his present life.

Jesus answers in verse 19. Look there: “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” Pause there for a minute. Jesus is not denying His own goodness. He is provoking the man to think seriously about his question. A mere man, a sinful man at that, cannot inherit God’s Kingdom through his own works or by his own power. It is a gift and grace of God to inherit His Kingdom. God’s goodness means that if one wants to earn eternal life it only comes through perfect not sincere obedience.

Continue in verse 19: “You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” Though the order and contents differs ever so slightly, this list of commands is essentially the second half of the ten commandments. Why didn’t He include the first half that deals with direct obedience to God? Maybe He did in stating God’s goodness, or Scripture often gives the part of something to represent the whole.

The man replied by saying that he had kept all these commands from his youth. Ignorance and arrogance are often sweet bed fellows. The man had not picked up what Jesus was laying down.

Jesus’ reply will show that this man not only broke the second half of the ten commandments, but broke the very first one. He had a god before the one true God. Look at verse 21: “And Jesus looking at him, loved him, and said to him.” Pause there for a moment. Jesus looked at and loved the man, meaning he had pity on and compassion for this earnest, arrogant, and ignorant man. He desired the man to come to knowledge of the truth and for his searching soul to find rest. “The heart of Jesus,” as J.C. Ryle says, “is a wide heart.” Any sinner that comes to Him for salvation will find it and not be cast out.

Yet, Jesus’ love led Him to tell the truth regardless of how hard it was. Continue in verse 21: “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me.” What did the man lack? His lack was His love of money! Mark records that the man went away grieved because “he had great possessions.”

The command to sell all and give to the poor is specific to this man. No other rich person who comes to Christ in the Bible is given this exact command. However, the underlying principle is far reaching. The love of and trust in riches reaps ruin. This man was told to deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. He was promised eternal riches. He said no. Would you say no? Do you love money? Are you willing to give up all things for Jesus and eternal life in Him?

You have seen the risk of riches represented.

Next, see the risk of riches revealed (10:23-27)

Jesus sifted his attention from the disheartened and departing man to his disciples. He started by exclaiming, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” This statement shocked, or we may say, startled the disciples. They had bought into the common notions of their day, namely the rich are those whom God has especially blessed and should have no difficulty entering the Messiah’s Kingdom. They viewed the Kingdom as earthly.

Jesus reiterates His point at the end of verse 24: “Children, how difficult it is to enter the Kingdom of God.” The rich are tempted to believe they don’t need salvation, depend on God for it, and they have too much to lose in this present life. In other words, they fail to receive Jesus by faith like humble and dependent children.

Jesus then illustrates the difficulty of a rich person entering the Kingdom of God. He says: “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.” Indeed, it is easier to fit the entire ocean in one bottle of water than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God. More plainly, Jesus is saying it is impossible!

With an outburst the disciples ask, “Then who can be saved?”

Jesus reply is key for understanding not only this text but salvation itself. Read verse 27: “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” As God could shrink a camel to fit through the eye of a needle, so He could shrink the ego of a rich person to enter His Kingdom by faith in His Son. Salvation belongs to and is accomplished by God alone! Not even the false god of mammon can thwart the true God from saving His people. Indeed, no one can enter the Kingdom of God by their own power or prosperity.

Sinners like you and me only enter by grace through faith in the one speaking in our story. Do you understand that you cannot buy off God? Do you understand that you cannot fit through the narrow gate by your own strength?

You have seen the risk of riches represented and revealed.

Finally, see the risk of riches redeemed (10:28-31)

Peter, the spokesman of the apostles, speaks up. In verse 28, he say, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” He was not wrong. The disciples though often dense and dumbfounded when it comes to the Lord did follow Him. They had done what the rich young man failed to do. Thus, they should inherit what Jesus had promised. Yet, Peter is probably uncertain of this because Jesus had said it is impossible to enter God’s Kingdom.

Jesus’ response to Peter applies to Peter and all who come after Him. He provides both a comfort and a warning. Let’s start with the word of comfort. Look at verses 29-30: “Jesus said ‘Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundred fold now in this time houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life.’”

The reward of following Jesus far out weighs the loss. Perhaps for Jesus and the gospel one of his disciples loses his family, fortune, and life, but he will gain so much more in this life, and the life to come. What will he gain? A new family, the church. A new fortune, communion with the God from whom all blessings flow. A new life, eternal life. The phrase “with persecutions” is key. Jesus is no proponent of the prosperity gospel. Though the disciple will receive blessings in this life, he will also endure trial, difficulty, suffering, and even death. Though the disciple will experience loss in following Jesus, he will experience even more gain. In this way riches are redeemed, when those who experience loss for Jesus gain so much more from Jesus.

Jesus ends with a word of warning. Look at verse 31: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” Those the world deems worthy through their wealth and prosperity are last or even excluded from God’s Kingdom. Those the world deems unworthy for various reasons will be first. The key is not one’s esteem in the eyes of the world, but one’s humble dependance upon God from the heart. True and eternal prosperity comes to the poor in spirit. True and eternal prosperity comes to those with child like faith. Do you have such faith?

Transition

You have seen the risk of riches represented, revealed, and redeemed. Now we can answer the question from the beginning: How do you inherit eternal life? Then answer is God’s redemption. It is only by God’s grace in Jesus Christ received by faith that a sinner like you inherits eternal life. To shorten this we might say God redeems. That is the big idea: God redeems. Now lets consider at two things that won’t redeem and two things that accompany God’s redemption.

Apply

1. God redeems and riches and rule-keeping won’t

The rich young ruler turned away from the Savior because he loved money. His riches allowed him security in this life, but they offered him nothing in the life to come. The man also thought himself a rule follower. He thought himself worthy of inheriting God’s Kingdom and eternal life. Jesus tried to show him that he wasn’t good enough by pointing out God’s goodness and perfection. Yet, the man was blind to it. He thought He was good enough. He thought his riches were of more value than following Jesus. The man left disheartened and damned.

Christian, you are not saved by keeping the rules. You cannot earn your way into heaven. Indeed, your salvation was impossible for you to accomplish. Even the best of you on the best day of your life are still a sinner. But God in His rich mercy and grace saved you through His Son Jesus. You have come trusted in Him and are a follower of Him. Do not forget that your salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone for God’s glory alone according to Scripture alone.

Christian, also be on guard against the love of money. Riches are risky. The god of mammon is always ready to take possession of your heart and time. Do you love money? Do trust in riches? Repent. Confess your misplaced faith in money and renew your trust in Jesus. Those of you who are be wealthy be generous in charity and rich in good works.

Church, we too must be on guard against the love of money and the god of mammon. The our goal and purpose is to worship the Triune God in the ways in which He has disclosed in His Word. It is not to have bigger budgets, nicer facilities, and bursting bank accounts. Let us consider how we can minister to each other and our community. Let us consider how we can leverage our resources to do the most good for God and His Kingdom. In this way, we can fight the temptation that comes with wealth.

Unbeliever, there is more to life than money and riches. Even the rich have hard ache. Even the rich die and come into judgment. God cannot be bought off with money, land, or livestock. Moreover, you haven’t kept the rules of the one true God to perfection. It is perfection and perfection alone that He requires. Without it you will not enter life eternal. Instead, you will come into judgement.

Yes, you are not perfect and your prosperity in this life will not save you, but I know someone who can. He is the one speaking in our story. His name is Jesus. He alone can save you. You must come to Him with the faith of a child. You must come to Him at the risk of losing all other things.

Jesus is God the Son who became man to live and die in the place of His people. Jesus lived perfectly. He shares His perfection with all who come to Him. Jesus died sacrificially. He shares the benefits of His sacrifice, namely the forgiveness of sin and the satisfaction of God’s justice, with all who come to Him. Jesus rose victoriously. Jesus, when He returns, will raise all who have come to Him to live forever.

Come to Jesus for salvation for it is in Him that God redeems sinners. Indeed, though you cannot save yourself, though it is impossible for man to enter God’s Kingdom, it is possible for God to save you and it is possible for man to bring even the worst of sinners into His Kingdom. Therefore, unbelieving sinner, I offer you eternal life in Jesus Christ. I offer you citizenship in God’s Kingdom. Come to Christ now.

God redeems and riches and rule-keeping won’t.

2. God redeems and redemption brings temporal risk and eternal riches

Jesus says this much. To follow Jesus requires that you deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. Indeed, you may loss your family and fortune. However, the loss you may experience following Jesus pails in comparison to the riches you gain through following Him. You gain a new family and a new fortune. The world may hate you, but God love you. The world may kill you, but God will restore you.

Christian, I don’t know what following Jesus has cost you. It may have cost you friends. It may have cost you family. It may have cost you wealth. In the future, it may cost you much more. That said, I know that the riches you have in Christ far outweigh all that you may or have lost. You are a part of God’s family, the church. In the church, you have brothers, sisters, mothers, and fathers. You are in communion with the Triune God who made you and redeemed you. You may suffer in this life, yes, but this is not the only life you have. In Christ, you have eternal life.

Christian, are you willing to suffer for your faith? Are you willing to lose wealth, family, and even your life for Jesus? If I were arrested for preaching, would you stop gathering. If others were arrested for their faith, would you abandon them? These are questions you must answer. If you say no, then it might be better to say that you are a counterfeit Christian. If you say yes, then you are on the right start.

Unbeliever, coming to Jesus won’t make your life easy. You may suffer. You may lose things like friends, family, and fortune. You must count the cost, but I assure you the reward of following Jesus far out weighs the risk. If you want eternal life, then come to Jesus.

Conclude

What do you love most? What do you trust in for safety, security, and salvation? Whatever your answer is, that is your god. The god of mammon deceives and destroys. The one true God redeems. Riches and rule-keeping won’t redeem. Redemption brings temporal risks and eternal riches. You saw the risk of riches represented, revealed, and redeemed. Oh will the God who could shrink a camel to fit through the eye of needle, bring all rich and poor into His Kingdom through His Son. Come to the Lord Jesus now.