What's Holding You Back?

17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’ ” 20 He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words.

But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!  It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

26 They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

Let us pray. Thank you Lord for your stirring Word. May our hearts yearn for understanding. Let us run and kneel before you for wisdom. May the words from my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen (Ps 19:14).

Our scripture lesson this morning appears in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, each with its own nuances, as each narrator recalled different details of the encounter. From Matthew, we learn he is young; from Luke, he is a ruler, from each, that he is wealthy. All point to his dismay at Jesus’ instruction to sell his possessions and give the money to the poor.

Who is this eager seeker of eternal life?

We don’t know his name but the man ran up and knelt before Jesus on a public road.

We know that humility was not an issue.

We also know that he knew of Jesus’ teaching as he called Jesus “Good Teacher”.

He was sincere in his posture, respecting the guidance he sought from Christ.

This wealthy, young ruler had means and authority, yet was seeking something more than his lifestyle was delivering.

Wealth may fill your house, your closet, or your stomach. It may provide temporary gratification with consumable goods and activities, but it can not truly satisfy the yearning of your soul.

The young man asks Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

As Jesus pointed out the commandments. The young man confirms that he has followed the commandments since his youth (12).

He had fulfilled the outward signs of his faith, doing no harm in relationships with others and honoring his parents.

His question indicates his thinking in terms of works righteousness. That is believing that he could do something to merit eternal life.

He may have had a mental checklist.

Honor mom and dad - check

Go to temple once a week- check

Attend the major festivals-check

Observe the Passover- check

What else do I need to do to inherit eternal life?

21 Jesus, looking at him (considering the man who earnestly ran up to him and respectfully addressed him; Jesus gives his full attention with a penetrating look, fully seeing through his religious works into his heart, his deepest need), he loved (agapao) him and spoke the truth he saw in this young man’s heart.

Have you ever asked someone for advise and had them pause, look you in the eye with a deep sense of love, then tell you the truth regardless of what you wanted to hear?

Jesus counseled him in love, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Perhaps accustomed to accomplishment and accumulation, Jesus turns his world upside down.

He must release the life he knows to receive the eternal life he seeks.

His eagerness to get to Christ was not matched by an eagerness for commitment that involved sacrifice for eternal life.

Rather than give up his possessions, he gave up Christ.

Wealth is not the real issue

Jesus does not condemn wealth.

The danger is in being bound by the trappings of wealth; loving wealth over loving God.

The man went away in sorrow because he was devoted to his wealth rather than to God.

I Tim 6:7-10~ 7 ...we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; 8 but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.

Money/wealth is not the problem. The love of money/wealth is binding and blinding.

Jesus simply wants us to be free of constraints.

It takes an open hand and heart to give and receive.

Jesus invites this young man to a change in perception that would come through selling his possessions and giving the money to the poor.

Without the shackles of possessions, Jesus was inviting him to a life of real freedom.

Stewarding vs owning

Again, there is nothing wrong with wealth. Many people used their wealth to support Jesus’ ministry.

This is about releasing earthly strongholds on the heart so you can love God with all your heart, mind, strength and soul.

The young man was attending to relationships in community, trusting in his own ability to earn merit. However, he was lacking in the one thing...his commitment and trust in God, the source of all.

He was secure in his wealth but insecure in his destiny.

So what does this mean for us?

How often do we follow Christ when it is convenient?

Do we only give of our time, talents, and treasures what is comfortable?

If you approached Christ with the same question, what would Jesus see in you?

Is anyone shackled by a wealth of

titles

accomplishments

accumulated comforts

Are you devoted to God or distracted by little gods?

Rather than let go of the riches this world, this man let go of Christ.

What’s holding you back from Christ?

Jesus offers everything eternal

the world offers the temporal that will not last.

The commitment to Christ requires us to release so we can receive; not on our terms…on God’s terms. Oooh!

Head hanging

Hand waiving ....resistance

What do you need to let go of to go with God?

One night before I answered my call to ordained ministry, I had an unusual dream. First, it was unusual because I remembered it.

When I was very young, my father guided me in building my personal residence. The details are a story for another time. Anyway, by 25, I had accomplished a major task on my life goal list. We built a 2-story Georgian on a basement with beautiful brickwork. It was a home to grow a family. I loved that house, what it represented of working with my dad and possibilities. But it became a stronghold in my life.

One night, I had this dream. In the dream, I walked from the 2nd floor owner’s suite to the guest room on the opposite end of the house. By this time, I had two children who were sound asleep in their rooms as I passed by. From the guest room, I looked out the rear window onto the backyard that was about a half acre of grass.

As I looked out, there was a brown-haired bearded man standing in the yard. He was wearing a nicely woven striped robe over a tunic and sandals. On the grass was the bright outline of what I recognized as a kingdom. This man looked up at me with a big smile and motioned for me to come with him.

I woke up perplexed by this dream remembered. Shortly afterward I read a book called Shattering Your Strongholds and realized my house was a stronghold that I needed to release.

That was a hard truth to swallow. I had a choice to make.

That man in my backyard, I came to understand, was Jesus calling me to follow him.

I eventually released that house just before beginning seminary. Just as I released that home, the Lord showed me our next home. God continues to do this marvelously well.

Following Jesus is quite an adventure that I highly recommend. It’s the journey of a lifetime…if you will release to receive; if you will place commitment to Christ over consumption, comfort and convenience.

What do you need to quit in order to fully commit to Christ?

Christ committed his life your salvation.

What are you willing to sacrifice for your eternal life?

John 3:16~ “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

To believe in Christ is to have a faith to give oneself up to Christ.

To believe in Christ is to have faith to release the world to receive the fullness of the living Word.

Have you asked the Lord what you need to release in order to receive his gifts?

What will you let go, to let Christ lead your life?

Now what?

Ask the Lord to show you any strongholds and obstacles in your life and how to release their bonds.

Pray the earnest words of the psalmist (Ps 139:23-24):

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is any wicked way in me [any stronghold, any obstacle to my faith], and lead me in the way everlasting.

May you seek Christ with your whole heart, and be willing to release the strongholds of this world and fully receive and faithfully follow Christ. May it be so. Amen