Growing Forward with Jesus

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.” So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Matt. 19:16–26; Mark 10:17–27

Today, I am not going to preach to you that God is against money--because that (statement) is untrue.

God made King Solomon the wealthiest king on earth. Solomon asked God for wisdom and knowledge in His leadership role in order to do right by God. God decided to give Solomon wisdom and knowledge plus riches, wealth, and honor (2 Chronicles 1:8)

Riches don't have to get in the way though they often do.

Today, I want to acknowledge:

There are opportunities in life that are lost because of our thinking.

How do your thoughts keep you from receiving what God has for you?

Similarly,

There are opportunities in life gained (won) because of our thinking.

To what degree do your thoughts help you to gain your best life in Christ?

The Apostle Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus:

Ephesians 1:15–23 (NKJV)

Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

(Let us pray...)

Perspective can make or break your/our relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

(PRAY)

(The Good. The Bad. The Difference between the two.)

The Good

Let's begin with what the young man did well.

1. He came to Jesus.

Jesus is the source of a better life and an eternal relationship with God.

The young man came to the source.

John 10:10 (NKJV)

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

John 14:6 (NKJV)

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

2. He identified what was important to him and engaged Jesus in direct dialogue about it.

We don't see the rich young ruler beating around the bush, talking about the weather.

Hebrews 4:16 (NKJV)

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

3. He accepted the magnitude of what Jesus said and did not try to haggle down the "price tag/cost" of being with God for eternity.

(I'll go with you/I'll accept the deal if I can...")

Luke 14:27–30 (NKJV)

27 And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. 28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—29 lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’

That Bad

One thought that blocked his progress (with Jesus).

1. The young man knew his personal wealth but misunderstood his own poverty.

Luke 18:23 (NKJV)

23 But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Matthew 5:3 (NKJV)

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Luke 5:29–32 (NKJV)

Jesus Eats with Sinners

Matt. 9:10–13; Mark 2:15–17

29 Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them. 30 And their scribes and the Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

31 Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

When you don't know the condition of your soul it is really hard to know how to respond to God.

(Perhaps the young man thought that because of his wealth he had already "arrived" and satisfied the requirements for being with God.)

My bible commentary says:

This response seems to indicate that the young man ultimately declines to follow Jesus (compare Matt 19:22). If so, he is the only person in the Gospels who refuses a direct, one-on-one invitation to become Jesus’ disciple.

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Lk 18:23.

In ancient Israel, wealth was seen as a sign of God’s blessing. It was assumed that those who were rich were in God’s favor, since He had blessed them so much. Similarly, people who suffered were often thought to have sinned greatly (e.g., Luke 13:1–5; John 9:1–2). Jesus shows that while wealth may be a blessing it has a larger purpose—to be used to help others—and does not have any bearing on whether a person is a true believer or not.

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Lk 18:26.

That Difference (between Good And Bad)

Here is where the rich young ruler could have gained more of the life God had for him in Jesus Christ:

Stay with Jesus long enough to work out the kinks of what it takes to follow Him, live your best life, and live eternally with God. (Give God a chance to prove your faith in Jesus Christ and following Jesus is worth your while.)

Peter considered the plight of the rich young ruler and Peter sympathized (maybe even started to lament) his own situation with Jesus.

Mark 10:28–31 (NKJV)

Eternal Reward

Matt. 19:27–30; Luke 18:28–30

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”

29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold 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. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

(Someone who did this well: the Samaritan woman at the well with Jesus. (John 4))

What To Know About Jesus

Jesus makes all of this possible.

Mark 10:17–22 (NKJV)

Mark 10:17–22 NKJV

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Matt. 19:16–22; Luke 18:18–23

1. Jesus shot straight.

(Jesus engaged this young man in the young man's authenticity.)

Jesus responds well to your authenticity. Jesus is not intimidated by your genuine questions.

2. Jesus loved the young man.

Jesus loves you (even when your feelings are hurt by something Jesus says or does).

Mark 10:21 (NKJV)

21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

Please don't mistake the "cost of membership" with a concerted effort to exclude you/keep you out. The goal is to get you in and help you to be all in.

Many things that are hard are valuable.

("It's hard for me to be a ladder builder and to not solely a "ladder climber." Nonetheless, it's worth the cost."

Philippians 1:23–26 (NKJV)

23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

3. Jesus did not compromise the truth with a half-truth.

Jesus did not sugarcoat the cost to be His disciple and be with God for eternity.

Mark 10:20–22 (NKJV)

20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

What To Do To Grow Forward In Christ

What to do to grow forward in God through Jesus Christ?

How to progress from misunderstanding to true understanding?

Sticking with Jesus, depending on Jesus, trusting Jesus, going all of the way with Jesus will bring you all that you need.

Mark 10:23–27 (NKJV)

Mark 10:23–27 NKJV

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

Matt. 19:23–26; Luke 18:24–27

God can help us straighten our misalignments when we walk with Him.

It's the experience of walking with God that strengthens us.

Today, what commitment will you make to walk with Jesus?

Big Idea Summary:

Our perspectives can help or hinder us from receiving all God has for our life.

But walking with Jesus will get our perspective where it needs to be.

Conclusion / Final Thoughts:

To go with Christ, potentially leaving behind the life you know,

be more curious and committed to Jesus' interests and agenda than your own interests and agenda.

Song: Yes Lord Yes

I’ll Say Yes, Lord, Yes

To Your Will And To Your Way

I’ll Say Yes, Lord, Yes

I Will Trust You And Obey

When Your Spirit Speaks To Me

With My Whole Heart I’ll Agree

And My Answer Will Be Yes, Lord, Yes

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