“As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his
knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he
asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal
life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’
Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God
alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit
adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall
not defraud, honor your father and mother.’’ ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.”
(Mark 10:17-20, NIV).
In Mark 10:17-27, Lord
Jesus used a conversation with a rich man to emphasize to His disciples – and to
us – the disappointments and dangers of making wealth a primary goal in life. The
rich man seemed to have a serious interest in living a God-pleasing life (“ran up to Jesus… fell on his knees before Jesus…” he
asked questions and proudly said that he followed all God’s commandments). But Jesus was aware of the one area in
which the man had placed something else ahead of God. Jesus looked at him and
loved him, “One thing you lack,”
He said, “Go, sell everything you
have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come,
follow me” (Mark 10:21).
Wow! Jesus’ words aimed
directly at the young man’s wealth! Jesus’ command uncovered the “one thing” standing in the way of the man’s
relationship to God: his worship to his wealth. “At this, the man’s face fell. He went away sad because he had great
wealth” (10:22). He was so attached to his possessions that he was
unwilling to accept Jesus’ offer of heavenly treasure and membership among His
followers. As the rich man walked sadly away, Jesus taught His disciples about
the problems of wealth. “How hard it is for
the rich to enter the kingdom of God!... It is easier for a camel to go through
the eyes of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
(10:23, 25). That simply means it’s humanly impossible.
Why is material wealth
such an obstacle to spiritual wealth? Because material wealth is the most
sinister counterfeit for God that man has ever devised. Let’s face it, wealth
can solve many problems: bring happiness and fulfill our material wants and
needs. Someone can become so reliant on wealth that he begins to wonder, “Who needs God, anyway?” No wonder Jesus
said elsewhere: “No one can serve two
masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be
devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”
(Matthew 6:24, “money” also
translated as “mammon” and “riches”). Understand this: Jesus didn’t say it’s a sin to be rich; He said it is difficult to be
Christian and rich at the same time because of the temptation to rely on wealth
rather than God. Jesus didn’t say it is wrong to want and own nice things; He
said it is wrong to make things your major goal in life because the first place in
your heart is reserved for God alone.
Friends, the first place in
our lives is not big enough to handle both God and the desire for riches. One of
them must go! But we have the assurance from Jesus that when we make the
commitment to give God the highest place and priority in our lives more than
our paychecks, allowances, and saving accounts, He will actively meet our needs
and throw in the bonus of “treasure in heaven.”
(Mark 10:21) for us. Is this sound impossible for you? Yes and No. Yes, because “with man, this is impossible” (rich or poor); and No
because “with God, all things are
possible with God” (10:27). Amen.
THINK BIG.
START SMALL. GO DEEP.
