Mark 10:23-31
The Rich Young Ruler Pt. 2
Mark 10:23-31
This is part II of the Rich Young Ruler story.
Recap:
A man runs up to Jesus, falls before him and asks him, “what must I do to inherit eternal life”
He mistakenly believed eternal life could be gained by his own effort (“what must I do”).
Jesus has already made it abundantly clear that eternal life is not something that can be earned, it must simply be received.
Jesus knows what’s in man’s heart. So Jesus, peering into this man’s heart, gives him an answer designed to spotlight this man’s deepest idol, which happened to be his wealth. He says to the man, “go sell all of your stuff, give the money to the poor, and come follow me.”
And it says in verse 22 that the man went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions.
Everyone has something in their life that they are tempted to idolize. Something that sits on the throne of their life.
And that thing might not be wealth. It might be a certain relationship that we idolize. It might be a hobby. It might be some sinful habit. It might be our sense of status or prestige.
Whatever that thing is, it is something that is so attached to our sense of self worth… so attached to our sense of significance or our joy… that we hold onto it with white knuckles, and it’s very very difficult for us to let go in order to follow Jesus.
Jesus is not asking us to do anything that He Himself has not done. He gave everything up for us. Even His own life. Now He calls us to follow His example of self-sacrifice. He calls us to treasure Him above all else because He is the Greatest Treasure in the universe.
That’s where we left off.
Now, the conversation continues. The rich young man has walked away. And Jesus is going to continue teaching his disciples, helping them understand God’s heart towards earthly wealth.
Now, we might expect Jesus to use this man’s specific issue of loving his wealth as a launch ramp to talk more generally about the danger of idols… or the danger of elevating anything above God in our lives.
But instead, Jesus actually gets more specific and continues to focus on the issue of wealth in relation to salvation.
Which tells us something very important: While earthly wealth is not inherently evil, it does present a very real danger for our souls. So it is imperative that we listen to the warning of our Lord on this.
Remember, Jesus is after our hearts. He’s after our affections.
And as it turns out…
The danger with possessions is that they have a way of possessing us.
The danger with earthly treasures is that they want to be treasured.
The reason the pursuit of things is dangerous is because in pursuing them we can inadvertently stop pursuing Jesus.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is
(and some manuscripts add in for those who trust in riches)
to enter the kingdom of God!
The disciples are shocked at how serious He is about this.
We should be too. Because, like them, many of us are programmed to think of wealth not as a danger, but as a blessing!
Now, it is true that every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord (James 1:17).
And it is true that from Him and through Him and to Him are all things (Rom. 11:36)
And yet it is also, somewhat paradoxically, true that these blessings can be eternally hazardous for our souls.
25 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.”
There’s a rumor out there that there was a gate in Jerusalem called “the eye of the needle”. And it was a very small gate, with low clearance. And camels had to literally unload their cargo and go through on their knees to get through. But it could be done! So Jesus is not being as radical as He sounds at face value.
The problem is, there’s no historical verification that such a gate ever existed.
Instead it seems obvious that Jesus is speaking in hyperbolic language to emphasize that He really means what He just said: that it is essentially impossible for a rich person to enter the Kingdom.
Their wealth presents too great a temptation for them.
We should realize that this passage is about us. You may not feel like it. But by first century standards, you are unimaginably privileged.
You have virtually unlimited access to clean water and food.
You have multiple sets of clothing.
You have time and resources for recreation.
You have leisurely amenities like surfing, sitting on the beach with friends, and going to the movies.
Most of us have our own personal vehicles.
We have the capacity to travel and go on vacations.
In the ancient world, these are things even royalty couldn’t imagine!
And even in our world today, the vast majority of people will never know this level of privilege.
We are the rich. This passage is about us.
If that’s true, then according to Jesus, it is basically impossible for us to be saved.
Astonishing isn’t it?
The disciples thought so.
26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?”
“You mean it’s actually impossible for us to gain salvation?”
That’s the realization that caused the rich man to walk away. That’s the realization that caused the disciples jaws to drop.
No one is good enough. No one is humble enough. No one is able to truly loosen our grip on earthly things in order to have heavenly things.
And the sooner we get to that realization the better!
Because then, and only then, are we ready for the good news of verse 27.
27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
See, the reality is, salvation is impossible for humans to achieve on their own. The rich young man learned that lesson the hard way.
The only way salvation is ever possible is if God does it.
Jesus has been drilling this lesson into us all throughout Mark, hasn’t he?
Remember when He sent out His disciples to do ministry back in chapter 6? He sent them with no provisions. Why? So they would know that they were to rely on Him alone.
Remember when the father of the demon possessed boy came to Jesus and cried out in desperation, “I believe, help my unbelief”? What did Jesus do? Healed the boy. Because the father recognized his utter inability even to believe properly.
Remember Jesus’ words to his own disciples? “Unless you become like a little child, you cannot inherit the kingdom”.
And with the Rich Young Ruler, what does Jesus tell him? “You lack one thing”. He points out his deficit.
It’s all designed to communicate this glorious truth: that God alone must do everything for us. We are completely and utterly deficient before God. We depend on Him completely.
28 Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.”
This is probably the question that was on all of their hearts: ‘Jesus, if we bring nothing to the table, does that also mean all the sacrifices we’ve made to follow you are worthless?’
Remember, these were working men with families.
They had left their businesses behind. Their livelihood. Their social connections. Everything.
They had literally done what the Rich Young Ruler would not do.
Peter’s question is, will it be worth it?
29 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, 30 who will 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.
That’s not a promise of earthly health, wealth and prosperity. He’s just saying that when you become a follower of Jesus you are re-born into a massive family of believers who take care of one another. But He warns us that life in this new loving community will also be marked by persecution (and it certainly has been for many Christians through the ages).
But, it’ll be worth it. Because eternal life is worth any cost.
31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
In other words, it’s not going to be the wealthiest, flashiest or most successful who are most important in the Kingdom of God. Because God’s economy is backwards from the world’s economy.
The verdict:
Wealth presents a danger to our souls because we are prone to adore our wealth and desire our wealth and trust in our wealth over and above Jesus Christ.
But it still leaves us with the question… how should we relate to our wealth as followers of Jesus?
Should we literally give it all away and not possess anything?
Are we called to live in poverty? Would that solve the danger of wealth in our lives?
To answer these questions, let’s turn to 1 Timothy 6.
Paul is writing to Timothy who was a young pastor, giving him instructions on how to treat wealthy members of his congregation.
Here are 8 Principles for how followers of Jesus should relate to wealth:
1 Timothy 6:5–19 (ESV):
1. Godliness is not a pathway to earthly wealth
5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain.
2. We must remember that all earthly wealth is temporary
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
3. God wants us to be content with simple provisions
8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 6: Seek the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you.
4. The real danger is not wealth itself, but the love of wealth
9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into 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 evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Let’s not confuse wealth with the real enemy: our sinful desires.
5. We are to actively pursue godliness instead of wealth
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. 13 I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, 14 to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
6. We should be careful that our wealth doesn’t create a false sense of security
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches…
7. We should not promote a “poverty gospel”, but rather enjoy what God has given us.
…but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.
It’s possible to be so anti-prosperity that we end up falling off the boat on the other side and committing the heresy of asceticism. It’s the false idea that if we punish ourselves and deprive ourselves of all good things, it will honor God.
Paul says, no. That’s not the right way to think.
God gives us good things to enjoy. We should enjoy them as an act of worship.
8. We should leverage our earthly wealth toward true heavenly riches.
18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Jesus said…
Matthew 6:19–21 (ESV): 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Once again, Jesus wants what’s best for us.
Remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 11:
Matthew 11:28–30 (ESV): 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
That’s the gospel. That’s the goal of all of this.
Not that we would be burdened by our issues regarding wealth… but that we would be liberated by the words and ways of Jesus to experience true freedom from the enslavement of wealth.