Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Gospel Lesson just read, from Mark 10. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- In the verses immediately preceding our text, Jesus conversed with a rich man about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. The man claimed to have been keeping all the commandments, so to illustrate his idolatry Jesus told him: “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.” At this saying the man went away sorrowful, because he had great possessions. Having to choose, he chose his wealth over Jesus. What would you do?
- This is what Jesus was commenting on when He told the disciples: “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.”
- But we don’t see this as particularly difficult. After all, we have wealth and yet we are Christians. We know that we are saved by God’s grace, and that we do not have to give all of our wealth away to follow Jesus.
- However, knowing this may make us somewhat blind to the “DANGER IN HAVING WEALTH.” Solomon also warns about this, in the Old Testament Lesson from Ecclesiastes. [Eccl. 5] And we should surely think very carefully about the words of Jesus, our dear Savior and Lord. First, we must understand that:
I. Wealth Is Intoxicating, And Blinding
A. It Becomes All Important To A Person
Mark 10:21,22 “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘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.’ Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
B. Wealth Drowns Out The Calling And Voice Of God
Mark 10:22 “Jesus said, ‘Come, follow Me.’ He went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
C. Wealth Tends To Instill Just the Opposite Of Love – Greed And Selfishness
Mark 10:21 “Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven . . . he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
Statement: It seems unfair, that such wealth must be given away in order to “enter the kingdom of God.” Like the disciples, we might be amazed at these words – and a bit disconcerted. Forced to make a choice, we recognize how important our own possessions are to us. We have worked so hard to acquire things. We have been frugal and conservative to have accumulated so much. Now we are to just give it away? To those who are poor, who haven’t worked as hard or been as disciplined and frugal as we have?
Application: So you see that wealth has had exactly the same effect on us. We agree with the disciples, with their astonishment at Jesus’ teaching. And hopefully, we are humbled and brought to repentance. For the cure for this idolatry and rejection of God is to finally see that the kingdom of God is worth far more than any amount of earthly wealth. Solomon pegs it rightly: “As he came from his mother’s womb he shall go again, naked as he came, and shall take nothing for his toil that he may carry away in his hand. This also is a grievous evil: just as he came, so shall he go, and what gain is there to him who toils for the wind?” So why hold on to earthly wealth? Why not give it away and have “treasure in heaven”?
Transition: The fact that we have difficulty with this logic should be humbling, but fortunately:
II. God Can Still Save Us
A. Even Though This Is Impossible With Man, Whether Rich Or Poor
Text: “The disciples were exceedingly astonished, and said to Him, ‘Then who can be saved?’ Jesus look at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.’”
B. So We Should Thank God Humbly And Deeply – That He Is Able To Bring Us To Faith
Eph. 2:8,9 “By grace you are saved through faith, and that, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
Statement: Again, we should consider how it is impossible for us to save ourselves, for us to make right choices and decisions about our wealth – but that God has forgiven us our idolatry and brought us to faith. Thank God that “all things are possible with God.”
Application: But this does not excuse our idolatry, or make it permissible, or remove the grave dangers of having earthly wealth. The Word of God, given through Solomon, through Jesus, and through the other authors of Holy Scripture, warns us frequently of the “DANGER OF HAVING WEALTH.” So at the very least we are compelled to give all of this due consideration, including the option of storing up treasures in heaven rather than earthly wealth!
Transition: And as we see in our text:
III. The Call To Follow Jesus Often Involves The Loss Of Earthly Wealth
Text: “Peter began to say to Jesus, ‘See, we have left everything and followed You.’”
A. But Whatever Is Lost For The Sake Of God And His Kingdom Will Be Repaid Now And At The End
Text: “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 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.’”
B. But Remember, The First Are Last And The Last Are First
Text: “But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
Statement: The things of the Kingdom of God are often just the opposite of how they are in this life. Here the rich come first, and are the loftiest, the privileged, the powerful, the prestigious, the preeminent. However, if they are unbelieving they cannot enter the kingdom of God – and wealth often impedes or even negates faith in God. In the kingdom, those who have left earthly wealth and possessions behind for the sake of Jesus and the Gospel will be first.
Application: It is very comforting to know that God keeps track of the sacrifices and investments that we make in following Him and serving the Gospel. It is a rather astounding generosity on the part of God that we not only inherit the kingdom of God, but also receive our investment back “a hundredfold.” But again, those captured by the love and generosity of God are more eager to be blessed to give than to receive. That is simply the supernatural effect of living in faith in God’s love!
Conclusion: So let us think deeply about Jesus’ teaching regarding having wealth and entering the kingdom of God, about the “DANGER OF HAVING EARTHLY WEALTH.” Do not minimize or disregard it. Where we are in need of repentance, let us humbly beg God for forgiveness and mercy, and also for His help to turn from our sin. Then let us consider the wiser investment opportunities that Jesus advises! Even Solomon had the wisdom to advise us similarly.
This will provide us with the greater joy that only God can give us. Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.