EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2024.
SUBJECT: TRUST NOT IN YOUR RICHES AND POSITION!
Memory verse: "Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10 vs 23.)
READ: Mark 10 vs 17 - 27:
10:17: 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?”
10:18: So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
10:19: 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.’”
10:20: And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I kept from my youth.”
10:21: 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.”
10:22: But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
10:23: Then Jesus looked around, and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter into the kingdom of God!”
10:24: And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again, and said to them, “Children, how hard is it for those who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
10:25: It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”
10:26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
10:27: Then looking at them Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God. For with God all things are possible.”
INTIMATION:
The problem facing man is how can a sinful man approach an All-good God. Jesus answers, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14 vs 6). The gate that leads to eternal life is called “narrow.” This does not mean that it is difficult to become a Christian but that there is only one way to eternal life with God and that only a few decide to walk that road. Believing in Jesus is the only way to heaven, because He alone died for our sins and made us right before God. Living His way may not be popular, but it is true and right.
Jesus said it is very difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God because the rich, having their basic physical needs met, often become self-reliant; trusting in their riches. When they feel empty, they buy something new to try to fill the void that only God can fill. Their abundance and self-sufficiency become their deficiency. The person who has everything on earth can still lack what is most important—eternal life.
In the passage we read today, the disciples were astonished at the teaching of Jesus concerning the rich young ruler. Their beliefs were based on the erroneous concept that riches were in some way evidence of God’s favor, especially if such was combined with obedience to the law, as was the case with the young ruler. The position he had as a ruler, the disciples evidently thought that such gave him an advantage in reference to salvation. If this young ruler could not be saved, then they reasoned that no one could.
The disciples were wrong in their assumptions because their thinking was based on a wrong premise. Their believe that one’s wealth is a sign that God is working in one’s life is wrong. The conclusion that righteousness was based on perfect keeping of the law of God was also wrong. No man can justify himself before God by keeping law, for all sin (Galatians 2 vs 18).
The problem with the rich young ruler, therefore, was not with his outward manifestation of religiosity, but with his heart. In order to come into a right relationship with God, this particular rich person had to relieve himself of that which emotionally kept him from dependence on God. He was self-sufficient in his riches and self-confident in his performance of law from youth. He, therefore, felt that he did not need to trust in the grace of God.
The second thing Jesus asked him to do was to follow Him. In order to do this he would have to give up whatever position he had as a ruler. For those who are in power, this is a difficult thing to do. In this case, it was too difficult for the young ruler. The rich young ruler was sad at Jesus’ saying; he realized that his problem was within his heart. He was not angry with Jesus for making the statement. He realized that his performance of the law from youth was not sufficient to establish a correct relationship with God. He had to deal with the problem of possessions and position that was a problem in his heart. He went away grieved in his spirit because at this time in his life he could not make this sacrifice to be a disciple.
The young man checked off all the right points of obedience. At least in reference to the commands Jesus stated, he said that he had observed the law. When one believes he has met all the requirements for justification before the Good God by keeping law, there is always something lacking. And it is this lack that will bring condemnation. In this particular case, it was the materialism and position of the rich young ruler that stood between him and God.
Herein is the key concept of what the encounter with the rich young ruler brought to light: It is impossible for one to perform either law or good deeds in order to justify himself before God. The apostle Paul said that there is none righteous (Romans 3 vs 10). There is no one who can keep law perfectly in order to save himself. It is thus necessary that man’s impossibility to be holy be made possible by the grace of God. Therefore, rely not on your riches or position in life to earn you the desired relationship with God that culminates into eternal life with Him.
Prayer: Abba Father, You are my all. My absolute trust is in You. All I have You have given me, and all I am You have made me. You have the first place in my life, and by Your grace working in my life so I desire it to be all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
