Title: The Man Who Almost Had It All
Bible Book: Mark 10 : 17-31
Author: Sammy Burgess
Subject: Materialism; Riches; Priorities
Objective:
Introduction
"If I had my whole life to live over again, I don't think I'd have the strength.” [Flip Wilson]
“Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart.” [Erma Bombeck]
“The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” [Richard L. Evans]
There are multitudes of people in our day that basically exist, but that is it. They have a life that is filled with many wonderful things; their lives are thriving; their family is succeeding; their business is booming; their personal life is growing, but that is it. When you talk to them they will tell you of the good things that are taking place. But the longer you talk to them; the more you get to know them and hear what they have to say, you begin to sense that something is missing. In so many cases, you will discover that they are empty.
Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. They are not living in sin; their life is morally intact; their thinking is right, but they are empty; there is a void in their life. You could say that they almost have it all!
Here in our text, we find a rich young ruler in the same situation. As you study his life and see what is going on and what he is doing, you would think that he lacked nothing. He had money; he had servants waiting on him hand and foot; he had a position in the synagogue; yet we find him running to Jesus and falling at His feet, simply because of emptiness in his heart that he could not fill on his own. You could say that he was a man who almost had it all.
I believe that there are people all around us that would give up just about everything they have if they could have peace and contentment in their life. They live, they go through the motions, yet they are empty, and their life has a void in it. They have much, but they don’t have joy. They have everything that a person could ask for, but they lack fulfillment. You could say that they almost have it all.
I use the word “almost” because there is something lacking, something missing in their life. The good news is - - every person can have everything they need if they will just come to Jesus and do what He Commands you to do.
I want to take a close look at this rich young ruler and see what he did to try and fill the void that was in his life.
He came at the right time - - he came when he was young.
He came to the right Person - - he ran and knelt at the feet of Jesus.
He asked the right question - - he wanted eternal life.
He received the right answer - - Jesus told him to sell everything he had and give to the poor. Jesus told him to take up his cross and follow Him.
But he made the wrong choice - - he turned away from the Lord and did not follow Him.
When he turned and walked away from the Lord, he still had all of his possessions; he was still a good moral person, but he lacked one thing in his life. This young man lacked Jesus. This was a man who ALMOST had it all.
I. The Longing That Obsessed This Man
This young man was in search of something. When people read this story of the “rich young ruler” they are quick to condemn him. But as you look carefully at this story, there are many reasons to commend this young man; after all, he was looking for God. Notice {10:17}- “And when he was gone forth into the way, {highway} there came one running, and kneeled to Him.” This young man had a longing in his heart to find God.
May I ask you a question; what are you looking for at this moment in your life? Let me ask you this question; why did you take the time to come to this place of Worship?
I realize that there are many reasons why people go to Church.
1) Some go to Church because it may help their business. 2)- Some to go to Church because they haven’t been in a while.
3) Some go to Church because they feel like it is their duty.
4) Some actually go to Church because they would feel guilty if they didn’t go.
5) There are those who go to Church because they didn’t have anything else to do.
6) Many go to Church because they love the Lord and they love their Church.
I want to be very honest about why a person should go to Church. If you came to this Church Service for any other reason than to meet with God - you came for the wrong reasons. I am convinced that some of you came to this Worship Service because there is a longing in your heart that needs to be satisfied; there is a longing in your soul for something else in life.
Church ought to be a place -
*Where a person can find God!
*Where God can speak to man!
*Where it directs men from earth to Heaven!
*Where it displays Heaven on earth!
This young man was looking for God. He had a longing for God. He was searching for Eternal life. Do you know why this young man was searching for God? God had placed that desire in his heart. We are told in {Ecclesiastes 3:11} that “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: He hath set the world {eternity} in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
Do you want to go to Heaven when you die? Do you want to live a life that is filled with happiness? Do you want to have real enjoyment as you live here on earth? Don’t be surprised that you have a longing to have joy. Don’t be surprised that you have a longing to want satisfaction in your life. Don’t be surprised that you have a desire and longing that this world cannot give you. It is God who has placed that longing in your heart. And He is the Only One that can fill that void in your life.
As we look at our text, what I would like to do for just a moment is look at this young man’s life and see what made him come to Jesus.
A. His Means Were Prosperous
Luke 18 tells us that he was a RULER. He was one of the officials who managed the local Synagogue.
We know that he was RICH. According to {vs.17} “he had great possessions.” This young man had possessions; he had a position. He lived in the finest mansion. He ate the finest foods. He drank the most expensive wine. He slept on the most comfortable bed. He traveled in the longest chariot. He was somebody.
B. His Manners Were Proper
I am impressed with the fact that when this young man came to Jesus, he knelt before Him. Here was this rich young ruler; he was wearing a robe from Kulpenhimer; he had sandals that said ‘NIKE’ on them.
I want you to use your imagination for just a moment. Out there on that dusty road, this young rich ruler kneels down before Someone. He doesn’t even think about getting dirty. He doesn’t even mind people walking by watching him kneel before Jesus.
Think about something. Here is a “ruler” kneeling at the feet of a “Carpenter.” Here is ‘management’ kneeling at the feet of “Labor.” This young man was not used to kneeling before anybody; he was used to people kneeling before him. *On his plantation, his servants would kneel before him. He wasn’t used to calling anyone “Master”; he was used to people calling him “master”. (This young man must have been taught to respect others.)
I believe that the reason why he knelt at the feet of Jesus is because he had heard Jesus enough; he had watched Jesus enough; and he looked at Jesus enough to realize what kind of Man He was. This rich young ruler had come to realize that Jesus was worthy of respect. There was something in this young man that made him ‘kneel’ before Jesus to give Him respect and reverence.
C. His Morals Were Pure
When Jesus listed the Commandments, this rich young ruler admitted that he had kept all of them from his youth. From the time that he was a boy, his motto was; “I don’t smoke; I don’t chew; and I don’t go with girls who do.” Outwardly, he was a virtuous, descent, clean living young All-American boy.
D. His Motives Were Powerful
If you notice, when he came to Jesus, he only wanted an answer to one question: {17}- “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” This young ruler wanted to go to Heaven. He not only wanted everything down here, he wanted everything in eternity.
When he came to Jesus, he came openly; he came publicly, he came in the wide open space. He unashamedly came and knelt before the Lord.
E. His Mind Was Prodding
I don’t think that one day he just thought up this question about eternal life. [It may have happened this way:]
He may have been walking one day through a crowd and he heard a Man speaking. More than likely he stopped out of curiosity to hear what this Man had to say. He found out that this Man he heard speaking was the Lord Jesus. He may have heard Jesus talking about being born again. He may have heard Jesus talk about the Kingdom of God. He might have heard Jesus talking about going to Heaven. He probably heard Jesus mention the riches of the Kingdom.
This young man couldn’t get those words out of his mind. He never heard anyone teach like Jesus taught. He never heard anyone Preach like Jesus Preached. He couldn’t get out of his mind about what Jesus said about the Kingdom of God. He may have thought; “What does this Man mean when He talked about being born again? What did He mean when He said that a person needs to believe and receive Him so they could be saved? What did He mean when He said that if I didn’t repent of my sins that I will wind up in Hell without God? What did He really mean when He said to follow Him?”
It could have been that a thought crossed his mind: “One of these days I am going to stand before God. One of these days I am going to die, and I am going to spend eternity somewhere?” This young man realized that when all his possessions were taken away, someday he was going to meet God.
Every person in this building needs to remember 2 very important truths:
1)- You are going to meet God sometime!
2)- You are going to spend eternity somewhere!
This young man had this thought in his mind. He was thinking about eternal life; and it was troubling his heart.
This was quite an admission on the part of this young ruler when he asked the Lord “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” He was an expert in religious matters. He was considered one of the most religious people of his time. And yet, he came to Jesus, because he didn’t know the road to Heaven.
It is rather tragic that many people have answers to so many things in life, and yet they don’t have the answer to the main question. It is sad that there are people who train their minds to understand the minute details of space travel; surgery; computers, mobile phones, and calculators, and yet many of them are spiritually ignorant about the matter of eternal life.
Someone asked Daniel Webster, “What is the greatest thought that has ever past through your mind?” Daniel Webster replied: “The greatest thought that has ever passed through my mind is the thought that one day I am going to have to stand before God. One day I am going to have to give a personal account of my life before God.”
In this young man’s mind and heart he realized that in spite of his power; in spite of his position; in spite of his possessions, he was going to meet God. This longing to have eternal life so obsessed this man. Somehow his riches had not been able to buy him what he was missing in his life. Somehow the position that he had gained so early in life had not satisfied the deep longing of his heart.
II. The Lord That Observed This Man
We are told that this young man willingly came to Jesus. But the real focus of this story is not a ‘rich ruler’; the focus is on a Royal Redeemer.
Notice carefully {10:18}- “And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God.”
Now you won’t understand what happened in the life of this rich young ruler and you won’t understand what Jesus was doing in his life until you learn what Jesus meant in {vs.18}.
A. The Logic Of The Savior
This young man came to Jesus and he asks, what on the surface appears to be a very innocent question: {vs.17}- “Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” When he asked Jesus this question, Jesus does something very strange. Jesus, instead of answering the question, He gave another question.
I believe the reason why Jesus did this was when this young man called Jesus “Good Master” he probably thought that Jesus would say; “You are a great judge of character. I thank you for your wonderful compliment. What may I do for you?” (More than likely, this was the response this young ruler thought he would get from Jesus.)
But I think that he was stunned when Jesus, not being impressed by his flattery, and not being impressed by his praise, answered his question with another question.
When Jesus asked this question in {vs.18} either this rich young ruler could not answer the question [or] he would not answer the question. You see, this is what Jesus did. [Jesus put this young man on the horns of a dilemma.]
Look again at {vs.18}- Why callest thou Me good? there is none good but One, that is, God.” The word “good” means “sinless.” Jesus was saying; “Why do you call Me sinless? There is none sinless but One, that is, God.”
In {Romans 3:12} Paul tells us that “There is none that doeth good, no not one.” When we read this verse, at first we don’t understand it, because even the worst of people can do some good; and have done some good in their life. When the Word of God says “GOOD” it literally means “sinless”. So {Romans 3:12} could read like this: “There is no one that is sinless; no not one.”
This is the reason why we have the verse of Scripture that reads; “all our righteousness are as filthy rages before a Righteous God.” You see, even the good things that we do are actually bad things before a living God; because everything we do is stained with sin.
Proverbs declares: “Even the plowing of the wicked is sin before God.” Even when a lost man, when he is out plowing his fields; God looks upon that man and says; “That is a sinful work.”
Let me tell you what I believe Jesus was saying here to this rich young ruler. Jesus more than likely was saying; “You cannot call Me Good; you cannot call Me sinless, unless you call Me God. And if you call Me God, then you can call me Good.”
There is no one that has ever lived who was ‘sinless’ except Jesus; and Jesus was sinless because He was God. [Think about something.]
Only God is Good!
Jesus is Good!
Therefore, Jesus is God!
Jesus was not God because He was Good; Jesus was Good because He was God!
THIS YOUNG RULER DID NOT COME TO A GOOD TEACHER; HE CAME TO GOD!
B. The Lordship Of The Savior
Since Jesus is God, this means that Jesus is Lord. And since Jesus is Lord, He had every right to say what He said to this young man in {vs.21}- “ONE THING THOU LACKEST: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
It was because of Who Jesus said ‘He was’ in {vs.18} that He had the right to make the demands He made in {vs.21}. Jesus was getting this young man to understand “Who He Was”, and then Jesus could say; “Based on Who I Am; this is what I want you to do. Sell everything that you have and follow Me.” SINCE JESUS IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS - HE IS WORTH FOLLOWING!
Listen carefully. Jesus is worth your heart. Jesus is worth your happiness. Jesus is worth your home. Jesus is worth your all.
And before this young ruler could ever be taught about eternal life, he had to be taught about an Eternal Lord!
Before a man can receive eternal life, he must receive the Eternal Lord!
C. The Love Of The Savior
Look down in {10:21}- “Then Jesus beholding him loved him.”
The word “beholding” means “to look in” … “to fix the eyes upon” … “to look intently.” This means to know something or someone by inspection. Jesus read this young man’s heart. Jesus saw the longing in his heart. Jesus looked beyond his outward appearance and looked into the deep void that was in his heart.
Jesus didn’t reprove him; Jesus didn’t release him; Jesus didn’t reject him. Jesus looked deep within this young ruler’s heart and He fell in love with him. Jesus knew what this young man’s response was going to be, and He still loved Him. Jesus had a deep love for this young man.
This is the way that Jesus looks at all sinners. This is the reason why a person can go to Heaven. Any persons who loves Jesus, loves Him because He first loved us.
III. The Life That Was Offered This Man
This young man came to Jesus and said; “I want to have eternal life.” Jesus did something that this young ruler didn’t like. Instead of giving this rich young ruler what he ‘wanted’ Jesus gave him what he needed.
There are 2 things that must happen to any sinner if they are going to be saved. These things are painful. In fact, this story teaches us that some of the best people make it hard on themselves to be saved.
A. Jesus Revealed His Problem
Go back and look at {10:19}- “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honor thy father and mother.” *Notice his response: {20}- “Master, all these have I observed from my youth.”
Jesus had to reveal his problem. This young man’s problem was [he thought] that he had kept the Commandments. But he hadn’t. The reason why I say this is because of what Jesus did not do. Jesus only listed 6 of the Commandments; He did not list all 10. {You see:}
The Last [6] Commandments deal with our relationship to man.
The first [4] Commandments deal with our relationship to God.
The very first Commandment that God gave Moses is found in {Exodus 20:3}- “Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.”
When Jesus told this rich young ruler; “I want you to give up everything that you have; sell everything; give it to the poor; take the cross, and follow Me” he responded by saying; “Oh no; I won’t do that.” When he said this to Jesus, he revealed that he had broken the very first Commandment.
This young man was confessing that his god was his ‘gold’. This young man was revealing that his ‘riches’ would be his redeemer. *This is the reason why Jesus told his disciples in {10:24}- “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!” {Jesus was giving reference to this young ruler. Jesus was teaching His disciples that he was “trusting in his riches” to get into Heaven.}
This young man thought that he had kept all of the Commandments; but he had broken the first one. The first Commandment is the foundation for the other 9 Commandments.
Listen carefully. When a person breaks one Commandment, they are guilty of breaking all the Commandments. {James 2:10}.
In Mark 12 one of the Scribes came to Jesus and asked Him about the Commandments. Jesus then narrowed the 10 Commandments down to 2. {Mark 12:29-31}- “The Lord our God is One Lord: [30]- And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first Commandment. [31]- And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other Commandment greater than these.”
Jesus exposed the problem that this young man had. When Jesus did this, He also exposed this young man’s pride. (Jesus said:)
(1)- “If you love your neighbor as you should, sell everything you have and give it to the poor. {Jesus also said}
(2)- “If you love Me as you should and if you put Me first in your life, then take up your Cross and follow Me.”
Jesus had to get this rich young ruler to see that he had broken all the Commandments. Before this young man could be saved, he had to first recognize that he was lost! He thought that he could ‘behave’ his way into heaven. Until he personally came to the Lord, he didn’t realize just how sinful he was.
I believe that the worst form of ‘human badness’ is [human goodness] when that ‘human goodness’ becomes a substitute for being born-again.
Listen to how Jesus revealed his problem: [21]- “One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Too many people have misread this verse. Listen carefully to what Jesus was saying.
1)- You are not saved by keeping the Commandments. You couldn’t keep all of them if you wanted to. (Jesus was the Only One that kept all the Commandments.)
2)- You are not saved by selling everything you own and giving to the poor.
Abraham didn’t sell everything he had to follow Jesus. (Abraham was willing to offer his only son Isaac as a sacrifice as he was commanded by the Lord. But the Angel of the Lord stopped him.}
Joseph of Arimethia, if he wasn’t rich, Jesus wouldn’t have had a place to be buried.
Why did Jesus ask this young man to sell his riches? Jesus had to reveal to him exactly where his heart was. {Matthew 6:21}- “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Jesus had to show this young man that his ‘gold’ should not be his god. I believe that Jesus was saying: “You must give up ‘what you want’ if you are going to have ‘what you need.”
It is possible that if this young man had told Jesus that he was going home and sell everything that he owned Jesus would have stopped him. We are not for sure if Jesus would have done this. All Jesus wanted him to do is to see where his heart really was.
Years ago a young lady went to a Revival meeting. She was attending a very large Church. One night she raised her hand for salvation. One of the counselors went back to where she was and invited her to walk forward and receive Jesus Christ. She refused to walk forward in front of all the people. After she refused the counselor said; “Then young lady, you can’t be saved.” This went on Monday, Tuesday; and Wednesday. Thursday Evening, she raised her hand again; again the counselor went back to where she was sitting. She said; “I want to be saved; I will do anything and go anywhere to be born again.” The counselor replied; “Young lady, now you can get saved right here.”
B. Jesus Rebuked His Pride
Can you imagine how stunned this rich young ruler was after Jesus made this statement in [vs.21]? He had worked hard to make his money. He had made his money by doing right and doing others right. He had been diligent and consistent in what he did. He had outwardly kept the Commandments. He had lived his life by all the right rules and by doing all the right things. *And then Jesus looked right at him and said; “You lack one thing.”
This rich young ruler had not wasted his life like the others around him. This young man had a good argument: “I haven’t indulged myself in alcohol. I don’t use bad language; I go to Church just about every Sunday. Are You telling me Master that I lack one thing?”
Jesus was investigating his heart. Jesus was going beneath the surface of his shallow goodness. The problem with this young man was that he had given himself only a casual glance. He had only superficially looked at his goodness and had determined that he had observed the law.
This young man was about to learn a valuable lesson that we need to learn. It matters not how good a ‘sinner’ might be; all sinners lack one thing: EVERY SINNER LACKS JESUS!
Jesus made it very clear: “ONE THING THOU LACKEST.” [To be saved, you don’t need Jesus and baptism.] - [To be saved, you don’t need Jesus and Church membership.] - [To be saved, you don’t need good works.] THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO BE SAVED IS JESUS!
Religion will take you to Church.
Jesus will take you to Heaven.
Religion will satisfy and sooth your mind.
Jesus will save and satisfy your soul.
Religion is man’s way of getting from earth to heaven.
Jesus is God’s way of getting Heaven into man.
Religion is a boost from below.
Salvation is a birth from above.
Salvation is not rooted in our merits; Salvation is rooted in His Mercy. Salvation is not a goal that you achieve; it is a Gift that you receive.
Understand something. This young man wanted to INHERIT Eternal life. An INHERITANCE is granted because of a relationship. An INHERITANCE is received when you are in a certain family.
Simon Peter said in {1 Peter 1:3,4}- “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant Mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4]- To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in Heaven for you.”
This young ruler had religion; he desperately wanted to go to heaven when he died - - but he had one problem. He wanted to go to Heaven on his own terms. When Jesus told him to “sell everything, take up your cross and follow Me” Jesus was telling him that either he would come on God’s terms or he wouldn’t come at all.
There is a great lesson for us to learn: Jesus did not make the Gospel acceptable; JESUS MADE THE GOSPEL AVAILABLE!
Gipsy Smith, the great Evangelist, was in a certain city for a Crusade. A young mother brought her small son up to meet this great man of God after one of the services. She wanted her little boy to be able to say that he had shaken the hand of this Great Evangelist.
So she nudged the little boy up to Gipsy Smith and told him that she wanted her little boy to shake his hand. Gipsy Smith bent over and said; “Good evening young man.” The timid little boy said “Good evening sir.” The Great Evangelist put out his hand and said; “Put’er there son.” But the little boy kept his and behind him. His mother pushed him a little closer to Gipsy Smith and told him to go ahead and shake his hand. But the little boy kept his hand behind his back.
Finally she pulled his little hand from behind his back and she instructed him to shake the Evangelist’s hand. Gipsy Smith took the little boy’s hand and pried open those fingers; and in his hand were 3 tiny marbles.
All this young man was asked to do was open up his hand, remove something that was in it to shake the hand of a great man; but he refused to because of 3 small marbles.
When Jesus told this young man that he lacked one thing, He was telling him that he was holding on to something very small compared to what He could receive by following Jesus; but he refused to let go of his own way of living.
Think about something. If his riches really satisfied him and really made him happy, then why did he come to Jesus for eternal life?
IV. The Loss That Overcame This Man
Look closely in {10:22}- “And he was sad at that saying, and went away GRIEVED: for he had great possessions.”
This story should have had a happy ending. This young man could have offered to sell everything that he had; given it to the poor; followed Jesus, and he would have lived happily ever after. But he chose to walk away from the Lord Jesus.
I am amazed of the fact that when he chose to walk away from the Lord, he was worse when he left than he was before he knelt before the Lord. Notice the word “sad” in {vs.22}. This word means to “cut to the quick.” When this young man walked away from the Lord, he didn’t walk away with a smile on his face. He walked away with tears in his eyes.
I want you to remember something. Just because a person feels sorrow for what they have done; just because a person feels guilty for their disobedience; just because a person has remorse in their life, does not make them right with God.
A person can feel guilt, but that doesn’t mean they have God!
A person can feel sorry for their sins, but that doesn’t mean that they have received Salvation.
A person can feel remorse and regret, but that is not repentance.
Unless a person turns from their own way and chooses God’s way - they will spend eternity without God.
There are 2 things that happened to this rich young ruler when he turned away from the Lord and went his own way.
A. He Left The Savior
We are told that he “went away grieved.” This young man got up off his knees; he brushed off his clothes; and with tears streaming down his face, he turned his back on Jesus, and He walked away. And as far as we know he never came back to Jesus. He never came back to meet Jesus.
No one ever came to Jesus with more, and no one ever left Jesus with less!
He didn’t realize that {nothing plus Jesus = everything} and {everything without Jesus = nothing.}
This was the saddest day of his life because the happiest day of a person’s life is when they come to Jesus! This rich young ruler left the greatest thing that he could have ever had. He left the Man who could save him from his sins. He left Man who could have given him riches beyond measure. But he turned and walked away.
Listen carefully - No one who ever comes into the Presence of the Lord leaves the same!
B. He Lost His Soul
This young man was struggling when he should have been satisfied. This young man was down on his knees; while he was on his knees, Jesus looks at him and says; “Young man, if you will sell everything that you have and follow Me, I will take you to Heaven when you die.” When Jesus said that, He touched that rich young ruler’s ‘spiritual nerve’.
When he heard the Words of Jesus, he began to breathe a little heavier; sweat popped out on his forehead and it began to run down his cheeks. His lips began to quiver; he began to shake all over; not knowing what he was going to do.
I can imagine what was going on in Heaven and hell as he was making his decision. I can see as the Angels looked over the balcony of Heaven, watching to see if this rich young man would be saved or not. The Angel, who records our names in the Lamb’s Book of Life, had his pen poised. He was ready to hear that word of faith so he could write his name down in the Lamb’s Book of life.
At the same time, every demon in hell crawled out of their place to look and see if Jesus would win, or if Satan would win. The devil goes up to him one last time and whispers in his ear; “Look at everything you will have to give up to get saved. If you get saved, nobody will have anything to do with you. You won’t be happy anymore. Giving up everything and following Jesus will be the most foolish thing you have ever done. As long as you don’t have Jesus; as long as you don’t follow Jesus, you can live any way you want; do anything you want to do; go anything place you want to go; and have everything your heart desires.”
For one split second of eternity all the demons of hell and all the Angels of heaven watched to see what this young man would say and do.
All of a sudden, that young man gets up off his knees; he brushes of his garment; he looks at Jesus straight in the eyes, with tears streaming down his cheeks, and very quietly, but firmly says “No thank You. I would rather have my gold than have God. I would rather have my money that the Master. I would rather have my riches than the Redeemer.” When he walked away and turned his back of his only hope of Heaven, all the demons in hell cheered with glee; as the Angels in Heaven walked away from the balcony of Heaven with broken hearts.
This young man who lived without God would eventually die without God! And he would spend eternity in hell, separated from God! THIS YOUNG MAN HAD ONE FOOT IN HEAVEN BUT HE COULD NOT SHUT THE DOOR!
Here was a young man who had all that this life had to offer, now walks away and chooses all that hell has to offer.
In his own eyes, he left with everything that could satisfy him. In the eyes of Jesus he left lacking one thing that could satisfy and save him!
The story is told of a conversation between a young man; he was an ambitious young man, and an older who was a godly man. They were discussing the future.
The older man asked him about his life. The young man said; “I am going to learn my trade.”
“And then?” The young man replied; “Then I will set up my business.”
“And then?” He went on to say; “Then I will make my fortune.”
“And then?” … “Then I shall grow old and retire.”
“And then?” “Then I suppose that some day I will die.”
The old Christian came back with a stunning question; “And then?”
This life is enjoyable, and this life has been every good to many of you. I want to congratulate you for the abundance of things that you have. But it must never be forgotten that all we have in this life will go no further with us than the grave.
It makes no difference what you have in this life. If you don’t know the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, YOU LACK ONE THING.
Conclusion
Years ago during the great Alaskan rush to find gold some men went deep into Alaska's interior and they never returned. After a great period of time some other men who also traveled deep into the interior looking also for gold found these two men's hut. As they entered they found 2 skeletons seated at a table with large quantities of gold sitting on top of the table and all around them. On the table was a note describing their successful hunt for gold, so much so that they had ignored the early warnings of the upcoming winter, the more they mined, the more gold they found, they would wait just a little longer.
A blizzard came in and they were trapped, they soon died of cold, and no food. They had found their gold - but they had lost their lives! They had lost track of their priorities! They almost had it all; but they left this life empty handed. source unknown
Jesus taught His disciples a lesson. As they stood there watching all that was going on between the Lord and this rich young ruler, Jesus knew what they were thinking. He addressed His disciples this way:
{10:29-31}- “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel’s; [30]- But he shall receive an hundredfold NOW IN THIS TIME, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. [31]- But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”
I believe that the disciples were thinking; “Lord, we’ve left all to follow You. What is in it for us?” Jesus made it very clear that no one ever gives up anything to follow Him. You gain everything and so much more by following Him. When you obey the Lord and follow Him, you will lack nothing.
There are 2 things that dominate our lives that need to be given back to the Lord. (1)- Your Time … (2)- Your Money. The Lord wants to be Lord of all your life. When you put the Lord second, you almost have it all. When Jesus is first and foremost in your life, you will have more than you can handle.
This young man almost had it all; but he walked away from the Lord! What choice will you make?
Adrian Rogers said, “Jesus will not impoverish your life; He will enrich your life.”
