Resources Mark 10 : 17-31 - The Rich Young Ruler Man's Ignorance - 'I've kept the law' Christ's Love - 'Christ loves sinners' Man's Sorrow - 'He went away sad' Christ's Warning - 'It's hard for the rich' Man's Complaint - 'We've left everything' Christ's Promise - 'You'll receive a hundred fold' A young man with seemingly everything. A ruler, respected by others, wealthy, great potential, he was going places. On the fast track. But he was ignorant. Saviour ('good' ) - flattery Spiritual things ( save himself ) Sin / Law ( Wrong view of sin and the purpose of the law ) Jesus looks at him ( compassion, wept ) Christ loves - Even while we were sinners, Christ Jesus died for us. Even while we were enemies of God, the love of Christ was displayed on the cross for all to see. Jesus Christ is the lover of sinners. How it must have pained him to see the response of the young man. Jesus saw through him, the veneer, the exterior and looked straight at the heart and saw that this man was in love with his wealth. 'The heart of the matter is, the matter of the heart.' The Man went away sad. ( Count the cost ) His face fell, his hopes dashed, the hope of being able to save himself had gone as a realisation hit home.... He loved his wealth and riches more than he longed for a relationship with Jesus and eternal life. No wonder he was sad! It wasn't his wealth that Jesus was condemning, it was his love of the wealth, which led Jesus to warn ... It's hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God - a warning he repeated. To the Jew, material wealth was a sign of God's blessing. The greater the wealth, the more special the blessing if you like. Jesus turns this thought upside down. You've got it wrong, he says. It's harder for the rich. They hold onto their riches as their hope for the future. They place security in their riches. They do this instead of looking to me. That's why it is hard for them. Man throughout history has failed to take heed of this warning. They cannot save themselves, but they continue to hold on to the things that cause them to stumble. The Apostle Paul tells Timothy 'For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.' Wealth, riches, possessions .... hold on to things loosely. Peter complains 'but Lord, we've left everything to follow you ...' we thought we would receive special blessing, recompense for the sacrifice we've made. But what's left for us now. Don't be proud, Peter. Don't have a wrong attitude, don't serve me only to get something out of it ... remember the first shall be last, and the last first. ( 'Many will call on my name .... depart from me ....' ) But there is a promise to all who believe. A promise from Jesus himself. It's for all who put their trust in Christ. The one who is the truth, always speaks the truth and says we will receive back a hundred fold in this life ... ( enlarge ) Blessings as well as persecutions. And in the age to come ... eternal life. Are you weary in your faith, suffering hardship or trials ... here is a promise for you to hold onto. A promise in this life which is true and which in the next life will be true forever. You may be having fights and sorrows now while in the body, but your eternal reward is perfect rest and the crown of a conqueror. ( Go over the 6 statements - relate to us ) The time is short, the end is certain, how is your heart before God? Don't leave here today in sadness - turn to him while he is near. Back to top of page

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