The CROSSroads: Personal Lessons from Mark's Gospel by Rev. Mitch Schultz

Updated
2001-05-26; 14:34:21utc

Lesson Thirty-two: SORRY I ASKED (Mark 10:17-31)

"At this the man's face fell" (vs.22)

"How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven" (vs.23). State and national lotteries have become an obsession in our country. Recently a winning ticket holder beat the odds and claimed the highest winnings yet of over $160 million. Just last week an Argentinean nanny put down her broom, removed her apron for the last time and claimed her prize of several million dollars. Now, if someone ever offered me even a million dollars, I think I would refuse and for two reasons. (If anyone reading this would like to take me up on this challenge I am willing to reconsider my position!) First I would refuse because such a sudden increase to my bank account would dominate my thoughts and preoccupy all my attention. That money would easily consume me. What would I do with it, how much should I invest, what should I give some of it to? It would be too much for me. Secondly, I would refuse because I expect that it would easily distract from some of my spiritual priorities. My daily dependence on God to be my daily bread, my joy in giving thanks for small gifts, the unexpected increase in what little I have invested would all be robbed. I think this money would stand in the way of my following Christ. That is I, you might respond differently. These are however the struggles the man in our story lived with.

It is hard to know the man's motives in falling to his knees before Christ asking him what he must do to inherit eternal life (vs.17). We do know he was rich. Luke in his gospel tells us he was a ruler, probably filling some government post. Matthew (chapter 19 verse 20) informs us he was young. We know also in vs.18-20 that this man was very religious. He had kept the law since his childhood and had done so faithfully. "Teacher...all these I have kept since I was a boy." Something in the young man's theology suggests that it was one of salvation by works. Having kept the law and being rich he really believed that somehow he could merit more favor from God by his wealth. Money had so consumed his life he was deluded into thinking that he could actually purchase his place in eternity. This is why I believe Jesus raised this issue of his wealth. He was so completely dominated by it that no one could separate who the man was from his money. It was Jesus' desire to see the man delivered from such dominance. "Jesus looked at him and loved him." (vs.21)

As we follow the dialogue between Jesus and the man we observe that the Lord does not directly answer the man's question of what he must do to inherit eternal life. What Jesus addresses is what the man must do to become his follower. This becomes an invitation to discipleship not salvation. Selling his goods could not earn the man salvation, but keeping his goods stood in the way of his following Jesus. This was the issue that had to be settled first before salvation entered the picture. There was nothing that he could do to earn salvation. This matter would be settled at the cross. Having eternal life is a prize that is claimed through the death and resurrection of our Lord.

You and I can do nothing to earn salvation. This was purchased for us at the cross. There are however many things we must do if we are going to follow Jesus. While salvation is a free gift, discipleship is not; it costs us everything we have. "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me" (Mark 8:34). Jesus expects nothing short of total abandonment if we are going to follow him. This is the path the disciples had taken, one that would eventually take each of them to the cross of martyrdom. Moved by what Peter hears Christ say, he reflects honestly on his own commitment. "We have left everything you follow you." (vs.28)

This was a demand Jesus placed on the young man that seemed too much for him. "At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth" (vs.22). The man had been given a simple choice between two options. Great wealth, or Jesus. Knowing the man's heart Jesus knew he would be mastered by money as long as he had it. There was only one recourse. "Go and sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven" (vs.21). What a tragic loss this man experienced!. He left sad, when he could have followed happily. Heavenly treasures were his if he would only give up the one thing that dominated his life and consequently made him poor in the eyes of God.

Only Jesus can expose what keeps any of us from wholehearted commitment. Fall on your knees and ask him what you must do and he will tell you. Are you ready to obey no matter what is asked? Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to say like Peter, "We have left everything to follow you." Do it, and you will find yourself a rich person indeed.

Few people have the spiritual resources needed to be both wealthy and godly. -Erwin W. Lutzer

A great fortune is a great slavery. - Luciu Seneca