Introduction

Ask any Christian what the most important thing is for them and (hopefully) they will respond “God”. This is the standard, expected response and makes the person feel warm inside, but is it always true? I would suggest that however much we want it to be true, it probably isn’t (all the time at least) for most of us. This is not to say that people aren’t genuine in their love of God or that they don’t have a relationship with Him. What I would say though, is that at certain points along the journey of a Christian life, we are given a choice: the choice to follow God’s way or of going our own way. If we chose to go God’s way, we lose the ability to go the way we would have wanted to go. Most Christians, at some point in life, have chosen their way instead of God’s.

This morning, we’re going to look at the story of the rich young man. We will point out the mistakes the man made and how we should behave differently.
Main Body

1) Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?

This question by the rich young man shows us a lot about his thoughts and assumptions. He thinks that by doing a good work it is possible to achieve eternal life. In other words, he wants to buy his way into heaven by doing some great act for God.
In what way are we the same? Today, if you ask anyone on the street how a person gets to heaven, assuming they even believe in heaven, they will probably say “By being a good person.” This answer is not biblical. The New Testament clearly teaches that it is God who saves us. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast.” And to make the point clear, Paul says in his letter to Titus, “he saved us not by works of righteousness that we have done but on the basis of his mercy” (Titus 3:5)

It is very easy to misunderstand this passage. When I was in year 8 in High School (6 years ago now!), during one Religious Education class we covered this story. The teacher was not a Christian and so either didn’t understand the story or deliberately misinterpreted it. He asked us this question “From this story how does a person get to heaven?” Most, including me, naturally answered, “By giving up all your money.” He said this was correct and moved on. It was only later when discussing this with someone that I found the teacher was wrong. This goes to show how easy it is to get the wrong idea with this story.
A well-known example of where this happens is found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. They argue that our works on earth are a major factor in our salvation. This is clearly not Biblical. But, as Christians, we understand that it is only by the Grace of God we have a chance at eternal life. There is no good work we can do to make God love us because he loves us completely already. He showed this love by sending Jesus and providing the path to eternal life for everyone who believes. So, we must trust in him rather than in any work we can do.

2) Go sell your possessions

Jesus decides to question the man further. He responds to the man’s question by telling him to follow the commandments. The man’s response to this again gives us an insight into his assumptions. He wholeheartedly affirms that he follows them all. This is clearly not the case because if he did, then he would be blameless person – the only such person is Jesus. In the book of James it says this: “… the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it” (James 2:10). Jesus himself tells the man he is not perfect! In verse 21 he says “If you wish to be perfect…” The man’s assumption is wrong – he is not as good as he thinks he is!

Again, we have to notice the similarities with modern day readers of this story. How easy it is to become secure in our own abilities – to feel that we are getting along fine and can probably do without any help. Jesus shows us that no one is perfect and we are all in need of help from God.

Jesus recognises that the man is mistaken. If the man truly followed the commandments, it would mean he loved God more than anything else. Jesus tests this by giving the man a dilemma. The man has a choice – does he sell everything he owns, give it to the poor and follow Jesus, or does he carry on as he is now, trying to find his own way to eternal life?
Essentially, the dilemma is ours as well. When we come to know Christ we have to choose between living our own way, and giving up everything to follow Christ.
However, Jesus doesn’t just leave it at that. He points out to the man that if he does the things Jesus asks, he will receive riches in heaven. Jesus gives the man the answer to his question, the way to eternal life.
The same applies to us, if we give up those things that hold us back from serving Jesus, the rewards are the same – riches in heaven.

One man who knew this all too well was the apostle Paul. Paul was a man who hated the Church and all it stood for. He despised Christians and their perversion of the Jewish religion. But, one day Jesus appeared before him and Paul was converted to Christianity. He chose to give up his hatred and follow Christ wherever he lead him. Even though it meant torture, hardship and coming close to death on many occasions, Paul never stopped following Jesus. In one of his letters, he tells us why. It says this in Philippians 3:7-8 “But these assets I have come to regard as liabilities because of Christ. More than that, I now regard all things as liabilities compared to the far greater value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all thing – indeed, I regard them as dung – that I may gain Christ.”

The rich man had a choice, and he chose to disregard the promises of Jesus and go back to his old way of doing things.

3) Then who can be saved?

Jesus gives an explanation for the events that had just taken place. He says something, which to the disciples would have been very puzzling. To understand why, we need to know an important fact about Judaism in the 1st century. People who were wealthy or had good businesses were seen as blessed by God. Jesus said, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” This was bad news for the disciples! If even a man blessed by God could not enter heaven, what chance did ordinary, poor people have?!
Jesus gives them an answer, which gives us hope today. He says, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” If we had to save ourselves, it would be easier to push a camel through the eye of a needle. When Jesus was talking, the largest animal in that part of the world was a camel. So what Jesus was really saying is that it is impossible.
But thanks be to God that this is not the case. God has provided the way to eternal life through Jesus. God has done what for us was impossible, and at great cost to himself. He became one of us and died at our hands. Once we realise this is true, then we stop placing our trust in worldly things and start trusting only God. We find that because God is the only one who can save us, He is the most important thing in our life. So, to give up the things we enjoy the most is nothing compared to what we gain by following Christ.

Jesus outlines further the benefits of a life spent following him. The disciples ask him what reward they will receive. Jesus replies by saying that when he, the Son of Man, returns to judge the world, they will judge the 12 tribes of Israel. In addition, he says that anyone who has given up families, possessions etc. for his sake will receive 100 times as much back, and will inherit eternal life.

We must also note his closing remark. He says that those who are first will be last and those who are last will be first. This means that those who value riches more than God will be last and those who put God first will be first.

Conclusion

At the beginning, I suggested that although we think God is the most important thing in our lives, we might be surprised as to His real place. If Jesus were to ask us to give up that thing in our life, to which we are so attached, would we be willing to do so? This is a difficult question to answer. Again, we would like the answer to be yes, but can we be sure?
I’m going to read you from the book of Ecclesiastes. In this passage, the writer is thinking about the futility of earthly possessions. (Read Ecc 2:4-11)
The writer of this passage realised that possessions are useless because one day they will fade away. If we place our hope on them, that too will one day fade away. Although this kind of idea is a little bit depressing, we have reason for great hope. God, who Himself is unchanging, loves us so much that He sent His Son to save us from our sin. Jesus gives us the opportunity to give up the things that are going to fade away, and receive something back that can never be taken away. He offers us a fulfilled life, being eternally with God.
I want to finish by challenging you to honestly answer this question: “How much is God worth to you?” When we realise that God is worth more than anything we can own on earth we are truly free. The gift God gives is greater than what the world can offer.

As Paul says in his letter to the Colossians.
“Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Keep thinking about things above, not things on the earth, for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.” (3:1-4)
 

Amen.

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