Worldliness
We cross over to worldliness
and find unhappiness when…
We fail to prioritize
SPIRITUAL THINGS
as the MOST important
things in our lives.
A Survey on Riches
1. Does your family own a car?
2. Do you own more than 2 changes of
clothing?
3. Do you have an indoor toilet – one
that works?
4. Do you have clean, drinkable
running water in your house?
5. Do you have a real luxury – hot
running water in your house?
3
A Survey on Riches
6.
In the last year, have you had
enough money every day to
purchase all the calories you and
your family need for good health?
7.
Do you have enough rooms in
your house so that fewer than four
people have to share a bedroom?
8.
Is there less than a 1/40 chance
that any babies born to your
household will die before their first
birthday?
4
Not Only The Rich Ruler
Jesus' words are consistent:
Luke 14:26-27 - “If anyone comes to me
and does not hate his father and mother,
his wife and children, his brothers and
sisters – yes, even his own life – he
cannot be my disciple. And anyone who
does not carry his cross and follow me
cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33 – “In the same way, any of
you who does not give up everything he
has cannot be my disciple.”
5
Not Only The Rich Ruler
Matthew 13:44-46 - “The kingdom of
heaven is like treasure hidden in a
field. When a man found it, he hid it
again, and then in his joy went and
sold all he had and bought that field.
Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a
merchant looking for fine pearls.
When he found one of great value, he
went away and sold everything he had
and bought it.”
6
Not Only The Rich Ruler
Luke 9:24 – “For whoever wants to
save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for me will save it.”
Luke 17:33 – “Whoever tries to keep
his life will lose it, and whoever loses
his life will preserve it.”
7
The Rich Young Ruler
1. He was EAGER
Came running to Jesus.
2. He was HUMBLE
Knelt before Jesus.
3. He showed REVERENCE
Called Jesus “Good Teacher”.
4. He had SPIRITUALITY
Concerned about his eternal
soul.
5. He was MORALLY PURE
Kept the commandments.
8
The Rich Young Ruler
6. He had COURAGE
Peer pressure in his social circle.
7. He had SOCIAL RANK – Lk.
18:18
Among the class who crucified
Jesus.
8. He was WEALTHY
But spiritually poor.
9. He was LOST
Because he would not give up all.
9
The Rich Young Ruler
Jesus says, “One thing you
lack,”
and then issues five commands:
Go! Sell! Give! Come!
Follow!
Mk. 10:22 …he went away grieved,
for he was one who owned much
property.
10
The Rich Young Ruler
What might have been going through
the ruler’s mind as he walked away?
“That’s not fair! You don’t ask everyone
else to do that!”
“Why not 50%? Why does it have to be
all?”
“This is completely impractical! Look at
all the people who depend upon me!
And all the good I do!”
“I’m willing to do almost anything,– but
this is too hard!”
11
The Rich Young Ruler
That something is difficult or
seemingly impractical has no
bearing on whether or not God
expects us to follow His will.
Stay in difficult marriages; Confess
Christ; Love the unlovable; Forgive
the unforgivable; Suffer
consequences of others’ sins.
Jesus even tells some to
give away all their
possessions.
12
The Rich Young Ruler
What was
the one
thing he
lacked?
13
The Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:23-25
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His
disciples, “How hard it will be for those
who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of
God!”
24 And the disciples were amazed at His
words. But Jesus answered again and
said to them, “Children, how hard it is to
enter the kingdom of God!
25 “It is easier for a camel to go through the
eye of a needle than for a rich man to
enter the kingdom of God.”
14
The Rich Young Ruler
What is it about
riches that makes
it so difficult to
enter the
kingdom?
15
The Rich Young Ruler
1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in
this present age not to be
haughty, nor to trust in
uncertain riches but in the living
God, who gives us richly all
things to enjoy.
16
The Rich Young Ruler
The most significant
barrier to entering the
kingdom is the illusion of
control provided by wealth.
17
The Foolish Farmer
The fool said to
himself…
“Soul, you have ample
goods laid up for many
years; take your ease, eat,
drink, be merry.” (Luke 12)
18
The Foolish Farmer
If the illusion of
control is the key…
then all of us are rich,
and all of us are in
danger of trusting in
riches.
19
The Rich Young Ruler
Which leads to the second
barrier to entering the
kingdom of heaven:
Our Possessions Enslave
Us.
“You cannot serve
both God and money.”
20
The Rich Young Ruler
We get used to our possessions
and we start calling our desires
“needs.”
 We “need” to live in the manner to
which we have become
accustomed.
 We spend so much on ourselves
that we don’t have much to share.
 We spend more than we have.
 We worry about things that might
happen that would cause us to lose
21
The Rich Young Ruler
What impact is this
having on the Lord’s
church in America today?
22
The Rich Young Ruler
If it is so…
 that we are addicted to
comfort
 that we depend on riches
 that we find our security there
instead of in trusting God…
might Jesus say to us:
23
The Rich Young Ruler
One thing you lack:
Go
Sell
Give
Come
Follow
24
The Rich Young Ruler
What would happen
if we did that?
Would we lose security?
Would we lose out
on joy & pleasure?
25
A Hundred Times As Much
Mark 10:28-30
28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we
have left everything and followed You.”
29 Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no
one who has left house or brothers or
sisters or mother or father or children or
farms, for My sake and for the gospel's
sake,
30 but that he shall receive a hundred times
as much now in the present age, houses
and brothers and sisters and mothers and
children and farms, along with
persecutions; and in the age to come,
eternal life.
26
A Hundred Times As Much
When it is for our good and His glory,
God lavishes safety and relationships
and possessions and worldly success
on us.
When it is for our good and His glory,
God lavishes persecutions and trials
and troubles on us.
When it is for our good and His glory,
God lavishes death on us.
27
The Little Children
Mark 10:13-15
13 And they were bringing children to Him
so that He might touch them; but the
disciples rebuked them.
14 But when Jesus saw this, He was
indignant and said to them, “Permit the
children to come to Me; do not hinder
them; for the kingdom of God belongs
to such as these.
15 “Truly I say to you, whoever does not
receive the kingdom of God like a child
will not enter it at all.”
28
The Little Children
1.
Children openly admit their
complete dependence (humility)
2.
Children are filled with wonder at
God’s world around them
3.
Children are completely trusting
4.
Children are eager to be generous
29
Will You Become A Christian?
Hear The Gospel (Rom. 10:17)
Believe in Jesus as the Son of God (John
8:24)
Repent of Your Sins (Acts 17:30)
Confess Jesus as the Son of God (Acts 8:37)
Be Baptized for Forgiveness of Sins (Acts
2:38)
Live Faithfully Until You Die (Rev. 2:10)