Childlike Faith and the Challenge of Wealth

 

Summary

In Mark 10:13-22, we encounter two distinct narratives that reveal profound truths about the kingdom of God. The first involves Jesus welcoming little children, emphasizing that the kingdom belongs to those who receive it with childlike faith. The second narrative is the encounter with the rich, young ruler, who approaches Jesus with a burning question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" This question reveals a common misconception that eternal life can be earned through human effort or adherence to the law.

Jesus responds by challenging the young man's understanding of goodness and the law. He points out that only God is truly good, highlighting the superficial understanding of goodness that many hold. The young man, confident in his adherence to the commandments, is confronted with a deeper truth: true goodness and righteousness are not about external compliance but about the heart's alignment with God. Jesus then exposes the young man's attachment to wealth, revealing that his possessions are his true god. The call to sell everything and follow Jesus is not a universal command but a specific challenge to this man's idolatry.

This encounter underscores the futility of works-based righteousness and the necessity of grace. The rich, young ruler's sorrowful departure illustrates the tragedy of valuing earthly wealth over eternal treasure. It serves as a poignant reminder that we are all spiritually bankrupt, unable to pay the debt of sin. The gospel offers the only solution: Christ's righteousness imputed to us through faith. This is the heart of the Reformation's message of justification by faith alone, a truth that must be continually proclaimed and embraced.

Key Takeaways:

- Childlike Faith and the Kingdom: Jesus emphasizes that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it with the simplicity and trust of a child. This challenges us to abandon self-reliance and embrace a posture of humility and dependence on God. [00:29]

- The Illusion of Goodness: The rich, young ruler's encounter with Jesus reveals the superficial understanding of goodness that many hold. True goodness is not about external compliance but about a heart aligned with God's character. [09:58]

- The Idolatry of Wealth: Jesus' challenge to the young man to sell his possessions exposes the idolatry of wealth. It serves as a reminder that anything we place above God becomes an obstacle to entering the kingdom. [26:12]

- The Bankruptcy of Works Righteousness: The young man's reliance on his adherence to the law highlights the futility of works-based righteousness. We are all spiritually bankrupt, unable to pay the debt of sin, and in need of Christ's righteousness. [30:28]

- The Gift of Grace: The gospel offers the only solution to our spiritual bankruptcy: Christ's righteousness imputed to us through faith. This is the heart of the Reformation's message of justification by faith alone, a truth that must be continually embraced. [32:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:29] - Jesus Welcomes the Children
- [01:12] - The Rich Young Ruler's Question
- [02:54] - The Reformation and the Gospel
- [05:22] - The Eagerness of the Young Man
- [06:53] - The Significance of "Good Teacher"
- [09:15] - Understanding True Goodness
- [11:28] - The Standard of God's Righteousness
- [13:48] - Receiving vs. Inheriting the Kingdom
- [15:50] - The Role of the Law
- [18:30] - The Young Man's Misunderstanding
- [20:28] - The Question of Eternal Life
- [23:12] - Jesus' Love for the Young Man
- [26:12] - The Challenge of Idolatry
- [30:28] - Spiritual Bankruptcy and the Gospel
- [32:51] - Justification by Faith Alone

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Mark 10:13-22

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Observation Questions:

1. What was Jesus' reaction when the disciples rebuked those bringing children to Him, and what did He say about the kingdom of God? [00:29]

2. How did the rich, young ruler address Jesus, and what question did he ask Him? [01:12]

3. What commandments did Jesus mention to the young man, and how did the young man respond to Jesus' list? [02:02]

4. What was the young man's reaction to Jesus' instruction to sell his possessions and follow Him? [02:02]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why does Jesus emphasize receiving the kingdom of God like a child, and what does this imply about the nature of faith? [00:29]

2. How does Jesus' response to the young man's question challenge common perceptions of goodness and righteousness? [09:15]

3. What does the young man's sorrowful departure reveal about his priorities and understanding of eternal life? [30:28]

4. How does the encounter with the rich, young ruler illustrate the concept of spiritual bankruptcy and the necessity of grace? [31:16]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own faith. In what ways can you cultivate a childlike faith that embraces humility and dependence on God? [00:29]

2. Consider your understanding of goodness. How can you align your heart more closely with God's character rather than relying on external compliance? [09:15]

3. Identify any "idols" in your life that might be hindering your relationship with God. What steps can you take to remove these obstacles? [26:12]

4. How does the concept of spiritual bankruptcy resonate with your own experiences? In what ways can you rely more on Christ's righteousness rather than your own efforts? [31:16]

5. The sermon highlights the necessity of grace. How can you remind yourself daily of the gift of grace and live in response to it? [32:51]

6. Reflect on a time when you valued something earthly over spiritual growth. How can you shift your focus to prioritize eternal treasures? [30:28]

7. How can the message of justification by faith alone influence your interactions with others, especially those who may not understand this concept? [32:51]

Devotional

Day 1: Embrace the Kingdom with Childlike Faith
The kingdom of God is accessible to those who approach it with the simplicity and trust of a child. This means letting go of self-reliance and embracing a posture of humility and dependence on God. In Mark 10:13-16, Jesus welcomes little children and declares that the kingdom belongs to such as these. This challenges us to examine our own faith and consider whether we are truly trusting God with the innocence and openness of a child. Are we willing to let go of our own understanding and control, and instead, lean on God's wisdom and guidance? [00:29]

"Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." (Mark 10:15, ESV)

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you relying on your own strength rather than trusting God with childlike faith? How can you begin to shift your perspective today?


Day 2: True Goodness Comes from a Heart Aligned with God
The encounter between Jesus and the rich, young ruler reveals a common misconception about goodness. Many believe that goodness is about external compliance with rules and laws. However, Jesus challenges this notion by pointing out that only God is truly good. True goodness is not about ticking boxes but about having a heart that is aligned with God's character. This means that our actions should flow from a genuine relationship with God, rather than a desire to earn His favor. [09:58]

"For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7b, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your motivations for doing good. Are they rooted in a desire to please God or to earn approval from others? How can you align your heart more closely with God's character?


Day 3: Wealth as an Obstacle to the Kingdom
Jesus' challenge to the rich, young ruler to sell his possessions and follow Him exposes the idolatry of wealth. This narrative serves as a reminder that anything we place above God becomes an obstacle to entering the kingdom. Wealth, in particular, can become a false god that we rely on for security and identity. Jesus calls us to examine our attachments and be willing to let go of anything that hinders our relationship with Him. [26:12]

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven." (Matthew 6:19-20a, ESV)

Reflection: What possessions or attachments in your life might be hindering your relationship with God? How can you begin to loosen your grip on these things and prioritize your spiritual journey?


Day 4: The Futility of Works-Based Righteousness
The rich, young ruler's reliance on his adherence to the law highlights the futility of works-based righteousness. We are all spiritually bankrupt, unable to pay the debt of sin on our own. This narrative underscores the necessity of grace and the realization that our own efforts are insufficient for salvation. It is only through Christ's righteousness, imputed to us through faith, that we can be justified before God. [30:28]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are relying on your own efforts to earn God's favor? How can you shift your focus to rely more on His grace and the righteousness of Christ?


Day 5: The Gift of Grace and Justification by Faith
The gospel offers the only solution to our spiritual bankruptcy: Christ's righteousness imputed to us through faith. This is the heart of the Reformation's message of justification by faith alone, a truth that must be continually embraced. It is a reminder that our salvation is not based on our own merit but on the finished work of Christ. This gift of grace calls us to live in gratitude and humility, recognizing that we are recipients of an unearned and undeserved favor. [32:51]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding the gift of grace and justification by faith impact your daily life? In what ways can you live out this truth with gratitude and humility today?

Quotes

"Then they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” And He took them up in His arms, laid His hands on them, and blessed them." [00:21:55]

"Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal.’ ‘Do not bear false witness.’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”" [00:69:46]

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack. Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." [00:112:43]

"Jesus knew that this man did not know to whom he was asking the question. Jesus knew that this man did not know that he was talking to God incarnate. And what Jesus is calling attention to is that this man had a superficial understanding of what goodness is, just like we do. Just like the world, we’re so easy to call each other good." [00:580:57]

"But beloved, we’re warned in Scripture not to judge ourselves by ourselves or to judge ourselves among ourselves, but to understand that ultimately goodness is defined by the character of God, whose character is made manifest in the law. And when we judge ourselves against the ultimate standard of the righteousness of God, we will understand why at first the Psalmist and then the Apostle Paul in Romans says, “There is none righteous. There is none who does good, no, not one.”" [00:688:05]

"And so the rich man is looking for that way, not to receive the kingdom, but to inherit the kingdom, to do something that will make him worthy to inherit the kingdom. He’s still looking to the law, and he doesn’t understand it." [00:881:46]

"And what the law is supposed to do is to drive us to the gospel, to expose our need, to expose our sin, and cause us to abandon all hope of earning our way into the kingdom of God. And I should have said last Sunday that if you’re involved in an illegitimate divorce or if you’re involved with pornography, these are not the unforgivable sins. That these sins are what sent Christ to the cross, and if you put your trust in Him, and are justified by faith, your sins will be forgiven." [00:956:41]

"Now you would expect Jesus to say, “Whoa, wait a minute. No you don’t.” Jesus could have looked at him and said to the young man, “Sir, you haven’t kept a single one of the Ten Commandments since you got out of your bed this morning.” Obviously this man had not heard Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus explained to the people there that if you’ve refrained from full-orbed adultery but you have lust in your heart, you have broken the law." [00:1119:69]

"When our Lord met people who were as lost as this young man, his heart was filled with compassion. I think Jesus wanted to look at this man and put his arms around him and say, “Don’t you get it? The only way you get into the kingdom is if you bring nothing in your hand. You have to receive it like a child. You can’t buy it. You can’t earn it. You can’t possibly deserve it. You have to receive it. It’s by grace and grace alone." [01:509:53]

"Let me tell you what, folks, if all I had to do to get into the kingdom of God was to get rid of all my private property, I wouldn’t wait till tomorrow to sell it. I’d give it away today, because what does it profit a man if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul. What could be more silly than to seek mammon rather than the kingdom of God?" [01:617:93]

"Beloved, here’s what the young man didn’t understand. The Bible says he was wealthy. He had a great estate. He had much riches. But the reality was he was bankrupt, utterly and completely bankrupt. And as he stood there talking to Jesus, the shadow of his credit report was hanging over him, for the Bible says that all of us are debtors who cannot pay their debts." [01:847:13]

"You see, that’s what the gospel is about. Christ pays for us. He purchases us. He pays our debt, and He gives to us His righteousness, which is the only thing that will satisfy the demands of God law. So that by faith, when you put your trust in Christ and Christ alone, and despair of your own wealth, you let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also, and cling to Jesus. Then you receive the inheritance that you need to get into the kingdom of God." [01:953:73]

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