True Goodness: Wealth, Idolatry, and God's Grace

 

Summary

In our exploration of Luke 18:18-30, we delve into the encounter between Jesus and the Rich Young Ruler. This narrative challenges us to examine the true nature of goodness and the obstacles that wealth can present in our spiritual journey. The Rich Young Ruler, despite his wealth, youth, and authority, approaches Jesus with a burning question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" His question reveals a deep-seated awareness that material wealth and earthly power cannot secure eternal security or satisfaction.

Jesus responds by challenging the young man's understanding of goodness, pointing out that only God is truly good. This interaction highlights a common human tendency to measure goodness by relative standards rather than by God's absolute holiness. Jesus then tests the young man's adherence to the commandments, which the ruler claims to have kept since his youth. However, Jesus identifies the ruler's wealth as an idol, a barrier to his full devotion to God. By asking him to sell all he has and give to the poor, Jesus exposes the ruler's attachment to his possessions, revealing that his heart is not fully surrendered to God.

The ruler's sorrowful departure underscores the difficulty of relinquishing earthly attachments for the sake of the kingdom. Jesus uses the metaphor of a camel passing through the eye of a needle to illustrate the near impossibility for the wealthy to enter God's kingdom, emphasizing that human efforts alone are insufficient. Yet, Jesus offers hope by affirming that what is impossible for humans is possible with God, pointing to the transformative power of divine grace.

This passage invites us to reflect on our own lives, questioning what we might be holding onto that prevents us from fully following Christ. It challenges us to prioritize our spiritual inheritance over worldly possessions and to trust in God's grace to accomplish what we cannot achieve on our own.

Key Takeaways:

- The Rich Young Ruler's question about inheriting eternal life reveals a profound awareness that material wealth and earthly power cannot provide true security or satisfaction. This awareness is a crucial first step in seeking a deeper relationship with God. [04:31]

- Jesus challenges the ruler's understanding of goodness, emphasizing that only God is truly good. This challenges us to evaluate our own standards of goodness and recognize our need for God's grace to meet His holy standard. [09:07]

- The ruler's attachment to his wealth is exposed as an idol, highlighting the danger of allowing possessions to take precedence over our devotion to God. This calls us to examine our own lives for anything that might hinder our full commitment to Christ. [16:10]

- Jesus' metaphor of the camel and the needle illustrates the difficulty of entering God's kingdom through human effort alone. It serves as a reminder that salvation is not earned by our deeds but is a gift of grace from God. [21:46]

- The assurance that what is impossible for humans is possible with God offers hope and encouragement. It reminds us that God's grace can overcome our limitations and lead us to eternal life, urging us to rely on His power rather than our own. [22:56]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Luke 18:18-30
- [00:22] - The Rich Young Ruler's Question
- [01:08] - Jesus' Challenge to the Ruler
- [01:24] - The Difficulty of Wealth
- [02:06] - Jesus' Authority and Instruction
- [03:01] - The Ruler's Urgency
- [04:31] - The Ruler's Dissatisfaction
- [06:57] - The Ruler's Awareness
- [08:17] - Jesus' Response to the Ruler
- [09:07] - Understanding True Goodness
- [11:40] - God's Standard of Holiness
- [16:10] - The Idol of Wealth
- [21:46] - The Camel and the Needle
- [22:56] - The Possibility with God

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 18:18-30

Observation Questions:
1. What question does the Rich Young Ruler ask Jesus, and what does this reveal about his understanding of eternal life? [04:16]
2. How does Jesus challenge the young man's understanding of goodness, and what is the significance of His response? [09:07]
3. What specific command does Jesus give to the Rich Young Ruler, and how does the young man react to it? [16:10]
4. What metaphor does Jesus use to describe the difficulty for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God, and what does it illustrate? [21:46]

Interpretation Questions:
1. Why does Jesus emphasize that only God is truly good, and how does this challenge common human perceptions of goodness? [09:07]
2. In what ways does the Rich Young Ruler's attachment to his wealth serve as an idol, and how does this hinder his relationship with God? [17:30]
3. How does Jesus' statement about the camel and the needle serve as a reminder of the limitations of human efforts in achieving salvation? [21:46]
4. What does Jesus' assurance that "what is impossible with men is possible with God" reveal about the nature of divine grace? [22:56]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your own life: Are there any possessions or attachments that might be hindering your full commitment to Christ? How can you address these obstacles? [17:49]
2. How do you measure goodness in your life? Are there areas where you rely on relative standards rather than God's absolute holiness? [11:26]
3. Consider the metaphor of the camel and the needle. In what ways do you rely on your own efforts for spiritual growth, and how can you shift to relying more on God's grace? [21:46]
4. The Rich Young Ruler was aware that his wealth could not provide true security. What steps can you take to prioritize your spiritual inheritance over worldly possessions? [06:57]
5. Jesus offers hope by affirming that what is impossible for humans is possible with God. How can you cultivate a deeper trust in God's power to overcome your limitations? [22:56]
6. Think about a time when you felt dissatisfied despite having material wealth or success. How can this awareness lead you to seek a deeper relationship with God? [05:31]
7. How can you actively seek to understand and align with God's standard of holiness in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to grow in this area? [11:40]

Devotional

Day 1: Material Wealth vs. Spiritual Security
The Rich Young Ruler's question about inheriting eternal life reveals a profound awareness that material wealth and earthly power cannot provide true security or satisfaction. This awareness is a crucial first step in seeking a deeper relationship with God. The ruler's inquiry shows that despite having everything the world values—wealth, youth, and authority—there is an inner void that these cannot fill. His question to Jesus indicates a longing for something more, something eternal that transcends the temporal nature of his possessions. This narrative invites us to consider what we truly value and whether our pursuits align with the eternal life we seek. [04:31]

"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are seeking security in material possessions rather than in your relationship with God? How can you begin to shift your focus today?


Day 2: True Goodness and God's Holiness
Jesus challenges the ruler's understanding of goodness, emphasizing that only God is truly good. This challenges us to evaluate our own standards of goodness and recognize our need for God's grace to meet His holy standard. The ruler's perception of goodness is based on human standards, which are often relative and flawed. Jesus redirects him to the absolute holiness of God, highlighting the inadequacy of human efforts to achieve true goodness. This encounter encourages us to reflect on our own perceptions of goodness and to seek God's grace to align our lives with His holy standard. [09:07]

"All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." (Romans 3:12, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been measuring your goodness by human standards? How can you invite God's grace to transform your understanding and pursuit of true goodness?


Day 3: The Idol of Wealth
The ruler's attachment to his wealth is exposed as an idol, highlighting the danger of allowing possessions to take precedence over our devotion to God. This calls us to examine our own lives for anything that might hinder our full commitment to Christ. Jesus' request for the ruler to sell all he has and give to the poor is not just about the act of giving but about revealing where his true allegiance lies. The ruler's sorrowful departure shows the grip that wealth can have on the heart, serving as a warning to us about the idols we may unknowingly harbor. [16:10]

"Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'" (Hebrews 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one possession or pursuit that may be taking precedence over your devotion to God. What steps can you take to ensure it does not become an idol in your life?


Day 4: The Impossibility of Human Effort
Jesus' metaphor of the camel and the needle illustrates the difficulty of entering God's kingdom through human effort alone. It serves as a reminder that salvation is not earned by our deeds but is a gift of grace from God. The imagery of a camel passing through the eye of a needle starkly portrays the futility of relying on human achievements for salvation. This metaphor challenges us to abandon self-reliance and to embrace the grace that God freely offers, recognizing that our efforts, no matter how noble, are insufficient without His intervention. [21:46]

"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: Reflect on an area of your life where you have been relying on your own efforts for spiritual growth or salvation. How can you begin to trust more in God's grace today?


Day 5: The Possibility with God
The assurance that what is impossible for humans is possible with God offers hope and encouragement. It reminds us that God's grace can overcome our limitations and lead us to eternal life, urging us to rely on His power rather than our own. Jesus' words provide comfort and assurance that, despite our weaknesses and failures, God's power is sufficient to accomplish what we cannot. This truth invites us to place our trust in Him, knowing that His grace is more than enough to lead us into His kingdom. [22:56]

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a limitation or weakness you are currently facing. How can you invite God's power to work through this area, trusting in His sufficiency?

Quotes


Now a certain ruler asked him saying, good teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life, and so Jesus said to him why do you call me good no one is good but God. You know the Commandments do not commit adultery, do not murder do not steal do not bear false witness honor your father and your mother. [00:23:40]

And he said all these things I have kept from my youth, so when Jesus heard these things he said to him you still lack one thing sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me. But when he heard this he became very sorrowful for he was very rich. [00:51:36]

And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful he said how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God, for it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. And those who heard it said well who then can be saved but he said the things which are impossible with men are possible with God. [00:77:49]

In one sense this young man was wise Beyond his years because he realized that no matter what he did or how hard he tried he would never be able to keep his youth, no one does, no one can. He also knew that with respect to his wishes he was subject to the fluctuations of the worldly markets and vulnerable to the thief who would come and steal from him. [00:347:24]

He knew that he did not control his future absolutely, he knew he did not have security that would last forever now we don't know how much he knew about Jesus we don't know whether he had heard Jesus preach or seen him perform Miracles but I suspect from the context of this account that he must have heard Jesus preach and probably on more than one occasion. [00:407:31]

Jesus knew very well that this man did not know very well who Jesus was, Jesus knew that the Rich Young Ruler did not know that he was asking this question of God incarnate, from the young man's perspective Jesus was merely a sagacious human being, but a good one, Jesus no no no no, call me good you don't have the first idea of what goodness is. [00:588:06]

We're still used to flattering ourselves as being good people, at least we're not as bad as the next guy, we're still back there in the temple like the Pharisees saying I thank you Lord that I'm not like that wretched tax collector over there and we disobeying the teaching of the Apostle Paul Judge ourselves by ourselves and judge ourselves among ourselves and therefore not we're not wise. [00:653:94]

God judges Us by his own standard of Holiness the Mandate he gives to his creatures is this be holy as I am Holy, he doesn't lower the bar of judgment to accommodate us he doesn't grade us on a curve he grades our goodness according to the Eternal standard of his own nature and when we are judged according to that standard we miss it by Omaha, we fall short far short of the glory of God. [00:696:18]

Jesus does not set down a rule that everybody has to embrace poverty to be a follower of his, God did not require of Abraham that he divests himself of his possessions, Joseph of Arimathea was welcome in the kingdom of God without giving away his wealth, and so why does Jesus give this commandment to this man, well if I can guess a little bit I think it's this the man it just said. [00:997:98]

The man said, I'll do anything to inherit the kingdom of God Jesus, I'll give all my money to the poor, that's not what happened, no, when the young man heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich, I used to teach a course in communication at the Seminary and talk to young men who were having aspirations of writing books or speaking publicly and I said wouldn't you write something or speak. [00:1078:38]

He ran to Jesus, joyous anticipation, he walked away from Jesus, totally disappointed, what would you do if Jesus said the same thing to you this morning, would you say yes Lord, but would you head for the door, weeping, this man kept his money, and they lost the kingdom, the stupidest transaction he ever made in his life, his value system was absurd, we should be able to give everything we have. [00:1170:90]

Jesus answered the things that are impossible with men, are possible with God, it's not just riches but it's good works and good intentions, none of yours are good enough to get through the I'm a needle, impossible to work your way into heaven, but what's impossible with us is possible with God that's one of the greatest definitions of Grace that Jesus gives us that God's grace does for us what we cannot possibly do for ourselves. [00:1349:10]

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