오직 예수안에서

Let’s read Mark 10:17-27

The eternal life is not something you can earn or possess

The man asked Jesus, “Good teacher what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v17) Just as he accumulated his wealth, he viewed eternal life as something he can earn by doing good.

This mindset is very natural for us. We always focus on our works and duties. Every morning we make a daily checklist of what to do. The new year's resolution is all about what to do.

Another misunderstanding was about goodness. Jesus said, “no one is good except God alone.” (v18) No one can do good because he/she is not good. No one can become good by doing good works. God is the true source and standard of goodness.

This man thought money can make his life good. That’s why he trusted in his wealth. However, nothing is good enough to give you eternal life. No one can be good enough to enter eternal life.

The more he tried to earn eternal life, the clearer sense of insufficiency for salvation was in him. That’s why he came to Jesus.

What about you? You might feel that you have faith when you come to church and read the Bible. However, you would feel insufficiency of religious works to enter heaven. We see always something to improve or to be perfect. We lack something always. What is it?

Listen to what Jesus says to this man. And this is what Jesus is saying to you.

²¹ As Jesus looked at him, he felt love for him and said, "You lack one thing. Go, sell whatever you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Faith is radical trust in God, who alone is good

One thing this man lacked was radical trust in God, who alone is good, that would allow him to abandon all this property and follow Jesus. If this man had trusted in the goodness of God, he would have welcomed Jesus’ command as God’s best for him. It is giving up all possession he has thought good.

Money was hinderance for this man to follow Jesus. Therefore, he should remove the obstacles. For someone, the obstacle would be fame, self-esteem, beauty, and many more.

After removing obstacles, follow Jesus to the hill of Calvary, which doesn’t seem to be good, but it is the best for you because it’s from God, the only source of goodness.

Repentance is turning from trust in earthly securities to trust in Jesus.

Other persons may have to give up other things in order to follow Jesus: a vocation, a style of life, a sinful passion, or a relationship.

Did the man follow Jesus’ command? No. Why?

The more you have, the more chance you would trust in your possession and the harder to trust in Jesus.

Look at v22, the reason for his failure was “he was very rich” Are you shocked at this?

Jesus clearly states at v23 and v25.

²³ Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich 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 person to enter the kingdom of God."

Do you still want to accumulate money more than you need?

By God’s grace, it is given

We tend to trust anything we have, money or knowledge. Who will totally trust in God and not in these things? “no one!”

Verse 27 gives us hope.

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and replied, "This is impossible for mere humans, but not for God; all things are possible for God."

When you repent and follow Jesus, whatever cost you need to take, the kingdom of God is given to you as a gift. Not as a reward for our following Jesus.

Entering the kingdom, and being saved are impossible for any human being, but not for God, who is good and desires the salvation of all. Therefore, all must depend entirely upon God.