David Loveland
引言
我想談一個我們有時可能自以為了解的主題。
人們會問你：「你得救了嗎？」很多時候，我們聽見這個問題時，會按照過去被教導的方式回答，卻沒有真正理解「得救」或「救恩」這個詞所包含的重要性、深度與廣度。
這篇信息與我們如何在生命中經歷上帝拯救的工作有關。
不只是因為某一天我們做了一個禱告。那只是開始。那只是打開一道門，使你開始與上帝同行、經歷生命。但如果你停留在那裡，其實你還沒真正開始。
很多人被帶到基督面前之後，我們卻看見他們漸漸消失、跌倒、離開。我們再也見不到他們。因為有時我們沒有學會如何陪伴他們，也沒有學會如何幫助他們踏出下一步——真正地信靠耶穌，以至於能說：
「我如此信任祢，因此我願意跟隨祢。」
這樣的信任，比較像婚姻中的信任。
我記得四十二年前，我與 Pamela 結婚時，在婚禮那天之前都還好，但到了婚禮當天，我卻害怕得不得了。為什麼？因為我知道我正進入另一個層次。我現在要對她負責，也要把我的生命委身給她。
當然，我會做得不完全。我會失敗很多次。但我裡面有一種預備好的心志：
「Pamela，我要與你立約，只要我們都還活著，我就要與你同行。」
所以我們就這樣一起走過來了。這並不總是容易，但卻是美好的，因為耶穌是我們關係的中心。
如果耶穌不在中心，一切就會變得混亂，也會變得非常艱難。
我也想說，看見你們每個星期天都歡迎聖靈進入你們當中，是多麼令人鼓舞。你們帶著期待來聚會，相信自己會遇見上帝，也能回應祂。
看見年輕人越來越渴慕神、越來越深地經歷祂，也非常令人振奮。作為一個老人家，我真的深受鼓舞。
財主少年官
馬可福音 10:17–31
請翻到《馬可福音》第十章。我們今天的經文是 10:17–31。
你是否曾經親眼見過有人走向你，或走向某位基督徒，問：
「我怎樣才能得救？」
如果你有這樣的經驗，請舉手。
看看周圍——其實這種情況並不常發生，但偶爾還是會有。
這正是耶穌走遍各城各鄉時所發生的事。
有一位年輕人來到祂面前。我們不知道他的確切年齡，但他年輕、有錢，很可能繼承了財富。
讓我們一起讀經文：
「耶穌出來行路的時候，有一個人跑來，跪在祂面前，問祂說：『良善的夫子，我當做什麼事，才可以承受永生？』
耶穌對他說：『你為什麼稱我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再沒有良善的。誡命你是曉得的：不可殺人；不可姦淫；不可偷盜；不可作假見證；不可虧負人；當孝敬父母。』
他對耶穌說：『夫子，這一切我從小都遵守了。』
耶穌看著他，就愛他，對他說：『你還缺少一件：去變賣你所有的，分給窮人，就必有財寶在天上；你還要來跟從我。』
他聽見這話，臉上就變了色，憂憂愁愁地走了，因為他的產業很多。
耶穌周圍一看，對門徒說：『有錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！』
門徒希奇祂的話。耶穌又對他們說：『小子，倚靠錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！駱駝穿過針的眼，比財主進神的國還容易呢。』
門徒就分外希奇，對祂說：『這樣誰能得救呢？』
耶穌看著他們，說：『在人是不能，在神卻不然，因為神凡事都能。』
彼得就對祂說：『看哪，我們已經撇下所有的跟從祢了。』
耶穌說：『我實在告訴你們，人為我和福音撇下房屋，或是弟兄、姐妹、父母、兒女、田地，沒有不在今世得百倍的，就是房屋、弟兄、姐妹、母親、兒女、田地，並且要受逼迫，在來世必得永生。但有許多在前的，將要在後；在後的，將要在前。』」
——《馬可福音》10:17–31
我們大多數人都很熟悉這段經文。
但也許，這段經文應該稍微挑戰我們對耶穌回應方式的理解。
「良善的夫子」
耶穌對永生問題的回答，其實非常令人驚訝。
祂沒有說：
「你對我是怎麼相信的？」
祂反而說：
「遵守律法。」
這很震撼。
我們大部分人不會這樣回答。
如果有人來對你說：
「我想認識耶穌，我想得救。」
你會回答：
「那就遵守律法吧」嗎？
大概不會。
讓我們想想這個年輕人是誰。
他富有，是一位熱愛妥拉（律法）的官員。他大概認為：
「我有遵守律法。基本上，我是個好人。」
我們今天也常遇見這樣的人。
我的父母就是這樣的人。大多數人都會說：
「他們是好人、有道德、誠實、正直。」
所以這年輕人大概也覺得：
「我是好的。」
但他同時也察覺耶穌與眾不同。
他稱耶穌為：
「良善的夫子。」
他承認耶穌是公義的，是遵行律法的人。
但耶穌回答：
「你為什麼稱我是良善的？除了神一位之外，再沒有良善的。」
我在想，耶穌可能是在試探一下他的內心。
這只是社交上的奉承嗎？
還是這年輕人真的認識到耶穌更深的身份？
因為最終，只有上帝是完全良善的。
希伯來文是 tov。
神在祂本質的核心裡就是良善的。
你可以完全信任神。祂誠實、公義、正直，祂總是在對的時間做對的事。
這最終只屬於神。
年輕人的尊敬
這位財主少年官對耶穌也表現出極大的尊敬。
他跪在耶穌面前。
不像某些宗教領袖，他尊榮耶穌。
但我們仍然不完全知道他心裡真正的狀態。
他是真誠尋求嗎？
還是只是因為耶穌是受人尊敬的拉比，所以做出符合社會期待的舉動？
無論如何，耶穌對他關於永生的問題如此回答：
「你知道誡命。」
接著耶穌列出：
- 不可殺人
- 不可姦淫
- 不可偷盜
- 不可作假見證
- 不可虧負人
- 當孝敬父母
耶穌的答案很簡單：
遵行神的律法。
當然，耶穌不是說人能完美守律法。
神知道我們沒有一個人能完全做到。
重點不在完美。
重點在於生命的方向。
你的生命有一個走向。
你尊重神的律法，你承認律法是美善的。
正如保羅所說，律法是把我們引向基督的。
誡命與愛人
耶穌引用的是十誡中的幾條：
- 「不可殺人」——第六誡
- 「不可姦淫」——第七誡
- 「不可偷盜」——第八誡
- 「不可作假見證」——第九誡
- 「當孝敬父母」——第五誡
然後耶穌又加上一句：
「不可虧負人。」
這似乎綜合了第八與第九誡的精神。
虧負別人，就是用不誠實的方式奪取他人的東西——無論是金錢、人際關係或社會層面。
請注意一件重要的事：
耶穌特別強調的是與他人關係有關的誡命。
前面的誡命關乎人與神垂直的關係。
但耶穌此處強調的是橫向的人際關係。
我認為這很有意義。
耶穌在強調：
愛鄰舍的重要性。
學習正直、誠實、忠信地對待彼此。
「這一切我從小都遵守了」
這年輕人回答：
「夫子，這一切我從小都遵守了。」
接著出現福音書中最美的一句話之一：
「耶穌看著他，就愛他。」
——《馬可福音》10:21
你不常在福音書中看到這樣的描述。
這年輕人大概認為自己沒有問題。
他把律法當作生命的標準。
他認為自己是一位忠誠的信徒——一位好猶太人，一位真誠想與神同行的人。
我想耶穌看見了他的真誠。
這年輕人很可能從他的成人禮（Bar Mitzvah）開始，就有意識地努力遵行律法。
大約十二、十三歲時，猶太男孩會被稱為：
「誡命之子。」
從那時起，他就進入成人身份，知道神的律法必須成為生命中心。
耶穌看見這年輕人是真正在乎神的事。
「你還缺少一件」
接著耶穌說出一段非常震撼的話：
「你還缺少一件：去變賣你所有的，分給窮人，就必有財寶在天上；你還要來跟從我。」
——《馬可福音》10:21
我不認為這年輕人預料到這個答案。
「賣掉一切，來跟從我。」
如果耶穌今天這樣對我們說，我們會如何回應？
老實說，我不知道自己能不能做得很好。
不要誤會我的意思。
我確實相信：刻意追求跟隨耶穌的生活非常重要。
不只是口頭說：
「我相信。」
或只是在某一天做過一個禱告。
而是真正改變整個生命的方向。
這正是洗禮的意義。
洗禮是一種公開宣告：
「我不再玩宗教遊戲了。我不以耶穌為恥。我準備好開始與祂的百姓一起跟隨祂。」
但很多人停在那裡。
他們禱告、受洗，然後想：
「好，我現在得救了。」
不。
那只是開始。
那只是起跑線。
接下來，我們要在群體中學習如何跟隨耶穌。
耶穌指出他心中的偶像
耶穌邀請這位年輕人放下那件攔阻他真正跟隨神的事。
對這年輕人而言，那件事就是財富。
耶穌直接指出了他心中的偶像。
那未必是你的問題。
如果你來問耶穌：
「主啊，我該怎樣得永生？」
祂可能會指出你生命中完全不同的事情。
但我可以肯定地說：
耶穌一定會觸碰我們心中的偶像。
當我們在基督裡成長時，我們會發現，自己仍然有某些東西看得太重。
而因為耶穌愛我們，祂會指出那些地方。
耶穌說：
「你必有財寶在天上。」
這是猶太人的慣用語，指向神的生命與救恩。
永生不只是死後的事。
永生從現在就開始了。
然後耶穌發出邀請：
「來跟從我。」
這個呼聲直到今天仍然在全世界發出。
耶穌仍然邀請男女老少：
放下那些次要的事物，來跟隨祂。
年輕人離開了
但很可惜，《馬可福音》10:22 說：
「他聽見這話，臉上就變了色，憂憂愁愁地走了，因為他的產業很多。」
這年輕人無法回應耶穌的邀請。
這是悲劇。
他站在神的兒子面前，雖然他可能還沒有完全明白耶穌是誰。
但他無法放下自己的偶像。
至少在那時候，他更愛財富、地位與 possessions，而不是耶穌。
今天也有很多信徒停留在這個狀態。
人們願意相信，也願意偶爾去教會，甚至參加查經。
但他們還沒有真正準備好回應耶穌的呼召：
「放下那些事，來跟從我。」
財富的危險
耶穌接著對門徒說：
「有錢財的人進神的國是何等地難哪！」
——《馬可福音》10:23
門徒非常震驚。
於是耶穌又說：
「駱駝穿過針的眼，比財主進神的國還容易呢。」
——《馬可福音》10:24–25
耶穌不是字面意思。
祂常用強烈的比喻喚醒人。
祂是在強調財富的危險。
危險不只是「有錢」。
危險在於：
信靠金錢。
財富會讓我們產生虛假的安全感。
不知不覺中，我們開始更相信資源、財產、地位與舒適，而不是神。
我們開始追求自給自足，而不是倚靠基督。
但如果你仔細聽耶穌的聲音，你會發現祂與世界的聲音完全不同。
世界說：
- 「建立你自己的王國。」
- 「成為成功的人。」
- 「變得舒適。」
- 「累積更多財富。」
但耶穌呼召我們走向完全不同的道路。
「這樣誰能得救呢？」
門徒驚訝地問：
「這樣誰能得救呢？」
——《馬可福音》10:26
從什麼裡得救？
從欺騙中得救。
從偶像崇拜中得救。
從那些謊言中得救：
- 「我有錢，所以我很安全。」
- 「我有地位，所以我有價值。」
- 「我擁有很多，所以我很重要。」
耶穌回答：
「在人是不能，在神卻不然，因為神凡事都能。」
——《馬可福音》10:27
這樣的改變需要神的恩典。
沒有一個人會自然地放下偶像。
沒有一個人會自然地離開自我中心的生活。
這需要聖靈的工作。
所以，如果你聽見這篇信息，心裡想：
「我不知道我是否準備好了。」
不要絕望。
連正確回應耶穌，也是神恩典所成就的。
最後的挑戰
耶穌提到許多人用來作為不能完全跟隨祂的理由：
- 房屋
- 家庭關係
- 產業
- 財物
- 責任
- 舒適
這些事情佔據了我們的時間、精力、注意力與愛。
財富與 possessions 未必是你的掙扎。
你的偶像可能完全不同。
但我認為，這是我們都應該問自己的問題：
「主啊，在我的心裡與生命裡，究竟是什麼攔阻我忠心地跟隨祢？」
也許對某些人來說，是財富。
對另一些人來說，是舒適。
也許是名聲、人的認同、野心、恐懼，或掌控欲。
但無論是什麼，耶穌因為愛我們，才會指出那些地方。
因為祂想給我們的，不只是宗教活動。
祂要我們真正認識祂，並且跟隨祂。
耶穌今日仍然呼召
耶穌的呼召今天仍然在發出：
「來跟從我。」
這邀請不只是相信某些事實。
而是進入與基督真實活潑的關係中，讓祂改變你整個生命的方向。
財主少年官還無法放下。
但門徒雖然不完全，卻回應了邀請並跟隨了耶穌。
因此，擺在我們面前的問題不只是：
「我相信嗎？」
還有：
「我願意跟隨嗎？」
因為救恩不只是某一瞬間的決定。
救恩是藉著耶穌基督進入神拯救的生命中，並且日復一日學習與祂同行。
謝謝。
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Experiencing God’s Saving Work （原文版）
David Loveland
Introduction
I want to talk about a topic that sometimes I think maybe we assume that we know about.
People will ask you, “Are you saved?” Many times we hear that question one way, and we
answer it the way we were taught to answer it, without really understanding the
significance, the magnitude, and the breadth of even the word “saved” or “salvation.”
This message has something to do with how we experience God’s saving work in our lives.
Not just because we said a prayer one time. That’s just a start. That just opens the gate to
where you begin to experience life with God. But if you stop there, then you really didn’t
start very much.
A lot of people are led to Christ, and then we see them disappear. They fall away. We never
see them again because sometimes we haven’t learned how to walk with them. We haven’t
learned how to help them take that next step and actually trust Jesus in the sense of, “I
trust You so much that I’m willing to follow You now.”
That kind of trust is more like the trust you need in marriage. I remember when I married
Pamela 42 years ago. I was okay until the day of the wedding, and then I was scared to
death. Why? Because I knew I was entering another whole level. I was now responsible for
her, and I was committing my life to her. Of course, I would do that imperfectly. I would fail
many times. But within me was a readiness to say, “I’m going to enter into covenant with
you, Pamela, and I’m going to walk with you as long as we’re both here.”
And so that’s what we did. It wasn’t always easy, but it was good because Jesus was at the
center of our relationship. If Jesus is not at the center, it gets kind of crazy. It gets really
rough.
I also want to say how encouraging it is to see the way you welcome the Holy Spirit of God
into your presence Sunday after Sunday. You come anticipating that you’re going to meet
God, and that you can respond to Him. It’s also very encouraging to see the young people
leaning in and experiencing more and more of God. As an old guy, I’m very encouraged by
that.
The Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:17–31
Please turn to Mark chapter 10. Our text today is Mark 10:17–31.
Have you ever witnessed someone approach you, or approach a fellow Christian, and ask,
“How can I be saved?” Raise your hand if you’ve experienced that personally.
Look around. It doesn’t happen very much. But it does happen from time to time.
That’s what we see happening with Jesus as He goes from town to town and village to
village. A young man approaches Him. We don’t know his exact age, but he’s young enough
to be wealthy, and he probably inherited wealth.
Let’s read the text together.
“And as He was setting out on His journey, a man ran up and knelt before Him and asked
Him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’
And Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You
know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not
bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’
And he said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.’
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘You lack one thing: go, sell all that
you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.’
Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
And Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, ‘How difficult it will be for those who
have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’
And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how
difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.’
And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to Him, ‘Then who can be saved?’
Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things
are possible with God.’
Peter began to say to Him, ‘See, we have left everything and followed You.’
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 lands, for My sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a
hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children
and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first
will be last, and the last first.’”
— Mark 10:17–31
Most of us are familiar with this text. But maybe this passage should challenge us a little bit
in how we understand Jesus’ response.
Jesus answers this question about eternal life in a surprising way. He doesn’t say, “What do
you believe about Me?” Instead, He says, “Keep the law.”
That’s a shocker.
Most of us wouldn’t answer that way. If somebody came up to you and said, “I want to know
Jesus. I want to be saved,” would you answer, “Well, keep the law”?
Probably not.
“Good Teacher”
Let’s think about who this young man is. He’s wealthy. He’s a Torah-loving ruler. He
probably thought to himself, “I keep the law. Basically, I’m a good person.”
We meet people like that all the time. My own parents were that kind of people. Most
people would have said, “Those are good people. They’re moral. They’re ethical. They’re
honest.”
So this young man probably thought, “Yeah, I’m good.”
But he also recognized that Jesus was different. He says, “Good Teacher.” He recognizes
that Jesus is righteous, that He follows the law.
But Jesus responds, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.”
I wonder if Jesus is testing the waters a little bit. Is this just social flattery? Or does this
young man actually recognize something deeper about who Jesus is?
Because ultimately, only God is altogether good.
The Hebrew word is tov. God is good at His very core. You can trust God completely. He is
honest, moral, and righteous. He always does the right thing at the right time.
That is true ultimately only of God.
But the Bible is also comfortable talking about goodness on a human level. Proverbs
speaks this way. Ecclesiastes 9:2 speaks of “the righteous and the wicked, the good and
the bad.” Jesus Himself says in Matthew 12:35:
“The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good.”
So the Bible does speak about goodness in a practical sense. But vertically, in relation to
God, only God is perfectly good.
The Young Man’s Respect
The rich young ruler also showed great respect for Jesus. He knelt before Him. Unlike some
of the religious leaders, he honored Jesus.
But again, we’re not completely sure what’s in his heart. Is he genuinely seeking? Or is he
simply doing what is socially expected because Jesus is a respected rabbi?
Either way, Jesus responds to his question about eternal life by saying:
“You know the commandments.”
Then Jesus lists them:
• Do not murder
• Do not commit adultery
• Do not steal
• Do not bear false witness
• Do not defraud
• Honor your father and mother
Jesus’ answer is simple: obey the law of God.
Now, of course, Jesus is not talking about obeying it perfectly. God knows none of us keeps
the law perfectly. That’s not the issue.
The issue is trajectory.
Your life has a direction. You honor the law of God. You recognize that the law is good. As
Paul says, the law points us to Christ.
This should not surprise anyone who has read both the Old and New Testaments. Again
and again we see the connection between righteousness and responding rightly to the law
of God.
In Deuteronomy 30, Moses says:
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.”
And in Ezekiel we read about following “the decrees that give life.”
That’s what this young man is after: life.
So according to Jesus, the requirements for righteousness involve honoring the law of God,
seeking to obey it, and making it the direction of your life.
The Commandments and Loving Others
Jesus summarizes the law using commandments from what we call the Ten
Commandments.
Sometimes when I preach this message, I ask people if they know the Ten
Commandments. Many of us need a refresher.
Jesus mentions:
• “Do not murder” — the sixth commandment
• “Do not commit adultery” — the seventh commandment
• “Do not steal” — the eighth commandment
• “Do not bear false witness” — the ninth commandment
• “Honor your father and mother” — the fifth commandment
You can find the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5.
Then Jesus adds one more phrase:
“Do not defraud.”
That seems to combine the ideas behind the eighth and ninth commandments. To defraud
someone means to deprive them unfairly—to take from them dishonestly, whether
economically, relationally, or socially.
Now notice something important.
Jesus focuses on the commandments that deal with our relationships with other people.
The first commandments concern our relationship vertically with God. But the
commandments Jesus emphasizes here deal horizontally with how we treat one another.
I think that’s significant.
Jesus is underscoring the importance of loving our neighbor, learning to treat one another
rightly, honestly, and faithfully.
“All These I Have Kept”
The young man replies in Mark 10:20:
“Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.”
Then comes one of the most beautiful lines in the Gospel:
“And Jesus, looking at him, loved him.”
— Mark 10:21
You don’t find that phrase many times in the Gospels.
The young man probably thought he was okay. He had made the law the standard of his life.
He considered himself a faithful believer—a good Jew, someone sincerely trying to walk
with God.
I think Jesus recognized that sincerity.
This young man had likely been consciously trying to follow the law since his Bar Mitzvah,
when a Jewish boy becomes what they call “a son of the commandment.” Around age
twelve or thirteen, he would have entered adulthood with the understanding that the law of
God was to be central in his life.
Jesus saw that this young man genuinely cared about the things of God.
How many people do you meet in everyday life who ask questions about eternal life? Who
truly care about the things of God?
That’s probably one reason Jesus looked at him and loved him.
But I also think the young man was not entirely secure in his relationship with God.
Otherwise, why approach Jesus with this question?
Something in him knew there was still something missing.
“You Lack One Thing”
Then Jesus says something radical:
“You lack one thing. Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
— Mark 10:21
I don’t think the young man expected that answer.
“Sell everything and follow Me.”
How would we respond if Jesus said that to us?
Honestly, I don’t know if I would do so well.
Now don’t misunderstand me. I do believe it’s of great importance to intentionally pursue a
life of following Jesus—not just saying, “I believe,” or praying a prayer once, but actually
changing the trajectory of your whole life.
That’s what baptism means. Baptism is a public profession saying:
“I’m done playing around. I’m unashamed to be identified with Jesus. I’m ready to begin
following Him together with His people.”
But many people stop there. They pray a prayer, get baptized, and think, “Okay, I’m saved
now.”
No—that’s the beginning.
That’s the starting line.
From there we learn, in community with one another, how to follow Jesus.
Jesus Confronts the Young Man’s Idol
Jesus invites this young man to let go of the thing that is hindering him from truly following
God.
For this young man, the issue was wealth.
Jesus put His finger directly on the idol of his heart.
That may not be your issue. If you came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, what must I do to
experience eternal life?” He might address something completely different in your life.
But I can guarantee you this: Jesus will address the idols in our hearts.
As we grow in Christ, we discover areas where we still value something too much. And
because Jesus loves us, He puts His finger on those things.
Jesus says:
“You will have treasure in heaven.”
That’s a Jewish idiom pointing toward the experience of God’s life and salvation. Eternal life
is not just about what happens after you die. It begins now.
Then Jesus adds the invitation:
“Come, follow Me.”
That voice is still going out across the world today.
Jesus is still inviting men and women, old and young, to let go of lesser things and to follow
Him.
The Young Man Walks Away
But sadly, Mark 10:22 says:
“Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
The young man could not respond to Jesus’ invitation.
That’s tragic.
He was standing before the Son of God, though he probably did not yet fully understand
who Jesus was. Even the disciples took time to understand that.
But he could not let go of his idols.
At least at this point, he valued his possessions, status, and wealth more than he valued
Jesus.
And there are many believers in that same place today.
People are willing to believe. They’re willing to attend church sometimes. They may even
join Bible studies. But they are not really ready to respond to Jesus’ call:
“Let go of those things, and follow Me.”
That’s what is happening in this passage.
The Danger of Wealth
Jesus then turns to His disciples and says:
“How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”
— Mark 10:23
The disciples are shocked.
So Jesus repeats Himself:
“Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.”
— Mark 10:24–25
Jesus is not speaking literally. He often used vivid metaphors and figures of speech to
awaken people.
He is emphasizing the danger of wealth.
The danger is not merely having money. The danger is trusting in it.
Wealth can lull us into a false sense of security. Without realizing it, we begin trusting our
resources, our possessions, our status, and our comfort more than we trust God.
We begin pursuing self-sufficiency instead of dependence on Christ.
But if you listen carefully to the words of Jesus, you will hear a voice very different from the
voice of the world.
The world says:
“Build your kingdom now.”
“Become successful.”
“Become comfortable.”
“Accumulate more.”
But Jesus calls us to something completely different.
The Wealthy Young Ruler and Us
I come from the United States. I live a very comfortable life. I’m mostly retired. I never have
to worry about food. I live in a nice place.
By world standards, I am wealthy.
And honestly, most of us are.
If you live in Taiwan or the United States, if you have food, shelter, transportation, and some
expendable income, then by the standards of much of the world, you are wealthy.
And this is why passages like this are difficult for us.
Many people are not merely people who possess things—their possessions possess them.
Their status, comfort, and way of life mean too much to them.
In the Judaism of Jesus’ day, wealth was often viewed as a sign of God’s favor. That is part of
why the disciples were so shocked. They assumed wealth meant blessing.
But Jesus warns that wealth can become spiritually dangerous.
I was recently hiking with Robbie up in Xitou, and we were talking as we walked. I told him
that one of my greatest needs right now is learning to let go of things.
I have a house. But honestly, I don’t need that house. I just need a place to stay, food, and
clothing.
If God gives me another ten years of life, I hope to spend that time learning to loosen my
grip on possessions and to follow Jesus more freely.
Because wealth can quietly pull our hearts away from dependence on God.
The Deceitfulness of Wealth
Wealth gives us the illusion that we are secure.
It feeds our desire for status, power, and recognition.
People often ask one another, “What do you do?” And underneath that question is often
another question:
“How successful are you?”
But in the kingdom of God, everything is upside down.
Jesus says:
“The first will be last, and the last first.”
— Mark 10:31
When we stand before God, He will not be impressed with our financial portfolio. If
anything, He may ask whether it became an idol in our lives.
Paul gives a similar warning in 1 Timothy 6. I meet young people all the time—especially
international students—and when I ask them about their goals, many answer:
“I want to be rich.”
“I want to live comfortably.”
“I want to travel the world.”
Now, I don’t think traveling is wrong. I want to travel too. But I want to go where Jesus wants
me to go—not travel so I can boast about it.
Jesus says:
“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.”
Again, this is a metaphor. Jesus is using strong language to wake us up.
He is warning us about the dangers of pursuing wealth, status, and self-sufficiency as a
way of life.
The world pursues those things. But followers of Jesus are called to something different.
“Who Then Can Be Saved?”
The disciples respond in astonishment:
“Then who can be saved?”
— Mark 10:26
Saved from what?
Saved from deception. Saved from idolatry. Saved from the lies that tell us:
“I’m secure because I have money.”
“I’m valuable because I have status.”
“I’m important because I possess things.”
Jesus responds:
“With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
— Mark 10:27
This kind of transformation requires the grace of God.
None of us naturally lets go of our idols. None of us naturally walks away from self
centered living. It takes the work of the Holy Spirit.
So if you hear this message and think, “I don’t know if I’m ready for that,” don’t despair.
Even responding rightly to Jesus is made possible by the grace of God.
A Personal Reflection
Last November, after my wife Pamela passed away, I was living in my neighborhood back in
the States. One of my neighbors—a good man, a successful businessman, about 66 years
old—collapsed from a heart attack in his garage.
Just like that, his life was over.
He woke up that morning not knowing it would be his last day.
I also serve as a chaplain to people who are nearing the end of life, so I spend a lot of time
around death.
And I can tell you: wealth, possessions, and status do not save anyone in the end.
I have seen how riches can become chains around people’s hearts.
Especially in comfortable societies, wealth often ruins believers spiritually because they
become dependent on comfort rather than on God.
The Word of Christ Still Speaks
So I want to ask you:
What is your response to this word of Christ?
If Jesus were to put His finger on the area of idolatry in your own heart, how would you
respond?
Because this word is living and active. Eventually, you cannot ignore it forever.
Yes, it’s understandable if we feel astonished, just as the disciples did. Following Jesus
really is difficult. It is countercultural.
But Jesus’ answer is clear:
No one can do this apart from the grace of God.
Eternal life is a gift. Salvation is a gift. Entrance into the kingdom is made possible by the
grace of God through Christ.
And according to Jesus, the response is not merely intellectual belief—it is learning to trust
Him and follow Him.
“We Have Left Everything”
Peter then says to Jesus:
“See, we have left everything and followed You.”
— Mark 10:28
And Jesus replies:
“Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or
father or children or lands, for My sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a
hundredfold now in this time… with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”
— Mark 10:29–30
Then Jesus adds:
“Many who are first will be last, and the last first.”
— Mark 10:31
That is the paradox of the kingdom.
Those the world considers successful, important, and first may end up last.
And those who seem insignificant in the eyes of the world may be first in the kingdom of
God.
The Disciples’ Example
The disciples were far from perfect.
They failed often. Sometimes they were slow to understand. They wrestled with pride and
ego and argued about who would be greatest.
But they did one thing that truly mattered:
They were willing to let go and follow Jesus.
That doesn’t mean they lived perfectly. And following Jesus does not mean you will avoid
suffering, failure, disappointment, or loss.
Those things will come.
But the disciples left behind lives centered on security, status, and self-interest. They
walked away from the ordinary story the world tells and responded instead to the invitation
of Christ.
Final Challenge
Jesus mentions the kinds of things people often use as excuses for not following Him fully:
• Houses
• Family ties
• Property
• Possessions
• Responsibilities
• Comforts
These things consume our time, energy, attention, and affection.
Now, wealth and possessions may not be your particular struggle. Your idol may be
something else entirely.
But I think this is the question we should all ask:
“Lord, what is it in my own heart and life that is keeping me from faithfully following You?”
That’s the question I want to leave with you today.
That’s the question I want to leave with you today:
“Lord, what is it in my own heart and life that is keeping me from faithfully following You?”
Maybe for some of us it is wealth.
Maybe for others it is comfort.
Maybe it is reputation, approval, ambition, fear, or control.
But whatever it is, Jesus lovingly puts His finger on those areas because He wants
something greater for us than mere religious activity. He wants us to truly know Him and
follow Him.
The call of Jesus is still going out today:
“Come, follow Me.”
And that invitation is not merely about believing certain facts. It is about entering a living
relationship with Christ that changes the direction of your whole life.
The rich young ruler could not yet let go. The disciples, imperfect as they were, responded
to the invitation and followed Jesus.
So the question before us is not simply:
“Do I believe?”
But also:
“Am I willing to follow?”
Because salvation is not merely a momentary decision. It is entering into the saving life of
God through Jesus Christ and learning, day by day, to walk with Him.
Thank you.
