THE RICH YOUNG RULER: THE FATAL REFUSAL

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1 THE RICH YOUNG RULER: THE FATAL REFUSAL Return To: Dumb and Dummer Sermon Menu Return To: Miscellaneous Sermon Menu Mark 10:17-22 It must have been quite a scene that day. Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to die when, suddenly, this young man came running toward Jesus and knelt before Him. As Jesus looked at this young man, he saw in him such promise and such potential. And we are told that as Jesus beheld him, He loved him. And, yet, the story ends in tragedy. Matthew, Mark and Luke all say that he went away sorrowful. Matthew tells us he was a young man. Luke tells us he was a ruler; in the high religious class. Mark tells us he was rich. That's why we call him The Rich Young Ruler. Mark also tells us that as Jesus beheld him, He loved him. The tragedy is that though he came to Jesus, he turned his back on Jesus and went away sad sorrowful. When some folks come to Jesus: Some leave Glad Acts 3 The man at the Gate Beautiful Some leave Mad Gen. 4 Cain Some leave Bad Luke 18 The Pharisee and Publican Some leave Sad When men turn their backs on Jesus and say No to Him, they will always leave sad.

2 Three things I want us to see: I. The Man A. His Qualities 1. His Youth - It's good to come to Jesus at any age even when you are old; but how much better to come to Jesus when you are young. - Someone put it this way: Why give the devil the flower of your life and leave only the stem for God. 17 D. L. Moody came home from a revival service and his wife asked him if any were saved. He said, Yes, there were two and a half saved. She said, You mean two adults and a child? He said, No, I mean two children and one middle-aged man. Ecc. 12:1 Most of us know the first part of this verse, but the last part means, lest we waste our lives and later look back and say, Oh, if only I had lived for God while I was young...so many regrets would never have been.' The truth is that it is dangerous not to come to Christ while you are yet young and tender and sensitive to the voice of God. 85% of those who are saved are saved before they get out of their teens. 2. His Enthusiasm

3 - He RAN to Jesus! He wanted to capitalize on his opportunity. - He was enthusiastic about the welfare of his soul. That's unusual! 2. His Courage - Nicodemus came at night. This Rich Young Ruler ran in the street, in plain sight of everyone, and fell at the feet of Jesus. - He belonged to the religious ruling class who looked with disfavor upon Jesus; receiving spiritual advice of one they scorned. 2. His Ambition He wanted to make the most of his life. He was not satisfied with his spiritual condition. (5) He was Unspotted from the World This marks him as an exceptional young man. (6) His Desire for Eternal Life He may have heard Jesus talk about eternal life and it struck a cord in his heart. B. His Quest He had much; yet, he lacked everything. His life was full; yet, he was so empty. He had financial security; yet, he was spiritually bankrupt. C. His Question What must I do to inherit eternal Life? He could do nothing to inherit eternal life, but he could get himself in position to receive the inheritance.

4 What shall I do to inherit eternal Life? He knew it existed He knew he didn't have it He knew he wanted it He came to the right Person to receive it! 18 II. The Master A. The Master's Investigation Jesus didn't answer his question at first. He said, Why do you call me good? There is none good but God. Not only did Jesus want him to know He was God, He wanted him to know that He did more than TEACH about eternal life, He GAVE it! Jesus said, You know the commandments and with an air of disappointment, as if he expected Jesus to tell him something else, he said, All these I've kept from my youth up. B. The Master's Instructions What do I still lack Matt. 19:20 Jesus didn't say, Well, you've arrived! Nor did He say, You need more decency, uprightness, integrity, courage or reverence. Go and SELL not give it away sell then give If Jesus had been talking to Nicodemus instead of the Rich Young Ruler, He

5 would have said, Get rid of your fear of the opinion of the Pharisees. If He had been talking to Herod he would have said, Put away your brother Phillip's wife. But it was riches that stood between the Rich Young Ruler and Jesus. C. The Master's Invitation Come, Follow Me. Take on a new way of life. The door was open for the young man! III. The Mistakes He went away That short sentence contains the tragedy of a soul! This young man, holding his destiny in his hands, having the power to say yes or no, turned his back on the wooing, winsome Christ and refused to follow Him. When Jesus answered his question, notice how suddenly his interest, eagerness, enthusiasm cools off. Why? He had great possessions. One moment he ran courageously to meet Jesus and knelt at His feet the next he slowly gets up from his knees and walks away, carrying with him his fine gifts and his materialistic heart. He did not doubt Jesus knew the way to eternal life; he was just not willing to pay the price. He made a sudden discovery. He had never imagined that his riches or his trust in riches stood between him and eternal life. It's one thing to be disappointed in others; it's another to be disappointed in yourself. Strange: some folks say Jesus failed, because He did not win this young man. It was not 19

6 Jesus who failed; it was this young man! He had been concerned to keep the commandments, but more concerned to keep his cash! He bent his knee, but not his will! He bowed his head, but not his heart! He wanted heavenly treasures, but he couldn't give up earthly treasures. The young man went away sorrowfully And Jesus let him go!! He didn't say, Wait! Come back! I'll compromise! I'll meet you halfway! He went away sorrowfully, but I wonder who had the greater grief the rich young man or Jesus? He went away sad, but not as sad as he would be one day! I wonder what happened to that young man. There is no record he ever came back to Jesus. This was the great moment in his life, for he was not far from the Kingdom of God. He could have entered in, but he refused. I can imagine him long years later, with his riches with his riches now greatly increased and multiplied saluted when he walks down the street. Then something triggers his memory of that day when he fell at Jesus' feet and with a sigh, thinks, If I had followed Him then, I might have had eternal life, but now I can make out the following inscription on his tombstone: Here lies the Rich Young Ruler He lived a moral life; He kept the commandments. He ran to Jesus and

7 Asked concerning Eternal Life. Jesus loved him and told him to Take up his cross and follow Him. But he went away sorrowful. This young man turned, walked away from Jesus What will you do?