Only Steward

The dialogue in Mark 10:17-31 that Jesus had with the rich young man, who sought to inherit eternal life, still poses some applicable challenged to us today.

In our pilgrimage with God, we must not let the things and possessions that He allow us to have and use weaken our relationship with Him.

Bear in mind we are only stewards of everything God has placed in our hands. Be prepared to make some adjustments in our hearts today.

We are blessed with so much and God wants us to learn that while he wants to bless us abundantly, the blessings should not come in our way with God.

If we want to look at ourselves physically, we use a mirror because we want to check how we look. As far back as 5000BC, people are already looking at themselves through a rock. Mirror makes us more self conscious - whether we need to change somewhere? Where we look haggard?

What about how we look like inside - our soul? The truth is that we can actually look into our soul - the way we handle our possessions which is direct reflection of how our soul is doing. We are talking about possession we accumulate throughout our life. Does it really matter? Is it really very important?

The bible tells us that 16 out of the 38 parables jesus taught - how we handle our finances, money and possessions.

Jesus counsels the young rich ruler

Mark 10:17-22

17 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?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.19 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.’” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

21 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.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.This young man has a lot of unrest in his soul.

Jesus said no one is good except for God alone. Jesus tells him that he has to understand He is God.

Jesus brought him to the 10'commandments that Jesus sets for the young ruler to look at himself using a mirror. The young ruler claimed that he kept all those commandments since he was a boy.

Jesus loved him with divine love cos he was so desperate to have eternity secured. After we have Jesus in our heart and sometimes we slip away but Jesus still loves us.

Jesus said he can follow him and inherit eternal life by selling all that he have and give to the poor. Often we avoid these words insisting that they are meant for the rich people.

The key words are 'then you will have treasure in heaven'. It is not the possessions but the commitment to Jesus Christ. The key point is 'what can I do to have eternal life eternal peace. We want to spend eternity with God the saints and our loved ones. Jesus point is that our poseesions can become competition to God - our stuff our mindset in the things we have.

Jesus is asking us to Chang rout perspective - the way we view our possessions and use them. Jesus is not saying we cannot have good life. Jesus is saying don't let that crowd our perspective of God and don't let that come between us and God.

This young man went away very sad cos he could not follow christ in easier term. He cannot part with his temporal riches.

With God All things are possible

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches 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 man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.” 29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall 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. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

Jesus said in v23-25, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God. In the physical sense it is impossible for camel to enter the eye of a needle. The riches in this world is only temporal. Those who hold on tightly to their wealth is difficult to enter the kingdom of God.

Instructions to the Rich

1 Timothy 6:17

17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.18 Let them do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

It is not how much money we have but how much emphasis we place on the money. Cos at the end of it all, we are not going to bring the wealth along with us.

V27-the Jews were accustomed to look at riches in relation with their relationship with God. The disciples are feeling uncertain. When Jesus called the disciples everyone left everything and followed Jesus but they were still having worldly concerns over the money that left behind them. God knows everything we did and everything we have comes from God.

V28-Jesus said 3 times that those who cannot part with their worldly riches will not be able to enter heaven. God's perspective possession reveal what is in for us.

The account was recorded so we have right perspective of how we view the riches and worldly things

Mark 6:21

21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

The worldly perspective giving up possession is a risk but divine perspective is actually an upgrade - gain eternal life.

The rich ruler went back very sad - he wants to have eternal life and possession

1 Timothy 6:7-8

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Can we find a place whether we can be content with all the things God has given us?

1 Timotht 6:9-10

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Those who wants riches funds it difficult to part with their riches. We can love our possessions so much that we can be easily sidetrack.

V30-31 the greatest trial of man is when they have to stand in between God and worldly things. Jesus is saying that if we were to give all these things up and follow him, they will be hardship that comes along. Such a man who give up all the riches to the purpose that he is able to live out the worldly course. He will be more than compensated - have eternal life and receive fulfillment - joy hope and peace.

Jesus promise that those who follow him and put Jessu in first place, the first will be last and the last become first. Jesus said we must have right owrsoective of what we have.

Essential practices in Stewardship

1. Tithing and offering

Disciplined giving. We have decided in our heart - set aside 10% which is going to be dedicated to God. That 10% mark our willingness to part with things that God doesn't want us to hold on tightly. But instead God has top place in our heart. God knows we are not trapped by the possessions we have.

Offering - other than 10% set side, we give to a certain cause. Be generous cos we are so endowed with riches.

2. Simpilify our lifestyle

Keep homes clean from clutters. It is time to get ride of something's and make way to God. We have to take a good look at our workplace as well. Major on major things and don't let small things get in our way.

Relationship - there are people whom we know who don't talk about godly things but draw us away from God

3. Managing our time wisely and responsibly

We need to steward our time properly. We have to plan our time as it will slip by so quickly. We have to decide first and foremost what are the most important thing we want to achieve. If we don't plan for it, it will not get done. Prioritize our activities.

Sermon note taken by Veron from Ps Samuel 's sermon on 30.11.2014

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