Rich Man, Poor Man Mark 10:17-27

ARE THERE DAYS IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU FEEL REALLY RICH?

WE LIVE IN A WORLD FILLED WITH “STUFF.” Jesus talks here more about “stuff” than he does money.

STUFF CAN KEEP YOU OUT OF HEAVEN!

MARK 10:17-27

WHAT DO GENEROUS PEOPLE HAVE TO LEARN FROM THIS TEXT?

 Understand that we are the rich about whom Jesus speaks.  globalrichlist.com.  I am in the top 1%--99% of the world’s population is poorer than I am.  85% of the world’s population lives on about $2,100 a year.

 Thank God for the material blessings in your life.  The material things we have in this life come from the hand of God.  “He left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17).  “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights” (Js 1:17).

 It’s only right that we thank God for the bountiful blessings in our lives.  “Every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving” (1 Tim 4:4).  Make a list of your blessings & spend serious time in a prayer of thanksgiving.

 Use what you have for the glory of God.  1 Tim 6:  How can you use what you have for the glory of God?

 We must constantly be careful that we don’t use what we have in worldly pursuits.  “Do not be deceived: ‘Evil company corrupts good habits’ ” (1 Cor 15:33, NKJV).  We can love “stuff” so much that we have little time for God.

STUFF CAN KEEP YOU OUT OF HEAVEN!

 The title of this lesson is “Rich Man, Poor Man.”  The man who came to Jesus was rich: “He had great possessions” (v 22).  The man who came to Jesus was poor: He loved his stuff too much to follow Jesus.

DO YOU LOVE YOUR STUFF TOO MUCH TO FOLLOW JESUS?