The Perils of Riches | Mark 10:23-31 | Pastor Daniel Batarseh (Gospel of Mark Series)

Mark ten twenty three. 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. Father, help us understand your word here.

Lord, arrest our attention and keep it on your voice for this next moment. And we pray that life would arise, that wherever we are dormant, wherever we are unnecessarily relaxed, that you would awaken us to know you and to serve you with the zeal and the commitment that you deserve. We look to you now and trust that you will speak in Jesus' name. Amen. As the rich young ruler with his head hung low and his heart heavy with disappointment, turned his back on Christ and made his way back to where he came from, Jesus broke the silence of that scene with yet another shocking soul searching statement.

How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. Imagine it. Here's this misguided young man who's dragging his feet into the horizon of unbelief, and the Lord Jesus turns to his disciples and makes this very bold pronouncement. And perhaps the disciples' reaction is shared by some today. They were amazed at these words.

And we will get to in a moment why they were amazed themselves, why they were so astonished by Jesus making this declaration. But let's first examine why Jesus said what he said. Why did the Lord say this at this time? For one main reason, to teach that this man's rejection of the invitation of the gospel was not a rare one, but is a common one especially among the affluent. Especially among those who are prominent, especially among those who are successful in this life.

The Lord wanted to take this moment and give a teaching lesson to say, don't just expect it from this young man. Believe that it is common and will always be common until the last moment of history. But why? Why? Why is it difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom of God?

And notice Jesus didn't say it is impossible. He said it is difficult. It is very difficult. And he doubles down on it just in case anybody misinterpreted it just because they were astonished, Jesus didn't pull anything back. He actually confirmed it even more with greater force.

And it's worth us exploring why that is the case. And if you consider the entirety of the word of God, if you look at the testimony of the scriptures from cover to cover, then you will quickly discern the dangers or the perils of riches, and why it is that those who have accumulated much will actually be more tempted to be poor forever. To make a decision, though they might have made very successful decisions in this life, to make the most important decision, the least important decision in their minds. And so I want us to consider just three factors. Three simple realities concerning the possibilities, the dangers that riches presents to the human soul.

It always has and it always will. Number one, riches can be a damning distraction. Number one, riches can be a damning distraction. And the apostle Paul builds on that truth and he expounds on that truth in a very insightful way. And before we get into what Paul says, please remember that this drive for wealth is not just something that the poor might do.

Those who have much are just as susceptible in pursuing prosperity than those who have little. This desire, this affection for material gain does not discriminate. It is found amongst all types of classes of people. And those again who might have more than the average person are sometimes even more ambitious than those who don't have much. Paul says this in first Timothy six ten.

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. It is through this craving. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. The key phrase there is that some have wandered away from the faith. The word wandered away means to cause to go astray.

It is the same word that Jesus uses in Mark thirteen twenty two when he says that false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. To lead astray is the same word used by Paul when he said that through this craving for self indulgence, people will be led astray from the faith. So this yearning for riches then, according to the scriptures has a very powerful, seductive force. Its influence can be so compelling that it can even convince people to neglect or to ignore, even to deny the most important thing that you can acquire in this life, and that is a saving relationship with the Lord Jesus. And it's not too difficult to understand why that is the case, how that even follows, how that works.

Because the acquisition and the management of resources is no small feat. The sizable sacrifice that people have to make, the overtime, the great energy that is spent, the burden that it presents on a person's body and schedule and family life is something that both the poor and the rich who desire to pursue more are all very familiar with. And such a pursuit and ambition, oftentimes, that cost is so great. The cost of making your life all about wealth and luxury, and even, dare I say, security, financially speaking, can bring about this hefty tag of denying the demands that Christ makes to be a follower of his. Why?

Because when Christ makes those demands to such a person, that that is not a glorious invitation to them. It is an interference. This is not an invitation. This is an interference to what I truly desire and long to do in this life, and that is to get rich or die trying. And there are so many examples from this in both the old and the new.

And if you want a bible study theme for the new year, here's one that you can consider. You will be shocked, I'm sure, to realize how many people in the bible alone have turned their backs on righteousness and God altogether because of this sort of affection. Just if you just look at and record on a piece of paper all the people who have turned their backs on grace, who have turned their backs on true spiritual treasures because of men and because of wealth, it is overwhelming. And sometimes the instances and the examples presented here are more subtle than you might imagine. Let me present to you one.

One that you might have not considered just to prove this first point that riches can be a damning distraction. In Luke chapter 12, Jesus shares a string of truths. In the beginning of that chapter, he talks about not fearing man, but fearing God. He talks about how the Holy Spirit will grant you wisdom as you stand before those who seek to con condemn you. He talks about the loving and incomparable care of God who knows the number of hairs on your head and will take care of you.

If he knows the the the future of the sparrow, surely he cares about your tomorrows. And all these different things that he packs in these series of truths. And all of a sudden we get a response from somebody in the crowd. Somebody reacts to what Jesus is teaching when he presents these eternal pearls, these true treasures? And what do you think the response was?

This is the first reaction that somebody makes. You would think that somebody was so moved by what the Lord said that he couldn't help himself and he just burst out with this request. And here's the request according to Luke chapter 12 in verse 13. Someone in the crowd said to him, teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me. There is absolutely no context for that request.

Jesus wasn't teaching about inheritances. Jesus wasn't teaching about anything aligned with this plea. But But you know what it tells me? Here is this person who is in the presence of the son of God. Here is this individual who is hearing a banquet of blessings that can be available to him.

And And according to this request, you know what's occupying his mind the whole time during the sermon? Money. Money, inheritance, a better future for myself, acquisition of wealth and gain and materialism. This is what is occupying this man's mind to the point where out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, and he tries to invite Jesus into his family problem or family situation so that he can be favored in this whole inheritance equation. And Jesus obviously doesn't get involved with it.

He denies this and he uses that as an opportunity to teach about the dangers of covetousness. But what does this young man prove to us? It proves to us that covetousness and material ambition can be so overpowering that it can blind you from seeing the treasure that Jesus Christ is. This man didn't see it. You have God in the flesh right before and you're thinking about the inheritance being divided?

Here's the Messiah spelling out what you can know if you just link your life with him and you're thinking about what? How you can have a better thirty, forty years ahead if you even have that? And so this yearning, this craving as Paul says can so warp somebody. Listen to this, that though they might not have any interest in Christ, if there be any appeal to Christ, it would be like this young man to what? To join yourself to Christ or to invite Christ purely as a means to know greater personal gain.

And there's a whole movement in the evangelical world that presents the gospel in that way. Here's Christ for you so that you can have a better material inheritance. Agur and Proverbs 30 understood the danger, the distracting peril that riches can bring about in someone's life. And that's why when he prayed for God to take care of him in this life, he said, Lord, don't make me poor. Lord, I even ask that you don't even make me rich.

Just give me what I need, and he gives the reason why in Proverbs 30 verse nine. Lest I be full and deny you and say, who is the Lord? Who is the Lord? What is Akers saying? That you can come to a place where you're so distracted by this thing that it caused you to say, who's God?

Who has time for God? Who has time for spirituality? Who has time for the house of worship? Who has time? There are more important matters at hand here, which brings us to our second point.

Number one is that riches can be a damning distraction. Right? People who make life about it, they don't think about sin. They don't think about eternity. They don't think about salvation.

They think about what? How can I how can I grow? How can I build my enterprise? That's what consumes them. But here's number two.

This is why it is difficult for some who are rich to enter the kingdom of God because riches riches can provide a superficial satisfaction. Riches can provide a superficial satisfaction or else why pursue it? Why make your life about it if it doesn't promise or vow some kind of prestige, power, pleasure? But there's something else that the whispers of wealth seduces the longing soul with, and that is protection. Or in other words, security.

Security. Security is a form of satisfaction. You are at rest because you know that you are secure. Now I know what some might be thinking. Why are you saying that we should not be wise with our resources?

Are you saying that we shouldn't plan in our finances? No, I'm not saying that. Nor am I saying that having money is evil or even being wealthy is evil in itself. It's what wealth can do to you. And what wealth can do to so many is promise people that you'll be safe as long as you have me and more of me.

And riches has a way of blurring people's visions of God being the ultimate savior and provider of their lives. And Paul says that and he warns that to believers by the way. What does he warn believers? In first Timothy six not 10, but verse 17, he's speaking to Christians. He's speaking to those who attend church.

So I'm speaking to those who attend church as well. In first Timothy six seventeen, as for the rich in this present age, Pause there. You can be rich in this present age and poor for eternity. You know that. Right?

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty. Don't don't be proud about where you're at in life. Charge them not to be haughty too, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God. But on God who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. I love that last part.

Because you have the prosperity gospel and then you have the poverty gospel. You didn't hear about that one, did you? Where if you're really pious and if you're really a saint and if you're really a disciple of Christ, you shouldn't enjoy anything in this present age. And he says, God does provide us, richly provides us for things to enjoy as a as a means and act of worship. But notice what he says here in the middle, tell the believers in the church, who are successful businessmen, who own many properties and lands, who are very ambitious in this life, not to give into the temptation of putting your trust in riches.

Because no matter what kind of redeeming qualities wealth has in life, there's one thing about it that is certain that it does not always remain present and its value is subject to change. All it takes is for a dip in the economy or a personal crisis to make that happen. And so Paul warns and he says, be careful coming to a place where you have hoarded so much that now you've developed this sense of self reliance. And then you become like the church of Laodicea. What happened with the church of Laodicea?

They said there in Revelation three that I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing. I have rich. I have riches. I have prospered, and I need nothing. And listen, if the church can be deceived by wealth, by personal prosperity, believers are subject to that danger, how much more the unsaved?

How much more the unsaved? Think about it. If the church you had a whole church that had that attitude. We're rich. We've prospered.

We don't need anything. What do they mean by we don't need anything? We're satisfied. We're satisfied. And so the warning there is that a Christian can remain comfortable in their lukewarmness due to the lullabying effects of wealth.

And if that is possible for a Christian, then surely a successful sinner can remain comfortable in their unbelief for the same reason. In other words, let me put it this way. If a Christian, maybe some of you young people who are very ambitious in life, if a Christian can be stalled in their advancement in spirituality, then is it so shocking to believe that there are those in this world who won't even start their spiritual journey because they are consumed by superficial satisfaction? It's not surprising. And so you have some who hear, you need a savior.

A savior? I've done what most people cannot do for themselves all by myself. Christ desires to be your shepherd. He wants to lead you. He wants to provide for you.

He wants to shelter you. He wants to nourish you day by day. Thanks for the invitation, but I think I'm okay. I have my life altogether. I'm actually more than okay and things are projected to look even better than what they were in 2023.

Only Christ can satisfy you. Only he can make you feel whole. Yeah. That might be true for those who can't get anything that they want in this life, but that's certainly not true for me who can get anything I want in this life. And so I'm not looking for a crutch, and I'm not looking to trade what I've worked so hard for for some intangible reality or lifestyle.

This is how some might think though they might not say it out loud. And if you are a person who thinks that way, listen, even if you are a believer who has been caught in the snare of pursuing riches, then hear what Proverbs eleven twenty eight says to you. Whoever trusts in his riches will fall. Not might fall, will fall. But the righteous will flourish like a green leaf.

You know what true security is in life? It's not about trusting your riches, acquiring riches, building riches. It's about having a right relationship with God. That's where true security is. That's where true satisfaction is.

But unfortunately for so many, because they are tasting the shallow satisfaction of riches, they can't scent the beauty and the fragrance of the living water that can be theirs in Christ. Riches can be a damning distraction. Riches can provide a sense of satisfaction, though it is superficial. And lastly, riches can stimulate and seal a person in sinful behavior. Go to James chapter five with me in verse one for a moment.

James chapter five verse one. Now here's the apostle James who speaks to a group of people in his letter and he targets a certain demographic. Now remember, he's not just speaking about people out there, he's speaking to those who'd be exposed to the reading of this epistle. And notice who he is speaking to in James five verse one. Come now.

Uh-oh. James doesn't pull punches. James loves to use Old Testament prophet like language, and here's one of them. Come now. Come now, you rich.

Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. That's bold. I like James. Weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Now we are not certain of the spiritual saving condition of the people that he is ready to address.

But one thing is for certain, that those he is writing to now at this time are merely attendees. They're attendees in the various churches that this letter would be distributed to. And so they're gonna hear this. Can you imagine the elder of a church coming to this section of the letter? Alright.

James now says, come now you rich, weep and howl. And so in blistering fashion, he is going to denounce this particular group and there's good reason why. Scroll down here to verse four of James chapter five. Behold the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, Are crying out against you and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self indulgence.

You fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. So here are these successful people who own lands and fields and farms, and James is aware of how they're treating certain people. And what is he saying essentially in summary?

You're frauds. You have a dishonest policy at work here. You're withheld withholding the complete wages to those who deserve the wages that they've worked for. And you know what the reason is for the selfishness? You know what the reason is for this trickery and this deception, this manipulation?

Verse five indicates what it is. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self indulgence. It was to fuel and to fund and to pamper their indulgence. And part of that glamorous way of life was a splurge on jewelry and clothing and the latest and the newest. Where do we get that from?

Well, you read verse two and three and it's clear. So how does this all tie in with what the Lord says back in Mark chapter 10? Easy. Riches has a way of encouraging unrepented patterns and sin in order to achieve and secure greater wealth. And one of the reasons people feel safe in their sin, especially when they arrive somewhere where they are successful is because you can easily fall into the trap of paying off paying off the consequences of sin and to evade it altogether.

Right? That's what corruption is all about. People in positions of power are corrupt because not only do they do evil things, but they are able to get away with it by signing a check. So imagine imagine like some in James chapter five who have achieved and secured wealth through unrepented sin patterns, and then the gospel comes to them. Repent.

Turn everything over to Christ. Turn away from sin. And here's that how that's being translated. So you're asking me to cease the operations that are making my enterprise the way it is for what? For Jesus to save me?

No, thank you. And a way to summarize what Jesus says about the dangers of riches is what he said earlier about riches in Mark chapter four verse 19, where he says, but the cares of the world, and look at this description that he puts beside riches, and the deceitfulness of riches. The deceitfulness of riches. That's scary. That's scary because the scary thing about deception is that you don't know you're being deceived.

That's the whole point of deception. And riches has a way of deceiving people. Riches has a way of deceiving people and thinking, I'm not your god. Just keep going the way you're going. I I I'm not hindering true life, I'm enhancing true life.

Just like the church of Laodicea when the Lord gives a true honest diagnosis to them about their actual state of life. You're poor, you're blind, you're naked. So riches has a way of blinding people and the scariest way that it deceives people is for them not to see their need to be saved, To see the wealth and treasure that Jesus Christ truly is. How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. Now we come back to Mark 10 and we look at the disciples' reaction.

Jesus says, children, in verse 24, 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. So he doesn't even take their shocked reaction into consideration. Again, he doubles down and then he provides a humorous analogy with it. This beast trying to go through the eye of a needle.

The possibility of that is the same for someone who has wealth to enter into the kingdom of God, which is really what? Impossible. If we're following the reason here, then it's impossible. Just like it's impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Lord, what are you saying here?

No wonder, verse 26 is written for us. And they were exceedingly astonished, like blown away, jaw dropping, breathtaking. Now we've explored just some of the possibilities to why that is the case, but is it that shocking? Is is it deserved that kind of response for those who have wealth to not see the value of Christ? Perhaps there is a fact that we have not yet considered.

Perhaps there's a contextual reason why the disciples did what they did here in verse 26. And here it is, to the Jewish mind, at this time and for many, many decades, years, centuries even, wealth was a sign of God's favor. To be prosperous was in their minds the evidence of your righteousness being rewarded by God in this way. And one of the confusing parts for this to be the case could be that they looked at the commandments of God in the old testament that promised personal blessing and even national economic boom predicated and based on the fact that you are walking in obedience to the law of God. And we see many examples of that in the old testament.

But even with that, there is nothing in the law that indicates that to walk in obedience guarantees salvation. No matter what kind of blessing comes with that obedience. Or it could be that the disciples, like many of the Jews in that day, had the theology of Job's friends. The the theology of Job's friends was retribution principle. Very simple.

You do good, God will give you good. You do bad, God will treat you bad. And we see evidence that the disciples sought like this in John chapter nine verse one and two, When they passed by a man who was born blind and they asked the rabbi, rabbi, who is it that sinned, this man or his parents, for him to be blind this way? So how do they interpret this man's condition? Well, clearly he must have done something deserving this or his parents must have done something for him to be this way.

Retribution principle. Good, good. Bad, bad. And so, it's no wonder for them to hear Jesus saying this and to be shocked because of it. Because they just witnessed this man walking away surely, but Jesus makes this whole blanket statement.

He makes this broad statement that not just this man, but for anybody who is wealthy. It's like a camel going through the eye of a needle. Now that statement collides with this belief system and here's how they're translating it. If it's impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of God and riches are a sign of God's favor, the opulence is a mark of being blessed by God, then what chance do others have in being saved? If you're saying that this class of people, it's impossible for them to be saved, then what about us?

We're all doomed. Do you see how they're thinking? But the Lord doesn't allow them to be disoriented or disillusioned for too long because he says something so comforting in verse 27. Jesus looked at them and said, with man it is impossible, but not with God. But not with God, for all things are possible with God.

Translation, it is impossible for man, rich or poor, to save themselves. It is impossible for anyone, including the rich, to attain their own salvation, to buy their salvation. It can't be. And as they're hearing this, it's something for you and I to consider as well. Because Jesus making the statement, with man it is impossible but not with God, for all things are possible with God, is found in one other place in all of the gospels.

You have this statement, yes, in the parallel account in Matthew chapter 19 and in Luke 18, but apart from the mirroring accounts of this scene, there is only one other place where Jesus Jesus' words here are found similarly. And it's just so fitting this time of the year. Similar words that Jesus makes here were on the lips of the angel Gabriel when he appeared to Mary and told her that she would conceive a son though she was a virgin and explained how that would be in Luke one thirty seven where he says, for nothing will be impossible with God. That's the only other place in all of the gospels that this declaration of God's ability is mentioned. And I think it's a glorious coupling.

I think it's a glorious connection. You're saying why? Because think about it. The impossibility of a virgin to conceive a child is no less of a challenge for one gaining their own salvation. You know what both require?

You know what both require for a virgin to conceive a son and for somebody to be saved? You know what both require? An act of God. An act of God. It requires an act of God for a barren roof room to come to life and it requires an act of God for a barren soul to come to life.

What is impossible with man is possible with God. And what was required of Mary is also required of us when she heard this news that she would indeed bear a son though she was pure and never known a man. You know what she said in response to that? Let it be to me according to your word. Let it be according to your word.

If this is possible, then I trust it, I acknowledge it, and I will submit to it. You know what's required of you? In light of Jesus' statement about being saved, it's impossible with man but not with God. You to also acknowledge that you cannot know eternal life apart from Christ cleansing you and changing your heart. Let it be done to me.

If this is available to me, then let it be done. You can't do anything for yourself, no more than Mary could do anything to produce this kind of a miracle. It has to be God. It has to be the Holy Spirit working in your heart. And she responded to that truth and faith and humility and submission, and so do you.

So do you. Let it be to me. Let it be to me according to your word. You can almost say that is what required of us in response to the gospel. If this cross can save me, if Christ wants to extend a gift to me, if he wants to wash me, then let it be.

And you'll know joy in that. So we see here that Jesus is saying a way of salvation has been made. Man can't do it himself. Man can't make a way for himself. And not only is this idea of impossibility with man linked to the way of salvation, but for the candidates of salvation.

For the candidates of salvation, there is no impossible case with Christ. There is no person, no matter what kind of sin they're steeped in, no matter what kind of strongholds they are stuck behind, no such person is beyond the reach of the saving power if they would just respond with humility and repentance. And I think Luke's version of this is so exciting. Because again, you heard that in Luke 18, Jesus teaches this very same thing. But let me remind you what happens after Luke 18.

Up to this point, what has been Jesus saying? How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. It's like a camel going through the eye of a needle. Oh, but what is impossible with man is not impossible with God. So let me read this to you.

And if you wanna turn there, you can turn there. But in Luke eighteen twenty six to 27, he echoes what we read here in Mark 10. Those who heard it said in Luke eighteen twenty six, then who can be saved? But he said, what is impossible with man is possible with God. What happens in Luke 19?

We're introduced to a man and here's his description. Luke 19 verse one and two, he entered Jericho and was passing through and behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. Here's Jesus who just finished saying how difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God. And you read a few verses.

This This is why you don't just make your devotion verse of the day on the phone because you can miss out on things like this. So you're reading, reading, reading and all of a sudden you're introduced to a rich man. Jesus just finished saying how difficult it is for the rich to be saved. And then you read down Luke nineteen nine when Jesus is in Zacchaeus' home and Jesus said to him, today salvation has come to this house. So right after saying how hard it is, it happened.

A rich man did get saved. Because all things are possible with God. And Peter heard this and he wanted to make sure that he was in the right place. He's hearing impossible, camel, needles, oh, oh, oh, oh. So in Mark ten twenty eight, Peter, as a spokesperson for the disciples, began to say to him, see, we have left everything and have followed you.

What about us, Lord? You know what he's trying to say? Lord, we did the opposite of what that guy just did. He wouldn't wanna give up anything and he turned his back, but we gave up everything that we have to follow you. So can you can you give us some more clarity on our our condition here?

And Jesus said, truly I say to you, not just you, but 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. Hey. This is for you. So listen to what is about to be said. Who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time?

Houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands. Here's the part that we kinda read fast. With persecute with persecutions. No. A hundredfold persecutions too.

With persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. So how does this make sense? How does it make sense according to Jesus' words, who doesn't lie, who doesn't even exaggerate for that matter? How is it the case that every single believer who has truly decided to follow Jesus will receive a hundredfold in their lifetime, in this era, in this age. That whatever you gave up expect a 100 fold to come your way.

Will that be property or persons? The only way to make sense of this, the answer to this, is that the abundant resources and relationships that you and I would be able to enjoy on the other side of confessing, on the other side of repentance, on the other side of pledging your allegiance to Christ is in one specific realm in this age, the church of Jesus Christ. Because upon confession, upon repentance, upon putting your trust in Christ, you enter into this new realm. You have access now to this new reality known as the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. And in that church, you have an abundant of family members and even the support of resources if necessary.

Didn't these disciples experience that? Didn't the early church experience that? Do you remember even in Acts where people sold lands and homes and gave up their own resources for the sake of other believers. You see that even in the epistles where different churches have come together for the saints in Jerusalem to be supported financially. So even acts, you see the fruition of this promise where believers who lost family, who were disowned by family, they gained a 100 mothers, a 100 fathers, a 100 brothers.

Look, you're all my brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. I hope you feel the same way about me. And the help, and the grace, and the reliance, and the assistance. Dad, doesn't that tell you what the church should be? So when I come to this place, I am to believe that I'm coming home to my siblings, my spiritual fathers, my and not only that, Jesus says homes and lands to an extent with wisdom, obviously, yes.

There's protocol here, but I'm to also know that I'm safe. I I shouldn't worry that if I'm ever in a time of need, I have help. I have that's the church. I feel bad for those who have made up their church reality, their church experience to listen to a sermon once a week. You're robbing yourself a blessing.

And so this all makes sense when you understand the doctrine of the church of Jesus Christ. The key to unlocking what Jesus mentions here is when you believe that the church is also a treasure. Unfortunately, so many people don't see it. And let me tell you that. If that is the case for you, then you're the one missing out on brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, and so many resources, not just physically but spiritually.

But Jesus doesn't even just speak of this era. He doesn't just speak of this age. He speaks of eternal life. He speaks of a life to come where there will be unbroken rest forever and ever and ever and ever. A family picnic that will not have an end to it.

Maranatha Conference but it doesn't end. And so much better than Maranatha Conference, as great as it is. But you know, there's another time period that Jesus promises blessing. Not just in this age, not just in eternal life. There's something in between that.

And Jesus highlights it in Matthew's version, in Matthew nine I want you to see it as we're ready to close in a moment. Go to Matthew 19 in verse 28. Jesus gives this answer to his disciples when Peter asked a very similar question. Matthew nineteen twenty eight. Jesus said to them, truly I say to you, in the new world when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel.

Okay. So this is where we have to do some systematic theology. Right? Is Jesus describing this promise for this age concerning the disciples? Very easy answer.

No. Why? Because the disciples are long gone. They're buried. They're in the presence of our master.

They're not sitting on 12 thrones in Israel. Something else is happening in Israel as we speak. Well, are they gonna sit on 12 thrones in the eternal age? No. Because no judgment is necessary in the eternal age.

There will be one final judgment that will usher in the eternal age. That one final judgment is what you read in Revelation 20, the great white throne judgment. That's a judgment that you as believers and I will not stand at. That's gonna be the judgment for those whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life and the degree of their punishment for eternity will be determined then. And after the great white throne judgment, then a new heavens and a new earth will be created.

So if this is not alluding to this age, and it's not speaking of the eternal age, then when will this promise be fulfilled? The millennium. What is tucked in between this age and the eternal age where Jesus Christ will return, rule, and reign from Jerusalem, and he will also from Jerusalem in Israel have 12, his 12 sitting upon thrones and Israel will be their jurisdiction. That's when it's going to be realized. So you gotta factor this into your eschatology here.

How does this work with my view of the timeline of the end end times? Well, Jesus clearly rewards them here with this guarantee, you will sit with me, those of you, the apostles in training now. I'm telling you that there is a time coming where you will have positions of power and authority and you will bring judgment mainly to the Jews. When's that gonna happen? It's gonna happen in a thousand year reign when the Lord returns physically on the earth.

Well, I'm not bringing this up to make a case for the millennium, the literal physical millennial reign of Christ. It's to show the extent of the blessings of those who have surrendered everything to follow Christ. Here's what Christ is saying when you collect all these verses. You will know blessing in this age, you will know blessing in the millennium, and you will know blessing in the eternal life to come. Amen.

Somebody's very excited about that truth. And so this is something that Christ guarantees all of us. But he finishes off in a beautiful summary in verse 31 in Mark 10. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. You've heard that before, haven't you?

You've seen that in different portions of the gospel, have you not? Well, depending where it's placed will really determine its meaning meaning. And its meaning here, you can't divorce it from what we just studied and learned. When the Lord says many who are first will be last and last for the last first, he is trying to now bring in all what he just said concerning those who are rich in this life and how they will forfeit so much in the life to come and those who have given up so much in this life and all the rewards that they will know in the life to come. Here's what he's essentially saying.

Those who have gained in this life at the expense of rejecting Christ will end up losing more than they can imagine. But those who have sacrificed in this life to follow Christ will end up gaining more than they can imagine. That's the promise that Jesus has for you. And you're already experiencing that blessing, are you not? Are you not?

If you if you need a reminder, where you're at right now is a fulfillment of what Jesus said. Look at all your brothers. Look at all your sisters. And by God's grace and in his perfect provision, he will add to this place if he sees fit. And not only in this place, not only in this place, but the church at large across the lands are the extension of this blessing.

I shared this testimony before, but I'll share it again as I close. I remember we were on a family vacation coming back from a trip, and we were sitting on a flight and across from the aisle was it was a couple and they were very friendly. We ended up finding very quickly that they were believers. And, like, believers. You know the believers is like, you're a believer.

You're a believer. Not like, are you a believer? No. You're a believer. Spirit bears witness.

And we talked and talked about the things of God and the ministries that they're involved in, their testimonies. I mean, it was a five hour fly. When we landed, we went and walked to get our baggage and finally when we got our stuff and we made our way, obviously we weren't going to the same house, so we're ready to split ways. And we looked at each other and we had such an amazing time conversing on that flight and even conversing in the airport. And here's what this gentleman said with his wife with total confidence, not in a facetious way, with total confidence as though he was saying, I'll see you next week.

This is what he said. See you in heaven, brother. I was like, that's right. I'll see you in glory too. And there you go, and walked off.

Who else in the world can say that with absolute confidence because of what their savior has done for them? Only we have a savior who has done everything necessary for us to be saved and to have those kind of treasures in this life and the life to come. So do you have it? Oh, you might have a lot. What does it compare with this though?

Oh, you have a lot of hopes and dreams. Guess what? They're gonna die with you when you die. Do you have eternal hope? Do you have treasures that don't expire?

Do you have blessings that no thief can steal and no moth can rot? Do you? Let me tell you where you can get it. Only in one thing, only in one person, only responding to one truth, and that's Jesus Christ, him crucified, raised from the dead, extending his hand, asking you to know true riches by doing what? Losing your life.

So let me put it this way, because New Year's is a very special time for me. It's where things changed for me in 2012, and so I wanna extend the invitation that I had when I was 20 years old. Not through a preacher, just through this book. This book is powerful. Why not in this new year you do something greater than making a resolution that you probably won't keep?

You're gonna get that gym membership. I hope you keep it, but it might not last past a month. You can make a resolution, the most important resolution, and that is reconciling with God. I mean, I'm not trying to sound clever in the way I'm speaking here. I'm trying to speak clearly and very directly.

Wouldn't it be something special that every new year you can look back and say it was this time going into 2024 where I got right with God and my life has never been the same? I want you to experience that. I want you in this place to know that you can bend your knee, that God in his providence has brought you to this room to hear this message so that you can get right with him. No matter how many times you've ignored him in the past, no matter how many times you put riches above your relationship with God, it can all change now. God has gotten your attention, I hope, for you to make a decision that you will never regret no matter what it costs you in this life.

It doesn't compare to the reward that is now and that will come. Give your life to Christ. Surrender to him now. Say yes to him. Why would you ignore?

Why swat his hand away? What else are you going to go to? Or just before you move on and and before you go and check your phone and before you look at your stocks again and before you think about how you're gonna get better and how you're gonna acquire more, just listen to me for a moment. It's not worth it. Don't be deceived by riches.

Don't be deceived by sin. Realize that God, the God who created you and made you, made you primarily to worship Him and to know Him. You will never be satisfied. Any satisfaction in the pursuit of personal progression and profit Doesn't even compare. It just skims your heart.

This what I'm speaking about in Christ Jesus will deal with the deepest parts of who you are. And so the way you access that is by hearing what is just said and realizing that God has forgiven you in Christ, that he sent his son to die for you, he shed his blood for you, and conquered death for you. And that you can accept that gift and say, Lord, I I put everything aside. I put it all at your feet. I say, I don't want anything more than you.

I want all that you have to offer. Would you give me yourself? Would you give me forgiveness? And through that forgiveness, access to friendship with you, and God will answer you. Please make this decision.

Please don't deny it. Please don't reject it. Father, we pray today In thanksgiving, being reminded that our true riches are in Christ. Perhaps some might be fearful for this new year, a a year that's going to be politically charged, a year that many are making forecasts about even economically. But, Lord, our security is not in our bank account.

You are our provider. You are our sustainer. You are our savior. Lord, we just ask that there be rekindled affections for you. Many of us believe the truths that we just heard, but perhaps our feelings, our affections are not aligned with what we know to be sound.

Lord, help us come alive in realizing what we have in Christ. For the person here who heard these truths and can't connect with them, because it seems intangible, it seems invisible, it seems theoretical. Lord, by your Holy Spirit, would you show them the experiential reality of Christ. We can't do it. We can't provide that power.

Only you can provide that power. And so we ask that you would brood over this place, more importantly over every heart in this place, and that we would experience a fresh touch from you. We worship you, Lord, declaring that you indeed are our treasure and you indeed are alone worthy of our worship. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.

Amen. Let's stand together, saints.