Mark 10:17-23 | Kathryn Alban

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”

20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

Intro:

Any of us who have ever spent time around children will have probably heard them say, “But that’s not fair”, when they don’t get what they want.

LUckily Ezra hasn’t yet gotten to that point.

I can even remember saying this as a child myself.

Growing up with 3 older brothers, there were many times that my twin sister and I had to face the fact that we couldn’t do everything they did because we weren’t old enough.

I can remember when my sister and I were around 5, my father took my brothers out to see a baseball game, while my mom, sister, and I stayed home to have girl time. However, this did not sit well with my sister. She sat sulking as she watched the boys drive off to watch a game say, “That’s not Fair”. My mom would explain that we would have our own fun and when she got older she could go with the boys, but again with crossed arms a tears my sister would reply, “THAT’s NOT FAIR, I want to go now.”

I think that we could all probably relate to that feeling. We have all experience situations or have witnessed something that just wasn’t fair.

Point 1: Mark 10

In our scripture today we heard the story of a Rich Young Ruler. This man has done everything right according to the law, according to human view, He had done nothing wrong.

In today’s world he would be the nice guy,

Goes to church,

Leads others

the guy who gives back to the community,

is successful at his career,

and because of this is very wealthy.

He would be like a young Toby Mac

He comes to Jesus and asked Jesus (READ VS. 17)

Jesus RESPONDS in by saying (READ VS 18).

Now during this time it was common for a person to call a Rabbi, “Good Teacher” and it was custom for the Rabbi to reply, “Only the Law is good”.

HOWEVER, here we see Jesus say, “NO ONE is good- except God alone”.

Meaning not even the Law is good apart from God.

Then Jesus goes on to say,

“You know the commandments, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’[a]”

And the man is said that he has kept all of these BUT even though he has kept the commandments of the law, there is still something he lacks.

Jesus Asks him to go sell ALL of his possessions.

ALL of them. Not just some.

I mean, Put yourself in this guy’s shoes.

“It’d be ok to give up some things but all of them!

I’ll give up my computer, but not my phone, I’ll give away all my clothes to the poor, let me keep the new jeans I just bought?

This young ruler must have thought , “When I’ve done good my whole life? Give up ALL of my things I’ve worked for, THAT’S NOT FAIR.”

(Now nothing is wrong with possessions as long as we own the possessions and the possessions don’t own us.)

In our scripture today the man thought that he would be able to gain eternal life because of what he had done, the laws he has kept.

In today’s world especially, we are fed lies that if you live a good life then good things will come to you.

Manifesting good things, The Law of Attraction (thinking positive thoughts brings positive experiences)

Even in our christian world:

Prosperity Gospel: If you are a good Christian, pain won’t come on you, That Just Wouldn’t be Fair.

But Guess What, The saying, “LIFE’S NOT FAIR” actually holds truth.

Even as people living for God, we will face suffering trials, and pain. However, when times of trials come, when the unfairness hits, we can either let it SHAKE our faith, like the young wealthy man, or Prove our faith.

Point 2: 1 Peter 1:6-7

1 Peter 1:6–7 ESV

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

There is a saying that I have heard that goes,

“The Faith that Fizzles before the finish, was flawed from the start.”

IN WHAT STATE IS OUR FAITH? Will it prove true in times of suffering or will it be shaken?

One of my favorite stories is that of a woman named Corrie Ten Boom. Corrie Ten Boom lived during the Holocaust. Her family and her were Christians and helped may Jews escape the Nazi’s during WWII. Corrie’s family had a secret place in one of their walls that they would allow Jews to hide in times of danger. Corrie ten Boom became a leader over a network of safe houses, just like her families and it is estimated that 800 Jewish lives were saved because of this. However, the Nazis became aware of their activity and the entire ten Boom family was thrown into prison. Corrie and her sister were sent to the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp. Here Corrie faced unimaginable hunger and suffering, saw unforgettable things, and watched her sister passaway.

And to me That is just Not Fair. A godly family thrown into prison and faced with the worst experience because they did the godly thing in protecting others.

I would question where God was at a time like that..

Yet Corrie did not allow this experience to Shake her faith, But Prove it.

In her experience Corrie discovered the true reality that Life’s not fair, but God is still good.

She once said, “With Jesus, even in our darkest moments the best remains and the very best is yet to be…”

After this tragic experience Corrie began a worldwide ministry proclaiming the goodness of God.

I would imagine that there were many times that Corrie felt anger, frustration, confusion but even through her sufferings and trials, through the unfairness she faced, God was still good and His purpose for her remained.

Point 3: Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Now after hearing the story that we just did. This verse might seem frustrating. God says he has plans not to harm us but to prosper us? Then why in the world does unfair things happen? Why do we, as Christians, face pain?

In this verse God isn’t promising that we won’t go through it.

We live in a world that is fallen, that is corrupted by sin.

New Wonka movie: Girl the is an orphaned, poor, works hard her whole life…Everyday is just filled with harshness, She meets wonka and a fresh perspective on life is shown to her. One that makes ight out of dark situations. At one point in the movie the girl looks at Wonka and says, “For a moment I forgot to be sad”

Isn’t it that way with the hope found in Christ. We live in this evil and dark world yet their is a light in Christ and a joy in what He holds ahead of us.

Thank goodness that our God is so great that he can take the worst and most evil of circumstances and still use them for his purpose.

And it is because of This God that we live with hope.

It is because of our God that a woman who faced horror in WWII can go on to save not only lives, but so many souls. It is because of our God that we know no matter what life brings us We still prosper.

It is through our God that we know there is purpose in our pain, even if we can’t see it now. AND it is because of our God that we can even embrace peace in our pain.

Point 4: Philippians 4:6-7

Philippians 4:6–7 ESV

do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

There will be times that we don’t understand why certain things happen. Yet, God knows what knowledge we can bear and what it too heavy for us to presently handle. It is God’s Peace that goes before us, God’s peace that is present with us even when we don’t understand why pain comes.

When our faith is rooted in Christ, we are able to stand, and not worry.

There is a very familiar hymn called, “It Is Well With My Soul”

The author of this song wrote these words after losing his house to a fire and his wife and children to a boat crash. It was during this time in his life that he clung to the Lord and composed the words:

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say

It is well, It is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well) With my soul (with my soul) It is well, it is well with my soul

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought My sin, not in part but the whole, Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more, Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, o my soul

It is well (it is well) With my soul (with my soul) It is well, it is well with my soul

With God we too are able to look at the unfair circumstances of life and say It is Well with our Soul. We have Peace like a river.

Even though Life’s not Fair, God is still good.

And you know what. God’s not fair either.

God looks down on us, sinners, and gives us the love we don’t deserve. God shed his blood so that we could be blameless.

Psalm 103:10-12

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Thank goodness that we have a God that loves us so much. And when life’s circumstances seem to overwhelm us. Let us cling onto this truth, That God took upon himself the death we deserved because he loved us so much. And thorugh this we are able to have a purpose in our pain, peace in our affliction, and hope for eternity spent with him.

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