Beyond Wealth: Finding True Riches in the Kingdom of God
Pastor Caleb Clark
September 22, 2024
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Main Topics Discussed
Introduction:
Lighthearted acknowledgment of forgetting the Bible, setting a relatable tone.
Encouragement for the audience to open to Luke 18:18-30.
Brief summary of the previous sermon series on Colossians.
Jesus’s ministry reconciles all things to Himself.
Introduction to the new series focusing on how Jesus challenges cultural values, beginning with our relationship with money.
Desire for Eternal Life:
The story of the rich young ruler coming to Jesus (Luke 18:18-23):
A ruler asks Jesus, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus challenges the ruler's understanding by asking why he calls Him “good” (only God is good).
The ruler's background:
Wealthy, young, with authority – someone seen as successful and righteous in his culture.
The ruler’s sincere but misguided question:
Despite his wealth, he feels something is missing and seeks a deeper, eternal life.
Jesus’s initial response:
Lists several commandments from the Old Testament (Exodus 20).
These were culturally accepted as markers of righteousness, a typical response the ruler had likely heard before.
The ruler's confident reply:
Claims to have kept all these commandments since his youth.
His adherence to these laws still leaves him unfulfilled, showing a deeper spiritual need.
The Requirement for Eternal Life:
Jesus's profound response: “One thing you still lack.”
Commands the ruler to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him.
Exposes the idol of wealth in the ruler’s heart, revealing that money has taken the place of God.
The core lesson:
Jesus points to the first commandment, "You shall have no other gods before me."
True obedience to God starts with loving Him above all else, including wealth.
The rich young ruler's reaction:
Walks away sorrowful, unable to let go of his wealth.
Key insight:
The ruler kept commandments six through eight but missed the heart of the law—full devotion to God.
The Reality of Money in the Kingdom:
Jesus’s teaching to the crowd about wealth (Luke 18:24-27):
“How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God.”
Uses the analogy of a camel passing through the eye of a needle.
Emphasizes the spiritual hindrance wealth can be, contrary to the cultural belief that wealth was a sign of God's favor.
The crowd's astonished response:
"Then who can be saved?"
In their culture, wealth signified righteousness and blessing, making Jesus's teaching revolutionary.
Jesus’s reassurance:
"What is impossible with man is possible with God."
Salvation is a work of God, not achieved by human effort or wealth.
The Promise of Following Jesus:
Peter’s declaration: “We have left our homes and followed you.”
Jesus’s assurance (Luke 18:28-30):
Those who leave everything for Him will receive much more in this life and eternal life to come.
The paradox of gain through loss in the kingdom of God.
Application:
Consider what it means to enter the kingdom of God:
For non-Christians: An invitation to serve God alone and find true life.
For Christians: A call to reflect on whether we truly follow God with all our hearts, free from idols.
Contemplate if there is anything in our lives that Jesus would say, “One thing you lack.”
Examine your relationship with money:
Reflect on how money might have a hold on your heart.
Assess how easily you can give it away as an indicator of whether money has become an idol.
The challenge: Are we willing to release our grip on wealth and trust God fully?
Rejoice in the life found in Christ:
Remember what we’ve gained by following Jesus, recalling what we’ve surrendered and how much more we’ve received in return.
Celebrate the freedom, peace, and fulfillment that come with serving God alone.
Conclusion:
Jesus's call to lay down idols and follow Him wholeheartedly.
Rejoice in the fact that whatever we give up for Christ, we gain infinitely more in Him.
Invitation to respond in worship and prayer, giving thanks for the life found in Christ.
Prayer:
Thank God for His Word, for the invitation to follow Him, and for the eternal life and fulfillment found in Christ.
Ask God to help us understand and live out the teachings of Jesus regarding wealth and idolatry.
Biblical References
Luke 18:18-30:
"Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother."
"One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
"How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For 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."
"What is impossible with man is possible with God."
"Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
Colossians 1:20: "To reconcile to himself all things."
Exodus 20: Commandments: "Honor your father and your mother," "You shall not murder," "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness."
Luke 16:13: "You cannot serve God and money."
Reflection Questions
What does the rich young ruler’s question to Jesus reveal about his understanding of eternal life, and how does this compare to your own perspective on what it means to follow Christ?
In what ways might you be holding onto values or possessions that hinder you from fully embracing God's kingdom? How can you begin to let go of these attachments?
Jesus asked the rich young ruler to reconsider his relationship with wealth. How might Jesus be challenging your relationship with money or other "idols" in your life today?
The crowd questioned, "Who then can be saved?" after Jesus’ teaching about wealth. How does this moment challenge or encourage your faith in God's ability to transform hearts, including your own?
Jesus promised that whatever is sacrificed for the kingdom would be returned "many times more." How have you experienced this promise in your life, and what areas might you still be hesitant to surrender to God?
Daily Activities
Generosity Challenge
Activity: Set aside a specific amount of money this week to give away to someone in need, a charity, or your church. Make it an amount that stretches you and challenges your comfort zone.
Application: Reflect on how this act of generosity impacts your view of money and your trust in God’s provision.
Identify Your Idols
Activity: Take 30 minutes to write down the things in your life that you rely on for security, happiness, or identity. Ask yourself if any of these things, including money, have taken priority over your relationship with God.
Application: Pray over this list and ask God to help you release these idols and place Him at the center of your life.
Gratitude Journal
Activity: Each day for a week, write down three things you are grateful for that do not involve money or material possessions.
Application: This practice will help shift your focus from what you own to what truly matters and will deepen your appreciation for God’s blessings in your life.
Bible Study on Stewardship
Activity: Spend time studying scriptures that speak about money and stewardship, such as Matthew 6:19-21, 1 Timothy 6:6-10, and 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.
Application: Reflect on how these passages challenge or affirm your current understanding and relationship with money. Share your insights with a friend or small group.
Serve Others with Your Time
Activity: Find a way to serve others this week without expecting anything in return. This could be volunteering at a local shelter, helping a neighbor, or offering your skills and talents to someone in need.
Application: Reflect on how serving others impacts your heart and helps you see the value of giving beyond financial contributions.
