THE KING LOVES A RICH GUY
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES
Mark 10:17-31 NASB
17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.19 You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’”20 And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.”21 Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” 22 But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.
23 And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is 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 They were even more astonished and said to Him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”
28 Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.”29 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 farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, 30 but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”
OUTLINE
- Easier Than You Think 10:17-22
- Harder Than You Think 10:23-27
- Better Than You Think 10:28-31
QUESTIONS
- Three gospels put the story of the rich young ruler next to Jesus blessing the children to contrast what entrance into Jesus’ kingdom looks like. In what ways does your life reflect the rich young ruler? How can you relate to the rich young ruler? How has your story been similar to the rich young ruler?
- What are some things that consume your thoughts? What would destroy you if you lost it? What would it look like to surrender those to Jesus? How has letting go of things changed you? Who is around you to help you see your materialism/idolatry?
- Why are wealth and riches dangerous for our hearts? How do they tempt us toward independence rather than humble dependence? What would a life of humble repentance look like? Who in your life has shown character of Godly generosity? How can you grow in that area?
- Jesus isn’t needy or greedy. Why does He ask us to give up everything to follow Him then? Why do created things that we possess begin to possess and control us? How do you know when you possess something and when that thing possesses you?