Can A Rich Man Be Saved?

This morning, we are back in Mark 10, and God’s superintending of the Scriptures is absolutely amazing to me as we ask this question, “Can a Rich Man Be Saved?” 

 

Today’s text is often entitled “The Rich Young Ruler.”  Where does that title come from because we don’t find that title in Mar’s gospel? 

This story is not only in Mark 10 but also in Matthew 19 and Luke 18, and that description comes from facts from all three.

 

We know this man is rich or wealthy or financially prosperous because Mark 10:22 says he had great possessions. 

 

We know he was young because that adjective is used in Matthew 19:20.

 

20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”

 

We know that he was a ruler of some sort because of Luke 18:18…most likely in the local synagogue. 

 

18 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

 

Therefore, can this rich young ruler or any rich man or woman be saved?  I hope the obvious answer to that question is “yes,” but I must say that it is often difficult, and I think you will agree with me as we look at this well-known story.

 

As we begin, please understand some foundational truths about this text.  First, Jesus did not teach that wealth is evil.  Second, He did not teach that poverty is better than riches.  Third, He did not teach that only the poor can be saved.

 

As I said previously, the placement of this story is so appropriate after last week’s message about children and their helpless dependence.  God in His infinite wisdom putting the Scriptures together now follows that up with this man who definitely thought his morality would impress God if not his riches too.

 

Today, I want to show you three related conversations found in Mark 10:17-31.  I now invite you to stand in honor of God’s Word.

 

 

1. Jesus’ Conversation with a Genuine Guy, Mark 10:17-22

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”  18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”  20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”  21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”  22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 

 

Notice the rich young ruler’s genuine character displayed in the following ways:

 

First, he was gracious in Mark 10:17. He ran to Jesus.  He knelt before Jesus.  He called Jesus a “good teacher.”

 

Second, the rich young ruler was a morally good man.  Look at Mark 10:18-20.  After reminding the young man of who He truly was, Jesus challenged him to take a serious look at his own life. 

 

He challenged him to compare his life to the second five of the ten commandments.  Do not commit adultery.   Do not murder.  Do not steal.  Do not bear false witness or lie.  Do not defraud, and honor your father and mother.  Not in sequential order, these were commandments five through ten with do not defraud being an application of do not covet.

 

For the most part, this young man lived a good life.  However, he wasn’t as good as he thought because this young man was trying to earn his way to heaven.  Remember what he asked back in verse 17, “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 

 

Please understand, the only way to earn heaven is to live a perfect, sinless life, never having broken one, single commandment, and no one has yet to achieve such outside of Jesus. 

 

Third, he was grieved in Mark 10:21-22.  Verse 21 tells us that Jesus heard the young man’s own evaluation of his life and loved him still.  Please understand this morning that just as Jesus loved this man, He loves you, but this rich young ruler was resting in his morality rather than trusting in Jesus.

 

Jesus then challenged him at point of weakness, his wealth.  Jesus knew that he was guilty of breaking the first four commandments by worshipping wealth and possession instead of God. 

 

Jesus said go.  Sell everything you own.  Give all the proceeds to the poor.  Come and follow Me.

 

At Jesus’ words, the young man was crushed.  Verse 22 tells us that he was grieved or sorrowful because he had great possessions.  He owned much property.  Luke tells us that he was very rich. 

 

 

1. Jesus’ Conversation with a Confused Crowd, Mark 10:23-27

23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches 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 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”  27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” 

 

When the rich, young ruler ran up to Jesus, His disciples were close by.  They saw and heard all that transpired.  As a result, they were confused or confounded or according to 10:24 astonished and according to 10:26 greatly astonished.  Why?

 

Notice what Jesus said in verses 23-25.  In verse 23, He said, it was hard for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God.  In verse 24, He said it again but a little differently.  How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.

 

Then in verse 25, Jesus illustrated this difficulty with a common, first-century Jewish proverb. “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.”  Jesus was saying that the wealthy can be saved, but it was going to be hard or difficult. 

 

This was a counter-culture statement and led to the Twelve’s confusion.  In the Jewish culture, the wealthy and rich were seen as already having the blessings of God on their lives.  If God had blessed them in this life, why would it be hard for them to go to heaven?  The disciples then asked if the wealthy can’t be saved, then who can. 

 

Jesus responded with probably the most important words in this story.  “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

 

He was saying that it is impossible for any man or woman to earn salvation.  It can’t be done.  It is impossible. 

 

Salvation cannot be achieved.  However, it most certainly can be received by surrendering your life to Jesus as Lord and Savior.

 

 

• Jesus’ Conversation with a Distraught Disciple, Mark 10:28-31

28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”  29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall 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. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

 

A part of this confused crowd, was Peter, a distraught disciple.  Notice what he said in 10:28, “We have left all and followed you.” 

 

Let me translate.  “We thought we were following you to be saved, but if the rich aren’t saved, then surely we aren’t saved, and now I have nothing.”  I gave up my business and my possessions and even left my family behind to some degree.

 

Jesus tried to reassure Peter.  He said you have left everything, and you will get back everything plus when we get to heaven.

 

This story concluded with a summary statement in 10:31, “Many who are first will be last, and the last, first.”

 

 

Conclusions

The main point of this story is that anyone can be saved: male or female, young or old, black or white, rich or poor.  However, anyone can only be saved by God and not self. 

 

Morality does not save.  Sincerity does not save, and prosperity does not save.  Anyone can only be saved when they come to Jesus with helpless dependence on Him and Him alone like a little child. 

 

If you’re here this morning, and you have been trusting in any other thing but God’s grace through Jesus to save you, to give you eternal life and forgiveness of sins in the kingdom of God, I invite you to trust only in Jesus this morning. 

 

That can happen to you by admitting your guilt as a sinner, believing that Jesus died on the cross and in your place for your sins and He is the only way to heaven, and then calling on Him to save you.

 

A secondary point is for those who are truly saved already.  You will never regret following Jesus.  I don’t think I have ever had a genuine follower of Christ say to me, “I’ve obeyed too many times,” or “I’ve attended church too much,” or “I’ve given too much money,” or “I’ve shared the gospel one too many times.”  Jesus was absolutely right when He said to Peter that following Him is the greatest and most rewarding decision that you will ever make.

 

If you’re tired and weary this morning, be encouraged because the Lord knows your toil, and your reward in heaven is certain.

 

Can a rich man be saved?  Absolutely he can if he recognizes that salvation can never be achieved and only received by trusting in