Mark 4:18-19 - And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
Mark 10:17,19,21-22 - And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”… 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.’”…And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Application:
· Prosperity tends to give a false sense of self-sufficiency, security and well-being. Do I have a false sense of self-sufficiency, security and well-being?
· The rich man was thinking in terms of earning righteousness to merit eternal life, but Jesus taught that it was a gift to be received. Do I see eternal life as a gift, or something I must earn?
· Jesus here mentions all six commandments (murder, adultery, stealing, lying, defrauding, dishonoring) that prohibit wrong actions and attitudes against one’s fellowman.
· The young man’s primary problem was his wealth, and therefore Jesus’ prescription was to rid him of it. In giving away his wealth, the young man would have removed the obstacle that kept him from trusting in Jesus. Have I removed the obstacles that keep me from trusting in Jesus?
· The tragic decision to turn away reflected a greater love for his possessions than for eternal life. Do I have a greater love for the things of this life than I do for eternal life?
All Scripture verses taken from ESV
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