The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
Introduction
In the chapter we have seen the Servant and the subject of divorce (vv.1-12); and Jesus and some
little children (vv.10-16) and Jesus and the rich young ruler (vv.17-22). The story continues.
The rich young ruler presented a longing question--about eternal life--and Jesus pointed a certain
lack (vv.18-21); to abandon his possessions. The seeking ruler became a sorrowing ruler (v.22).
We are told the man went away sad--and adds the comment for he was very rich. Jesus will use
the event as a teaching moment. The Servant begins with an allegory about a camel and the eye
of a needle and the chances of a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God. The allegory prompts
astonishment on the part of the stunned disciples (v.26). But Jesus answers their amazement
with assurance--that in regard to redemption--with God all things are possible!
The chapter has a series of paradoxes; two are one (vv.1-12); grownups must become like
children (vv.13-16); the first are last (vv.17-31). I was tempted to entitle this message; “When
too much is never enough”. How is it possible that wealth winds up robbing someone of God’s
greatest blessing? How is it possible that the rich are actually poor? Clearly money and wealth
can be an excellent servant but a horrible master!
The Temptation To Trust Wealth (vv.23-24)
Mark 10:23–27 (NKJV) 23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is
for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
The word translated “riches” is chremata; it can mean money or everything money can buy. The
reference is to those things that seem to have value or worth.
Most people reading or hearing this text might say; “Thank God--that’s not me--I’m not rich.”
What if I told you that in context it would appear that here “have riches” means anyone who has
anything beyond what is necessary to meet the immediate needs of their family. Here the rich
person is anyone who has anything beyond what he needs.
24And 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!
The disciples were astonished for the same reason you and I are astonished. We often associate
great wealth with great blessing; even great favor from God.
Two kinds of people in the world. The wealthy and those who wished they were wealthy.
The Church Father Augustine wrote; “We all bow down before wealth. Wealth is that which the
multitude of men pay an instinctive homage. They measure happiness by wealth; and by wealth
they measure respectability. It is a homage resulting from a profound faith that with wealth he
may do all things.”
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The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
In High School we all read Edwin Arlington Robinson;
Whenever Richard Cory went down town,
We people on the pavement looked at him: He was a gentleman from sole to crown,
Clean favored, and imperially slim.
And he was always quietly arrayed,
And he was always human when he talked;
But still he fluttered pulses when he said,
“Good-morning,” and he glittered when he walked.
And he was rich—yes, richer than a king—
And admirably schooled in every grace; In fine we thought that he was everything
To make us wish that we were in his place.So on we worked, and waited for the light,
And went without the meat, and cursed the bread;
And Richard Cory, one calm summer night, Went home and put a bullet through his head
The mere possession of wealth brings with it the temptation to love wealth and trust wealth.
Did the rich young ruler love wealth more than he loved God? When Jesus suggested he sell all
his possessions, give to the poor, and come and follow Jesus--the young man made a hasty
retreat back into the swollen crowd.
Think for a moment. The man ran to Jesus--but lacked that which should have caused him to
remain with Jesus. The rich young ruler knelt before Jesus but lacked that which would have
enabled him to worship Jesus in Spirit and in Truth. He called Jesus good Master but lacked
whatever it took to render to Him obedience. He came to Jesus with the most important question
a person could ever ask Jesus but was unwilling to accept the answer Jesus gives--to his
question. He desired to obtain eternal life but lacked the spirit of consecration essential
for its possession. The young man possessed a kind of admiration for Jesus but lacked
confidence which would have resulted in discipleship. He had a certain understanding of
spiritual values but lacked wisdom which would have secured for him heavenly treasures.
He came, he knelt, inquired, listened, but lacked that determination by which he would
have taken up the cross--and eventually a crown.
Wealth sometimes pulls us in a different direction.
Much of the world is focused on wealth; how do we get it; how do we keep it.
Some of you have heard of a group of people who speak of “The Secret” or “The Law of
Attraction”.
Even the Body of Christ has fallen prey to the so called “Prosperity Doctrine”.
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The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
In Jeremiah 9:23 we read; “Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let
not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches; (24) But let him
who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.”
The Bible describes riches as unreliable; uncertain, unsatisfying, unproductive, unprofitable.
Proverbs 11:28; “He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like
foliage.” Riches are uncertain “Riches certainly make themselves wings and fly
away” (Proverbs 23:5). Ecclesiastes 4:8; “Neither is his eye satisfied with riches.”
Gold is not bread and cannot feed the heart. In Matthew 13:22 Jesus warns “Deceitfulness of
riches choke the Word.” Riches promise much, but cannot produce spiritual growth, or the
character of Christ.
Twice Jesus uses the phrase; “how hard” (vv.23-24). We are left with the impression that riches
can block our way to higher things.
What are the dangers of wealth?
1. Focus. Those with great wealth often have to protect and grow that wealth. Sometimes that
leaves little time to think about heaven. Dr. Samuel Johnson was given a tour of a famous
castle and its elegant grounds. He turned to his friends and said; “These are the things that
make it difficult to die!” That danger causes both head and heart to remain on the earth.
2. When everything is thought of in terms of dollars and cents--how much will this cost me?-how much will I gain--how much will I lose--we value things in terms of price--and
sometimes we extend that wrong thinking to include our family and friends and brothers and
sisters. We are conditioned by the PRICE IS RIGHT--knowing the price of everything--and
the value of nothing! If a person’s focus is on riches the main interest will be in price and not
value. How far will my money take me? We easily forget the value of our marriage, our
children, our neighbors, our church, our country. There are things riches cannot buy. The
Yiddish have a saying; “If the rich could hire other people to die for them, the poor could
make a wonderful living!” A second grade teacher pulled a five dollar bill out of her purse and
said; “I will give this five dollar bill to who ever can answer this question; “Who is the
greatest person ever?” One child said, “George Washington” another “Abraham Lincoln”.
Another “Steve Jobs”. The teacher said, “All of these men were great men; but not the
greatest. A little Jewish boy, said sheepishly, “Jesus Christ.” The teacher said “Excellent and
correct. But how is it that you a Jewish boy--would say--Jesus? The little boy looked at the
teacher and looked at the money and said, “In my heart I was thinking Moses--but business is
business.”
We like to think of ourselves as being generous. But are we generous with some of our money or
most of our money?
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The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
Paul tells Timothy (1 Timothy 6:17) “Do not trust in uncertain riches”.
Wealth leads us to trust ourselves; our abilities, our energies, our efforts.
Wealth gives us the illusion that we are truly independent and self-sufficient. “And what’s
wrong with that? Independence, self-sufficiency, who wants to be dependent on others?
Yet we are all dependent on God.
Wealth will sometimes pull us away from Jesus and God and eternal matters. Wealth attaches us
to this world; it allows us to live comfortably in this world; taste the pleasures of this world;
stimulate our flesh and build our self-image.
The Bible teaches that we are to place our full faith, our full confidence, our full trust in the
Lord. If we fail to trust the Lord we will always fall short. No wonder James writes “Your
riches are corrupted” (James 5:2). Something physically corrupt cannot produce something
spiritually beneficial. The rich are not the only ones who hoard. Paul told Timothy; “But they
that will be rich (those who desire, lust, make their express goal--to be rich) fall into temptation
and snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and
perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil; which while some coveted after,
they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows” (1Timothy
6:9-10).
The Spiritual Difficulty Associated With Wealth (v.25)
25It 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 uses both allegory and hyperbole.
I have heard the “eye of a needle” explained as the small door in a city gate. The gate served a
twofold purpose; at sunset or on the Sabbath the large gates were closed to keep out the camel
caravans and large animals. Ordinary people could leave the city by using the small gate or the
eye-of the needle. The entry was only three or four feet high.
In order to enter the gate the animal had to be small; the load light; and the camel could make its
way by crouching and slowly making forward progress.
Those who embrace this idea conclude it is possible for the rich man to enter--but they must
make themselves small; remove what is ever hindering progress; and kneel and make slow
progress. There are two Greek words that are very similar; kameelos--camel and kamilos--an
unusual word which means a ship’s cable--or a rope. Is Jesus making reference to threading a
needle?
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The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
What is the point Jesus is making? Is Jesus describing something difficult but doable or
something impossible?
The Pedestal Of Pride That Wealth Brings (v.26)
26And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
We have already pointed out that we place the very wealthy on large cultural pedestal’s. Bill
Gates, Warren Buffet; but have you ever heard of Carlos Slim Helu (Mexico) or Ingvar Kamprad
(Sweden) or Lakshmi Mittal (India). Forbes lists these as the four wealthiest people in the world.
Note the expression “greatly astonished”. The Jews considered wealth and prosperity as a
special blessing from God. In every generation those who are blessed with extraordinary talent,
looks, resources, have been deemed “blessed by God”.
Twice we read the disciples are astonished--(24;26). Why? Because they failed to see that riches
are two things; an acid test from God and a responsibility to man to prove just how responsible
we will be before God. Someone once said that for every hundred men who can stand adversity
only one can weather the storm of prosperity! Prosperity can so easily make a man arrogant,
proud, self-satisfied, worldly.
George Truett was the long-time Pastor of First Baptist Church in Dallas Texas. He relates the
story of having dinner with a wealthy man. The host led the Pastor to a place where they could
look in all directions. “Twenty-Five years ago I had nothing. Now as far as you can see its all
mine. In one direction where oil rigs. In another direction--sprawling fields of grain. Turning
east--huge heard of cattle. Pointing west--a lush forest. He paused expecting the Pastor to
compliment him on his enormous success. The Pastor looked up and said, “How much do you
have in that direction?”
Money is a huge responsibility. A man will be judged by two unmistakable standards; how he
got the money and what he did with the money.
The disciples were taught and were lead to believe (by the culture and society) that prosperity,
wealth, comfort, is God’s blessing. That a person receives and has because God is blessing him
or her; that prosperity is the reward of righteousness and obedience; that God blesses a person
with the things of this earth if they are righteous and obedient.
Now Jesus bursts their bubble! Jesus breaks the news that a prosperous person will most
likely never enter heaven! Prosperities-- temptations and tests are so rigorous most people
will fail! Wealth becomes an indicator--not of generosity--but of selfishness! Because God
doesn’t look at how much you give--but how much you keep for yourself! Jesus exposes the
world’s most cherished belief; physical comfort and financial prosperity are signs of God’s
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The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
blessing! Wait--wait--you mean if a person is good and righteous they may not be
financially rewarded? Yes. You mean if a person is evil and selfish it is possible to
accumulate great financial resources? Yes. Does God reward people who are righteous
with financial prosperity? Not always.
God’s concern is with spiritual blessing. Wealth is seldom a good thing. Jesus teaches in this
passage that wealth is fraught with dangers that make it extremely difficult for the rich to enter
heaven. Yet the whole world; believer and unbeliever; preoccupy themselves with making it and
spending it.
Do people exist--who God allows extraordinary resources and blessings for the express purpose
of blessing others and ministering to others? Thank God the answer is yes. Are the rich and the
poor to live sacrificially and generously? The answer is yes.
No wonder the Scripture says; “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in
princes” (Psalm 118:9). “Thus says the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusts in man, and makes
flesh his arm, and whose heart departs from the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5).
The Exclusive Path (v.27)
27But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God
all things are possible.”
In verse 21--Jesus beholding him--loved him. Jesus looked at him and loved him. Love
searches. “One thing you lack”--is loves’ verdict! Love searches--and love demands; “sell
everything and give to the poor. Love commands--follow me. There is also the look of
faithfulness (v.23)--Jesus saw the rich young ruler leaving Him--and looked on His disciples and
warned them of just how evil riches can be when they keep us from true wealth in Christ. Now
Jesus looks again for a third time--and the look is one of sheer encouragement. Impossibilities
with men are possibilities with God. The disciples are dismayed and discouraged by the words
of Jesus--but now Jesus invites them to take their eyes off themselves and gaze straight into
heaven and look into the face of God. Human beings face an insurmountable task--an
impossible and impassable chasm. Sin has made salvation impossible. But the love of
Jesus, the death of Jesus, the resurrection of Jesus, the grace of Jesus has made salvation
possible.
Jesus seems to be saying--on a human level a rich man cannot be saved. Someone might object
and say--on a strictly human level no man can be saved. You would be right. Yet the rich face
perils that the poor rarely or never encounter. How narrow is the narrow gate?
“Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God, commit their souls to Him in doing
good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:18-19).
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The Servant On The Dangers Of Wealth
Mark 10:23-27
The Bible teaches that only God can ultimately rescue people from their sin. The rich as well as
the poor must turn from sin and turn to God. No man can save himself or buy his way into God’s
good graces. There is no human philosophy or psychology or medicine or politics or social
movement that can change the soul of man from sinner to saint. The rich must turn from their
wealth and turn to God. The sacrifice of Jesus--the death of Jesus and the resurrection of Jesus
can break the chains that enslave us.
How will God judge the rich? How did you get your wealth and how did you use your wealth?
Conclusion
What are some things that we can do?
Read what the Bible has to say about the dangers of wealth.
Never trust money. Always trust the Lord. Study God’s Word for peace--for direction --for
instruction on how to avoid the lure and deceptions of wealth.
Use your resources to alleviate the desperate needs of others. Realize that the vast majority of
people in the world are hungry, hurt and in need.
Develop a strong desire for heaven; knowing that our journey on this earth is short.
Jesus allowed the rich young ruler to walk away. Jesus won’t make the choice for you. You
must make the choice.
Jack Benny said; “A robber said to me, “Your money or your life.” I paused, then said, ‘I’ll have
to think it over!”
Life is so tragic for the person who has plenty to live on, but nothing to live for. As the famous
preacher John Henry Jowett used to tell his congregation; “The real measure of our wealth is
how much we’d be worth if we lost all our money!”
So what are you living for? What are you worth?
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