“What’s In Your Wallet?” – MARK 10:17-22

Many today try to tell us that Jesus was an anti-capitalist socialist.

Jesus is not “anti-wealth”.

Jesus is “pro-sacrifice”!

So we cannot make the mistake that this passage does not apply to us if we are not wealthy (10:22b) like this young man. Certainly there is direct application from this encounter to the right handling of money, there is also a wider message for all who would come to Jesus seeking eternal life (10:17b).

When Jesus looked at this fellow with loving compassion (10:21a), He saw his great NEED (10:21b), not his great wealth.

You have to admit, this guy asked the perfect question of the Christ (10:17b). Jesus’ “fame” had spread and in this man’s mind He was worthy of homage and great respect as a teacher (10:17a). Choosing not to focus on the eternal life portion of the question, Jesus focused on the use of the word “good”.

The questioner saw Jesus as a respected teacher who could answer about eternal life, not perceiving Jesus as the Savior who could offer eternal life.

The great need of this man was to see Jesus as God, not as a human Rabbi (10:18). Jesus was not saying “I am not good”, He was saying, “I am divine”!

Who among us – rich or poor – does not need the same understanding?

Jesus is looking for disciples instead of mere rule-keepers (10:20) to come and follow Him (10:21b). In no way did Jesus diminish the importance and necessity of obedience (here or elsewhere), but to the contrary shows the purpose of integrating obedience and sacrifice. If a life of peace without taking lives, enjoyment without fornication, possessions without thievery, truth without loopholes, gain without unfairness and sonship without disrespect (10:19) could get you to heaven there would be no need for the cross. In no way does Jesus “unteach” the Scriptures. Instead, He teaches that without divine grace all men fall short of God’s glory and even the most pious would perish.

The man’s great need is forgiveness.

Who among us – rich or poor – does not need the same blessing?

Jesus is placing a mirror in front of each of us and He is asking us to search our lives and our hearts as He does (10:21a). Jesus did not want the man’s checkbook per se, He wanted His heart. The man was willing to sacrifice murder, adultery, stealing, lying, fraud and dishonoring his parents for eternal life … but, he insisted upon holding out on God. Of all the things he did well, his greed for earthly possessions – the things in his wallet – separated him from God and the divine heavenly treasures (10:21b) reserved for disciples.

This man’s great need was to see this from a spiritual perspective instead of a worldly perspective.

Who among us – rich or poor – does not need the same perspective?

What’s in your wallet?