How Can You Be Rich... With God’s Inheritance?
Thanks for joining the Need-Hope.com podcast. In this episode, we will hear a story about a rich man asking Jesus what he must do to inherit or earn eternal life. Let’s discover how you can become rich… with God’s inheritance. You can listen to this podcast episode by clicking: How Can You Be Rich... With God’s Inheritance?
Thanks for joining me at Need Hope.
I’m Chris Gray. And I’m so glad you’re here.
Where do you find hope?
In a moment, we’re going to discover how you can become rich… with God’s inheritance. Stay tuned.
Intro Music
First, let’s listen to God’s word. Mark 10:17-27. I pray God speaks to our hearts.
“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?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 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.”
And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
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.”
But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
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! 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.”
And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Friend, I’d like to repeat what Jesus said in verse 24: “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
In this passage, we see a man who trusts in himself. He trusts his riches. He trusts his way of living. He also knows there’s a God and a heaven. So he asks Jesus what he must do to inherit or earn eternal life. He thinks he can simply add to his wealth what God provides. This creates a problem. You see, a person can’t earn God’s inheritance because it’s a free gift. But for some reason, people keep trying to earn it.
I’d like to share with you a story of a rich man I knew of. He had millions in the bank. He trusted in everything the world had to offer. He enjoyed every imaginable pleasure. The buzz of alcohol. Mind-altering drugs. Immorality of every kind. Sadly, he died at an early age. All his earthly riches were left behind. Even an expensive watch was stripped from his wrist before they took his body to the morgue.
During this rich man’s life, Jesus was definitely knocking on the door of his heart. Yet he never saw a need for Jesus. After all, he was rich and successful. In the world’s eyes, he was a winner!
I guarantee you that after his death, knowing what he knows now, he wishes he could go back and open the door inviting Jesus in as his Lord and Savior. He could have had God’s rich inheritance of eternal life, but instead, he trusted in his own wealth.
There is another person I know—a lady—who places her trust in being popular and well-liked by others. She loves being on social media and getting all those likes. She will say whatever it takes to get a laugh or admiration from others. Popularity is her wealth. The more popular she becomes, the richer she feels. Her biggest stress is not being able to please everyone.
Then there is the person who finds their riches in being a good athlete. Or having a pretty face. Or beautiful hair. Or a great body. These people measure their wealth by how many others wish they were them.
While the world promotes the riches of pleasures, being admired, beauty, watching Netflix and playing video games—trusting in these riches to give your life purpose rob you of God’s love and His free gift of eternal life. How am I sure about this? Because God’s Word says in Romans 6:23 that the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
Wow, what an amazing gift God lovingly offers us by faith! The Lord Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment for our sin and rose from the grave to give us a new life, eternal life. As with any gift, a person can either receive it or reject it. There’s more information on this good news at our website, Need-Hope.com.
Friend, let me ask: Where do you find your riches? What do you love, covet, or live for? The answer is this: check your heart. Because Jesus said in Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
In summary, are you trusting in yourself? Are you seeking the riches of the world in pleasures or possessions or popularity?
Will you reject God’s love or receive it? You can’t earn it. God’s free rich inheritance of eternal life is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I would like to encourage you to pray and ask God to search your heart. In who or what do you find your treasure, your riches?
Think about it. Pray about it.
Until next time, Look to Jesus.
And look to God’s Word for guaranteed hope.
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Scripture is taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation