The Rich Young Ruler - The Man Who Went Away Grieved

THE RICH YOUNG RULER - THE MAN WHO LEFT GRIEVED

TEXT - Mark 10: 17 - 22

INTRO. - There have been many sermons preached on the Rich

Young Ruler. They have been titled "The Fatal Refusal" and

"The Man Who had Everything but the Main Thing" among others.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the incident.

You cannot read this passage without a touch of

sorrow in your heart. There is a loneliness, a heartache, a

chill in vs. 22 - "he went away". It was not that Jesus

pushed him away, refused him, disqualified him, or saw some

soiled page in his past that would make it impossible to

accept him as a disciple. This young man on the contrary

held his destiny in his own hand. Having the power to say yes

or no, he turned his back on Christ and refused to follow

him.

His story is one of the most disappointing in all

the New Testament. The reason is because we know of no

single man that came into personal contact with Jesus during

his earthly ministry who was richer in possibilities. No man

has a more hopeful beginning than this man. Therefore it is

all the more sad to see this man who in one moment is running

to Jesus and kneeling at his feet and the next minute is

walking away from Jesus with sadness in his heart.

I WANT US TO LOOK FOR A FEW MINUTES AND NOTICE FIRST THE MANY

GOOD QUALITIES THIS MAN PRESENTS AND THEN SECONDLY I WANT US

TO LOOK AT SOME LESSONS TO BE LEARNED.

I. NOTICE THE MAN’S GOOD QUALITIES

1. He was EAGER - vs.17

He came running to Jesus. He had apparently made up his

mind. He must get to Jesus. No time must be lost. Oh, for

more people like this. Too many linger like Lot or are

waiting for a more convenient day like Felix. Whatever you

say about this young man, at least he was eager.

2. He was HUMBLE - vs.17

He knelt before Jesus. He knew that Jesus commanded

respect. This was unusual with the difference in social

station and dress between him and Jesus. Here the rich and

powerful knelt before the poor and lowly. Oh, for more

respect and reverence like this for the things of God

among the young people of our day as well as the older.

3. He had COURAGE

He ran when no one else ran. It is easy to run with the

crowd. It is harder to run alone. Here was a man alone.

Nobody else in his social circle was a fellow disciple of

Jesus. Here was a rich ruler wanting to join a group of

poor fishermen. It took courage to come to Jesus that day

and it will take courage for you to come to Jesus today.

4. He showed DISCERNMENT and REVERENCE - VS.17

He called Jesus "Good Master". He saw in Jesus what many

failed to see. He saw the goodness and holiness of God. He

showed a reverence to what he saw. Oh, how we need more of

this in this day in which we live.

5. He had SPIRITUALITY - vs.17

"What shall I do..." He had a concern for spiritual

things. He came with a solemn, urgent, vital, spiritual

question. Here is a man concerned about his eternal soul.

We do not see much of this today. Notice also that nobody

went to him about his soul. He went to Jesus.

6. He was MORALLY CLEAN - vs.20

Here is a morally clean young man with power and

authority. There are no bad habits to stain him. There is

no shady past to deal with. He is not a sassy, hippy,

free-love, rebel. He would make a good citizen and fine

neighbor. He is the type of man a city council would want

for their mayor. Many a mother would like to see her

daughter marry a man like this. many a church would put

this man into a church office.

7. He was RELIGIOUS - vs.19-20

Religious but lost. He fasted, tithed, went to church,

knew the law, but was not born again. He had a hunger in

his soul but he was not saved. He is like the average 20th

Century American church member.

8. He was WEALTHY - vs.22

Money does not bring happiness. The bible does not condemn

money but the love of it. What possibilities this man’s

wealth could have done for the Kingdom of God had it been

dedicated and put to work for God. Have you dedicated your

money to God?

9. He was YOUNG - Matt.19:20 tells us this.

This man was young and came to Jesus. He did not want to

sow his wild oats first and then turn to God. He was not