Do You Have Control of your Possessions?
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
Reaching the end of a job interview, the Human Resources Officer asked a young Engineer fresh out of tech college, "And what starting salary were you looking for?"
The Engineer replies, "In the region of £80,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."
The interviewer enquires, "Well, what would you say to a package of
7-weeks holiday, full medical and dental,
company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and
a company car leased every 2 years - say, a red BMW?"
The Engineer sits up straight and says, "Wow! Are you kidding?"
And the interviewer replies, "Yeah, but you started it."
Stuff – we all collect it
We collect stuff in…
Cupboards
Our cars
Pockets
Bags
Boxes
Even pay to store our stuff!
Today, we start a new series about Hope. It’s about not giving up. It’s about encouragement to do something about a problem that we’ve got stuck with. Because many of us have problems that seem to be wedged in our life.
Maybe we just got used to them; but we wish we could shake it up a bit and dislodge them. Join us each Sunday for this series.
This morning, I want to look at possessions. As I say that word there are some here or watching online who are tare thinking, “Oh my, that’s me” The full title of this message is, “Do You Have Control of your Possessions?” and now you thinking, “oh my oh my; I think possessions have me. I can’t seem to control possessions. I can’t get rid of them.”
Here’s the thing about money and possessions (I’m including money – because money is a possession).
Possessions can either rule us, or we can rule possessions.
Today let’s look at how we might journey more faithfully with Christ and grow in our relationship with God.
To do that we are going to consider how we might put money and possessions into proper perspective so that they don’t rule our lives and get in the way of our journey to hope.
Open up the bible again - Mark 10:17-31 look through that story as I talk about it:
I think we can safely say that possessions ruled the life of the rich young ruler.
This wealthy guy was after one thing - more.
Even his language told a story.
He asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, his goal was to find out just exactly what he needed to do to gain another possession.
Maybe he had gained much of his wealth through his father’s death.
If he was the eldest or only son and his dad had died, he would take on everything from his father’s estate.He was in the money!!
He was also in a land that was steeped in faith and religion. Talk of pleasing God, sacrifice, eternal life was common place. And he sees Jesus and knows He is a teacher – a rabbi. So he goes up to him and wants to gain more - He wanted to gain another inheritance – even greater than the earthly possessions he had.
This makes Jesus’ answer to him seem quite ironic, and it certainly shocked this rich ruler.
“Go, sell what you own, give the money to the poor, and then you will have treasure in heaven.”
But the man just couldn’t do it, and he went away sad.
Possessions so ruled his life that he couldn’t give up what he had, even with the promise of a greater inheritance in the life to come!
This rich young ruler was probably a good and decent man, because he says that he sticks to the Jewish law.
He’s a law abiding citizen – a good man, BUT he knew that being good and decent did not gain salvation;
only belief in Christ as Saviour can do that!
And for this man, his possessions got in the way of eternal life. It got in the way of really knowing God as heavenly Father, Lord, and King.
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Now here’s a question for each of us.
Are our possessions getting in the way of our relationship with God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
Are our possessions supressing the Holy Spirit within us?
See the rich young ruler that came to Jesus asking what do I have to do to inherit eternal life went away sad. Why? It wasn’t because he had a lot of money. It was because he refused to be generous! It was because he didn’t want to let go.
It was like the farmer in the parable we saw earlier. He had plenty, but he wanted more. Instead of giving some away to the poor or in need, he actually took time to pull his old barns down and make bigger ones in order to store up stuff for – HIMSELF. “I can then enjoy my life – eating, drinking, and partying”
But God said, “That’s not how life should be. You won’t even enjoy the stuff you saved up – because this is your last day of living. The rich young man walked away sad – because he couldn’t let go of his stuff.
Psalm 112:5-6 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
5 Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
who conduct their affairs with justice.
6 Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
they will be remembered for ever.
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
6 Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
Acts 2:42-47 New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
How are you with stuff? With possessions?
Are you storing it up?
Are you holding on to everything you have?
Are you keeping things to yourself?
Can I suggest a few things on this?
Go home today. Walk around your house. Look at what you have.
Are you storing it for the sake of storing?
Did you even use some of those things in the last 5 years????
Pray about it – physically look at things in your house and pray to the Lord, “should I be keeping this?”
And take action!! . . .
Pray to the Lord this coming week:
Father, how can I be more generous in Your name? . ..
Stand with me as we pray
