Young with everything except God
Matthew 19:13-22
Our theme: living the best life in Christ through obeying his word.
This statement is true; however, to obey God’s word requires knowing God through being saved from spending eternity in hell.
We are all born sinners; that does not mean that we are sinning, but it means we have a sin nature that we inherited from Adam.
And within our sin nature is the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
And all three of these mentions lead us from God and his plan for our lives.
The world has much to offer, but none compares to a salvation relationship through Jesus Christ.
So, there is a young person in our lesson who went after the world and captured all the riches of this world, but he did not have a relationship with Jesus.
So young people reach for the stars, be ambitious, be great, but don’t forget about God, who gave you what you needed to become who you are.
There are some young, successful people in the eyes of this world that we know, but they never mention God.
That’s why I admire Tim Tebow and others who give God glory for what they have accomplished.
Solomon said, remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come and life is not enjoyable.
He also said rejoice in thy youth, but know that God will judge all things.
Jesus says I am come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. God wants us to enjoy life, but that starts with having Christ in our lives and obeying his word.
He loves money more than he loves God.
Listen, you cannot live the best life without Christ!
He has great possessions but no relationship with God!
He thought he had it all, but in reality, he had nothing.
If you chase the world and catch it, and don’t have Jesus, you don’t have anything!
This statement is true; however, to obey God’s word requires knowing God through being saved from spending eternity in hell.
We are all born sinners; that does not mean that we are sinning, but it means we have a sin nature that we inherited from Adam.
And within our sin nature is the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
And all three of these mentions lead us from God and his plan for our lives.
The world has much to offer, but none compares to a salvation relationship through Jesus Christ.
So, there is a young person in our lesson who went after the world and captured all the riches of this world, but he did not have a relationship with Jesus.
So young people reach for the stars, be ambitious, be great, but don’t forget about God, who gave you what you needed to become who you are.
There are some young, successful people in the eyes of this world that we know, but they never mention God.
That’s why I admire Tim Tebow and others who give God glory for what they have accomplished.
- God chose you to bless, before you knew him- vs. 13-15
- Understanding doing good things doesn’t make us good- vs. 16-17
- Living the best life is knowing you’re not perfect- vs. 18-20
- When the world means more to you than God, you are not living the best life- vs. 21-22
Solomon said, remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come and life is not enjoyable.
He also said rejoice in thy youth, but know that God will judge all things.
Jesus says I am come that you may have life and have it more abundantly. God wants us to enjoy life, but that starts with having Christ in our lives and obeying his word.
- God chose you to bless, before you knew him- vs. 13-15
“But Jesus said, suffer little children, and forbid them not to come unto me for such is the kingdom of heaven.”
- While disciples were rejecting children, Jesus was saying let them come.
- Jesus had already chosen children before He created the world.
- God chooses children because they are young, innocent, and teachable.
- Matt. 18:3, “except ye be converted and become as little children ye shall not enter the kingdom of God.”
- Jesus laid his hands on them and blessed them
- Understanding doing good things doesn’t make us good- vs. 16-17
“And behold one came and said unto him, good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?"
- Good works do not earn salvation, nor favor with God.
- People who may do good works don’t mean that they are good.
- Evil, wicked people do good things sometimes to certain people.
- Religion is all about doing good works, but Salvation is about a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Vs. 17, “And he said unto him, why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is God: but if thou will enter into, keep the commandments.”
- Saved people do good things because a good God lives in us.
- Living the best life is knowing you are not perfect- vs. 18-20
“The young man said unto him, all these things have I kept from my youth on up; what lack I yet?"
- This young person is delusional; sin has blinded him to the extent that he can’t see clearly.
- The world has influenced him to believe that because it feels right, it has to be right and good.
- His delusion is that following his heart is good.
- His delusion is that since I have this desire, it must have come from God, so to act upon is good.
- Living the best life starts with this mindset, I know I am saved and indwelled with the Holy Spirit, but I am still living in this body, therefore I need God to work on me, work in me, and work through me.
- When the world means more to you than God, you are not living the best life- vs 21-22
“Jesus said unto him, if thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven and come follow me."
- Jesus diagnosed his problem instantly, just like a good doctor diagnoses a health problem.
- This young person has a sin problem and doesn’t know it.
- Jesus gives this young person the directions for living the best in Christ.
- Go and sell everything and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
- The challenge of loving! Do you love people or just love yourself?
- Do you love God’s creation more than you love God?
- Focus on heaven more than on earth.
- Follow me.
- Go and sell everything and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Vs. 22, “But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful for he had great possessions."
- This young person is not willing to give up this world’s richest for Jesus.
- Maybe this young person went away sad because he realized his money was owned by him.
He loves money more than he loves God.
Listen, you cannot live the best life without Christ!
He has great possessions but no relationship with God!
He thought he had it all, but in reality, he had nothing.
If you chase the world and catch it, and don’t have Jesus, you don’t have anything!
