Mark 10:23-27 And Jesus looked round about, and said to his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!… The Scriptures represent wealth, when used aright, as a distinguished blessing. It may, and ought to, lead men nearer to God, instead of driving them far from Him. I. THE PRIDE OF LIFE. The Scriptures speak of this as one of the most operative causes of human destruction. An inordinate and unreasonable self-esteem excludes God from the heart. II. A STRONG IMPRESSION OF THEIR PERSONAL INDEPENDENCE. Though men are absolutely dependent on God, and to a great extent on one another, there is in all a natural feeling of independence. Nor will it be denied that wealth is very apt to foster this unseemly self-reliance, and this haughty contempt of God. III. THEIR ATTACHMENT TO THIS WORLD. There is no room in the heart for God where it is preoccupied by the world. IV. THEIR CARES AND PERPLEXITIES. Wherever you fired the greatest amount of secular care and solicitude, there, rest assured, is the greatest danger of losing the soul. V. THE BEST MEANS OF GRACE ARE RARELY USED WITH THE RICH AND AFFLUENT. God has formed no purpose to save any man irrespective of the appointed means. From these views several reflections may naturally arise. 1. What melancholy evidence does this subject furnish of the strange depravity of the human heart. 2. Do not envy the rich. 3. Our subject then admonishes us to take care how we heap up riches. 4. Our subject affectionately addresses itself to the rich. Of all those who have hope towards God, the rich are most' in danger of losing the savour and usefulness of piety, and of being "scarcely saved." And that your riches may prove a blessing, mud not a curse, "set not your hearts upon them," "be not conformed to this world," "use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passeth away." You are God's stewards, and must give an account of your stewardship. And to the rich who are not pious, let me say, is there not fearful reason to apprehend that you will never enter the kingdom of God? Everything is leagued against you. 5. Let me say to all, while you envy not the affluent study to do them good. (Gardiner Spring, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! |
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