"ALL FOR JESUS!"

Written and preached by David P. Nolte

MARK 10:17-31

1. IN V21 WE NOTICE A GREAT CHALLENGE:
1. The young man claimed innocence in point of Law: he had not murdered, or committed adultery, or stolen or defrauded and had not borne false witness. And Jesus doesn't say, "oh, yeah? Don't you remember the time you ....?" Under those points of Law the young man may have been blameless -- but he still had a great lack!
2. What he had not done did not make him complete; he would be made complete by doing something. And herein is the Great Challenge:
1. "Sell your possessions and give to help the poor!" He said that because the young man was possessed by his possessions; they dominated him; he was obsessed with them; they shackled him.
2. "Come follow me!" No matter what we give, it is hollow and meaningless unless we also follow Jesus.
3. Consider the Biblical challenge to give freely and generously
1. Ecclesiastes 11:1-2 "Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days. Divide your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth."
2. Proverbs 3:27-28 "Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, 'Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,' when you have it with you."
3. Proverbs 19:17 "He who is gracious to a poor man lends to the Lord, and He will repay him for his good deed."
4. Proverbs 22:9 "He who is generous will be blessed, for he gives some of his food to the poor."
5. 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 "Now this I say, he who sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver."
6. 1 Timothy 6:17-19 "Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed."
4. Jesus does not necessarily demand that we all sell all that we own and give it away. He does not universally enjoin upon us poverty.
1. You see, in this case, the rich young ruler was possessed by his possessions and they had to go.
2. Jesus does, however, demand that we get rid of anything, material things, relationships, activities, values or whatever else that may get in the way of following Him! He says, "let it go! Put it off! Throw it away! Deny yourself and follow Me!"
3. He does extend the challenge to sacrifice, service and unselfish generosity!
4. It is still true: you cannot serve God and anything or anyone else!

So the missionary extended his challenge: "Give sacrificially to these children in India, and be assured that God will more than bless you for it!" When the time came for the offering, one little girl, 7 year old Becky, began crying as though her heart would break. She was from one of the poorest families in the congregation. In her arms she clasped a well-worn doll she had owned since infancy. Everyone could see that she was having quite a struggle in parting with her cherished possession. She understood the scarcity of new or complete toys. As she contemplated the prospect of giving away her precious doll, her little heart experienced a tremendous conflict. So did the heart of the rich young man when he heard a great challenge.

2. IN V22 WE NOTICE A GREAT CONFLICT:
1. There is no record that young man
1. Argued with Jesus or try to reason with Him.
2. Angrily challenged the justness or rightness of what Jesus demanded.
3. Proudly claimed that he had done enough good already and shouldn't be asked to do so hard a thing.
2. But he must have debated: "Is it worth it? Is it too costly? Shall I give all for Jesus?" He experienced a conflict
1. Between the treasures and pleasures of earth and the things of heaven.
2. Between the temporal and the eternal.
3. Between the material and the spiritual.
4. Between his great wealth and the price Jesus demanded.
3. Many have struggled against God's demands:
1. Moses did!
2. Jeremiah did!
3. Jonah did!
4. Esther did!
5. Saul of Tarsus did!
6. Peter did!
7. Do you?
4. As he struggled with the Lord's challenge, the eager hope in his heart died; the expectant look in his face turned to a frown; he turned away sorrowful. The problem was not that Jesus asked too much but that the young man wanted to give too little! He lost the Great Conflict!

When Becky considered the cost, the conflict went one way and then another. Yes, she would give her doll -- no, maybe she'd keep it and give something else. But all at once a smile broke through her tears as she almost ran down the aisle to the front. The missionary had told them that God would bless them if they gave, and she decided to believe that. The young man should have believed that, too; if he had, it would have spared him a great conflict and ensuing grief.

3. IN VV21, 29-31 WE NOTICE A GREAT CERTAINTY:
1. When Jesus makes a promise, it is a certainty! You can be certain of
1. Treasure in heaven, reminiscent of Matthew 6:19-21 where Jesus says, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
2. Receiving a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life. Verse 30
2. Throughout the New Testament there is a promise attached to genuine, unselfish giving:
1. Luke 6:38 "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, they will pour into your lap. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
2. 2 Corinthians 9:7-11 "Let each one do just as he has purposed in his heart; not grudgingly or under compulsion; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; as it is written, 'he scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever.' Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God."
3. Philippians 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
3. You will never out give God! That's a certainty!
1. God will not long be in your debt. He may not repay always in coin of the realm, but mark it, believe it, live by it, and give by it: He will repay in His way, in His time!
2. God will honor and bless those who give with sincere hearts of love!
4. In this series of four sermons we are asking you to give deep and give good -- beyond your tithe, beyond what you normally give -- for the work of the church. We are urging you to Take God At His Word and give with the certainty He will take care of our needs.

Becky decided to give and not hold back even her precious doll. She knew it would help another little girl to have some happiness. She knew that Jesus would somehow bless her. So holding up the doll, she said, "I'm sorry I cried, Mr. missionary. I forgot for a while -- it's all for Jesus!" And if we give with glad hearts, it is all for Jesus, all for Jesus, all our being's ransomed power, all our thoughts and words and doings, all our days and all our hours. All for Jesus, all for Jesus! Can you say that this morning? When it comes to what you have and what He asks, what will you give just because it's all for Jesus?

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