What in this life are you most proud of?

What have you accomplished that has made your life so worth living?

What… drives you?

In today’s parable of the rich man, we meet someone who claims to have checked every box needed to get into heaven.

Go to church. Check

Pray. Check.

Not kill anyone. Check.

Read Bible daily. Check.

Their whole life, they have spent checking boxes of worship. Doing the things they thought were required of them to receive their inheritance.

Finally, the opportunity has come to validate their claim to their place in God’s last Will and Testament and the first words out of their mouth are “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Oh, little lost sheep, where shall I begin with discussing your lostness?

This is highly reminiscent of only visiting grandma at the nursing home just to make sure you’re still in the will when she dies.

But before we dig further into that, let’s start where Jesus started. “Why do you call me good?”

I have no issues with Jesus Christ not being considered a saint but some do. Not sure why, he says right here in red words if you’re Bible has them that he is not perfect. NO one is. If Jesus isn’t good you sure aren’t.

A few weeks ago, a Syro-Phoenician woman had to stand up to him to get her to heal her child. Eventually, we’re going to read a passage where his own mother tells him to get off his butt and make wine for that wedding, stop wasting your life away.

For as much as Jesus is divine, he also understands that he is made of flesh and blood and walks this earth where sin will corrupt even the most devout. Jesus at this point in our story is fully human, therefore, well… human.

Jesus responds in a very pastoral way with reiterating the rules the man has indeed followed all his life. Good for you on not murdering anyone, there are days we all struggling with that. And if you notice, he also hasn’t defrauded anyone. This is important! This man did not gain his wealth illegitimately. He earned it honestly. He didn’t lie and cheat his way into money, he brought honor to his family and earned an honest living but… you lack one thing.

What is he lacking? What is missing?

Be faithful to my spouse. Check.

Don’t break into my neighbors house. Check.

Attend pot luck dinner. Check.

He’s missing the why. Why did he live his wife the way he did? Why did he spend his entire existence following the Laws of Moses? For the exact same reason he accumulated wealth, for himself. For his glory. For his recognition. For HIS salvation.

This man doesn’t care about God’s creation. He doesn’t care about other people. He doesn’t care about loving his neighbor. Sure, he doesn’t screw them over, but he isn’t helping them or addressing their needs, he is complacent toward them. This passage isn’t about the money, it’s about the man’s attitude.

It’s about the why.

Jesus says this famous line that churches like to use to increase the money in the offering plate. “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Give all your money to God! Give it all to the church! Why isn’t that offering plate full every week? Come on, open your pocketbooks or you’re not getting into heaven. Remember the woman who gave her last dime? Okay, enough of that nonsense. But feel free to give as much as you feel compelled to the church. Offering plate is in the back and if my boss, the District Superintendent, asks I just gave you a financial stewardship message.

It isn’t because they have earthly money that they can’t get into heaven it’s because they care more about their money than they care about God. They care more about their money than they care about God’s creation and God’s people.

If I hadn’t been required to keep my presentation to 8 minutes last week, I would have included this passage in Jesus’ journey to a more inclusive church. The Israelites believed that if you were in God’s favor you would receive earthly rewards. Look at Abraham, rich, tons of gold, flocks of sheep and goats, his ancestors would form the 12 tribes of Israel. Look at a David, the youngest of 7 sons who stood to inherit nothing becomes the richest king to have ever lived, okay second richest, his son Solomon would have more even more wealth. Look at Jacob who robs and swindles his way to wealth and good fortune. Jesus reversed yet another standard.

That man’s riches didn’t come from God! He isn’t rich because God made him rich. We don’t get cancer because we have sinned. Bad things don’t happen to us on this earth because we have sinned. So many bad things happen on this earth because it’s earth, not heaven! There are so many humans walking on it that don’t care about anyone other than themselves that bad things happen to good people. Bad things do not necessarily happen to us because of our sin. What we look at as earthly wealth doesn’t necessarily come from being right with God. Earthly wealth comes from earthly beings, earthly activities, earthly motivations. Salvation comes from being right with God.

Eternal life doesn’t come from being a good person because it is impossible to be a good person. Not even Jesus could do it what makes you think you can? For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible. God can offer us eternal life but he can only do it through death. Jesus will be branded, tried, found guilty by a jury of his peers, and killed. I don’t know about you but by earthly standards that is not what I would call a good thing.

Reversal of standard number two for the day: You will not inherit eternal life through anyone else or any deed you do on this earth. You can lose eternal life through your deeds but you can’t gain it and yes, I am aware that isn’t fair. You can only inherit eternal life if you are not seeking it. It cannot be your motivation for doing good. If the only reason you are here this morning is to check off a few boxes on your spiritual To Do list, you might as well go home now.

Go to church. Check

Pray. Check.

Not kill anyone. Check.

Sound familiar? Like maybe I started this sermon out that way? If you are here because you are “supposed” to be here you are in the exact same position as this rich man who Jesus has quite clearly ascertained is not getting into heaven. You’re checking off your own personal commandments.

So…

What in this life are you most proud of?

What have you accomplished that has made your life so worth living?

What… drives you?

Is God your driving force in all that you do? Not salvation. God. Salvation is a by-product of loving and serving God not the goal. This pericope is one of many many examples in our Bible so I’ll say it again.

Salvation is a byproduct of loving God, not the goal. Remember Jesus’ assessments of the 10 commandments? Matthew 22:37-40 “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

There are a few times I wish we were in a more charismatic church because if I was comfortable with keeping you here for a 4 hours service, this sermon would be it. There are so many things about this passage I want to say right now, so many sermons in sermons I want to give. So many of life’s problems that can be healed or solved just by loving God instead of being motivated by things of this earth.

You cannot live your life for your spouse, you must live it for God.

You cannot live your life for your children. You must live it for God.

You cannot live your life seeking to feel physically well. You must live it for God.

You cannot live your life trying to make more money. You must live it for God.

Jesus tells us in Luke 13:24 Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. The richer you seek to become on this earth, the poorer you will become, the fatter you will become and the less likely you are to fit through that narrow door.

However, if you do all things for the glory of God and God’s creation, you will fit through that door with ease. Best dieting strategy ever! Your To-Do list is simple. 2 thing

Love God. Check. I feel like this commandment is easier to keep than the second.

Love your neighbor. Don’t threaten your neighbor, resent your neighbor, curse your neighbor, talk bad about your neighbor, steal from your neighbor or try to murder you neighbor. Love your neighbor.

Do all things for the glory of God. Live your life for the glory of God and you will find yourself right with God in the end.

May, the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make his face to shine upon you
And be gracious to you;
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you
And give you peace