Jump Start # 2597

Mark 10:22 “But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.”

Our verse today is the conclusion of the Lord’s conversation with the rich, young ruler. He had a one-on-one talk with the Lord. What an amazing experience that would have been. Can you imagine just you and Jesus? This young man had many great things going for him. He was wealthy. That beats most young people. Many today have student loans and are just starting their careers, they are not making much. Our verse says he owned much property. That is remarkable. He was also a ruler. A ruler at a young age. It sounds as if he inherited this, but we do not know.

He came to Jesus. He didn’t just come, he ran. He bowed before Jesus, even though he was a ruler. He didn’t see himself as superior to Jesus or even an equal. Equals stand and talks face to face. He had a question for Jesus. It was the greatest question he could have asked. It was about eternal life. He understood that he had to do something to obtain eternal life. He understood that there is an eternal life. He wanted to know just what he had to do.

This young man had a problem and he didn’t realize it. He had a idol in his heart. There was someone greater than Jesus in his life. It was his wealth. His possessions had become his god. He wanted Jesus, but not more than his possessions. He’d follow Jesus, but with certain terms and restrictions. Jesus was honest with him. Jesus told him the truth. Jesus wanted him to follow. Sell all. Give it to the poor. Follow Me.

With those words, the excitement dropped. His expression changed. One translation states that his face fell. He became gloomy. He was saddened. He had run to Jesus with great anticipation and hope. Now, he walked away, likely slowly, disappointed and saddened.

Here was a person who was disappointed with Jesus. Jesus didn’t do what he expected, nor wanted. He came running, now he left with his face down. It’s just not what he thought it would be.

Divine disappointments—that’s a topic to look into. Many have divine disappointments. Let’s give this some thought:

• It happens when prayers are not answered the way I wanted them to be. I pray and either nothing, or the opposite happens. I pray and things do not turn out like I wanted. Divine Disappointment. It causes one to wonder, why even pray if it doesn’t do any good. Prayers answered “no,” are answered. They are not answered the way you may like, but “no,” is an answer.

There are some things to consider here. First, it’s always God’s will, not my will be done. God is running the universe, not us. We see things from our little spot and think we know all there is to know. We can’t see into tomorrow. God is already there. God sees things we will never see. Second, it is possible that I have prayed for things that I shouldn’t. God will not violate His eternal will just for you. Asking for a miracle, when God no longer does miracles is not according to His will. Wanting God to save someone who has a closed and indifferent heart is not according to His will. Third, it may be that my expectations are out of line. God is not a magical genie that answers my every call. He doesn’t owe me three wishes. We are to serve God, not the other way around.

• It happens when I expect the church to do things that it cannot not or will not. The church must follow the pattern of God in the Scriptures. I want the church to put on a carnival for my kids. It won’t do that. I want the church to buy me a new car. It won’t do that. I want the church to come and clean my house. It won’t do that. I want the church to babysit my little ones. The church won’t do that. Now, some modern churches are all about those things. They’ll educate your kids, walk your dog and wash your car. They’ll make you laugh, dry your tears and analyze why you are the way you are. Congregations that are serious about following the N.T. and being the Lord’s church are serious about sticking with what you read in the N.T. These places will teach God’s word. They will guide you and encourage you. Their mission is to honor God and get folks ready for Heaven. They’ll teach. They’ll preach. They’ll worship. That’s the purpose. That’s what they are designed to do. And, when someone is looking for the buffet table, they will be disappointed. When some are looking for game night, they will be disappointed. What about ballgames? Movie nights? Free popcorn? Nope. The home can do that. The community can do that. The church has another purpose.

You don’t take your car to the post office for an oil change. They won’t do that. You don’t take your dog there to be groomed. They won’t do that. The post office has a specific function. It’ll sell you stamps and mail your packages. That’s the function. Does one get angry, disappointed and disgusted that he can’t get his oil changed and dog groomed at the post office? If he does, he simply doesn’t understand. It’s the same for the N.T. church. People expect the church to be a school, a gym, a place to eat, a place for entertainment, a place to find a date, a place to do your nails and just about everything and anything except prepare you spiritually for Heaven. That is the function and the purpose.

• God can be disappointed in us when we do not do as we ought to. There is really no excuse. It’s not that we don’t know. It’s in the Bible. God left examples for us to follow. I expect Jesus was disappointed with the young ruler because he walked away from Jesus. I wonder how many times the Lord may be disappointed in us when we choose forbidden fruit, and listen to other voices, and follow other paths than what He has shown us.

The rich, young ruler walked away from Jesus sad. His face fell. He had run to Jesus in excitement. But now, he was disappointed. Many are still walking away from Jesus sad. They want to do whatever they want. They want to marry anyone and everyone. They want little commitment. They want to live like a sinner and die like a saint. And, it simply doesn’t work that way.

Disappointed. I wonder what this young ruler told folks when he got back home. Did he trash talk Jesus? Did he blame Jesus? Did he make it all Jesus’ fault? The Lord would give him eternal life, but it had to be the way the Lord said. The problem wasn’t with Jesus, it was with the heart of the young ruler.

And, in the same way, our divine disappointments are not really with the Lord or His church, but with us. Unwilling to change, we will be disappointed. Holding on to vain and worldly expectations, we will be disappointed. Not wanting to follow the Bible, we will be disappointed. Wanting Jesus on our terms, we will be disappointed.

Sure makes a person think, doesn’t it…

Roger

Jump Start # 1454

Mark 10:22 “But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.”

Our verse today is found at the end of the encounter of a rich young ruler who chased Jesus down and asked Him what he had to do to inherit eternal life. There were many commendable things about this young man. His question was amazing. He was spiritual, concerned and took his question to the right source. He was obedient to God’s law. What a great catch he would make for some young lady. However, Jesus saw something in him that was a problem. Within his heart there was a defect. It wasn’t physical, it was spiritual. His stuff, his riches, came between him and God. Get rid of them. Simple solution. Follow Christ. He couldn’t do it. Given the choice between what he owed and Jesus, he chose his stuff.

He walked away. He ran to Jesus, but now he walked away. He came excited, now he left disappointed. The passage states, “he was saddened and he went away grieving…” He was disappointed in what Jesus said. It wasn’t the outcome that he expected. He surely thought Jesus would love to have a rising superstar on His team. Young. Talented. Wealthy. Move over, Peter. Get out of the way, John. We’ve added a new player to the team. But that’s not what Jesus said. You can follow Me, but first, get rid of your stuff. Your stuff is choking you. Your stuff is killing you. Your stuff is too much. It’s become you. It’s become your god. He couldn’t do it. He left. He was disappointed.

Disappointments are a part of life. They come in many fashions. You have a day off and plan to spend it outside but it rains that day. Disappointed. Tonight, I’m pulling for my Dodgers. If they lose, they are done for the year. If they lose, I will be disappointed. People can disappoint us. They can let us down. They can not live up to the promises that they made. There is a sadness, even a grieving when disappointments occur.

Our passage reveals two disappointments.

First, the young man was disappointed with God. Some still are. They want to tell God what to do. They expect God to find them a job while they spend the day playing video games. When Jesus told the disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread…” inherit in that thought is the idea of a farmer who grows the grain and the disciple who goes to work, earns a living and then goes to the market and buys the bread. The bread doesn’t fall from the sky like manna. Our cupboards do not magically get filled over night. Some are disappointed that God will not allow them to do what they want in worship. Some would rather howl at the moon than follow the Bible. They want change. They are always interested in changing things. Never content. Never settled with God, they want to introduce their wild ideas. God won’t have it. They get disappointed. Some are disappointed that God expects things out of them. They want to be forgiven but they don’t to have to go to church on Sundays. They’d rather spend the day doing what they want. Some are disappointed that God has allowed death in their families. A child dies. A parent dies. How disappointed they are in God. Like the man in our story, when disappointed with God, they walk away. They are done with God. If God won’t do what I want, then I have no need for Him.

Second, there was another disappointment in this text that lies under the surface. Jesus was disappointed in Him. Jesus wasn’t making demands so he would quit. When he walked away from Jesus, the Lord didn’t say, “Good.” No, He wanted him to follow. Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. He was heading to Jerusalem for the last time. He had an appointment with the cross. He knew that. What a tragic turn of events. Jesus knowing that in a week or so, He would be crushed, tortured and executed on the cross for this very young man that He was talking to. Jesus was giving His life up for that young man. Yet, that young man couldn’t give up his stuff for Jesus. Jesus was willing to give all, and he couldn’t even give up stuff that doesn’t matter. He walked away from Jesus. The text doesn’t tell us, but knowing Jesus, I wouldn’t be surprised to know that a tear was rolling down his cheek. He didn’t want it to turn out this way.

We must realize that when we sin we disappoint God. The Lord wants us to do well. The Lord wants us to walk in righteousness. When we don’t, we disappoint Him. We let Him down.

It is interesting also, that Jesus continued His journey to Jerusalem. He could have thought, if this young man represents how most are feeling, why even go through with this? Why die for them when they don’t even care? Why do this? Yet, Jesus went on to Jerusalem. Jesus went to the cross. He was walking to obedience of His Father’s will as the young man was walking away from God. What a contrast.

Here in lies the greater lesson. When we are disappointed, are we going to walk away and quit, or as Jesus did, continue to do what we know is right? A mate disappoints you, walk away from the marriage or continue to do what God expects you to do in that marriage? A friend in Christ disappoints you—quit, or continue to walk with God? This young man didn’t hear what he wanted. So he went back home. He came asking about eternal life. He went back home empty. He didn’t get what he wanted. Dejected, saddened, and unless he changed, he was heading to a death without Christ. He walked away from forgiveness. He walked away from truth. He walked away from Heaven. He walked away from eternal life. He walked away because he was disappointed.

What are you going to do when you are disappointed? What are you going to do when things do not turn out as you wanted them to? Are you going to stay on the path to Jerusalem or are you going back home, sad? Are you going to stay with God or are you going to quit?

The character of Jesus and this young man come to the forefront as we see how they handled the disappointment. It also shows in the way you and I handle our disappointments.

On to Jerusalem or go back home? What will it be for you?

Roger