Great Possessions

Mark 10:22 (KJV) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

The last part of that verse caught my attention “for he had great possessions” didn’t he have at this time great possessions? Why was the past tense “had” used? Many, when they read the word possessions, think of great wealth. Yes that’s possible but don’t we all have great possessions? Think not? You and your wife have a young child or children, or grandchildren and some even great grandchildren. Is that not great possessions? If someone were to come and offer 2 million dollars for just one of those children would you swap for the money? Most likely not. Then I would say you have great possessions. Now going back to great wealth as a possession. In my life I have only had one friend that was a multimillionaire. He lived in Athens Tennessee. I met him in the early 80’s his name was Clarence Sullivain. Here’s what impressed me. He drove his Pastor down to preach a revival at our church. When I said he drove, he drove his camper pulling an SUV. He parked it behind the Church and he and his Pastor stayed there for the week. On Saturday morning they were leaving to go back home. I asked them if I could pray for them before they left? As we met at the altar inside the Church I prayed. After my prayer I will never forget what Clarence said. At that time he was 68 years old and I was 34. Clarence stood there with tears running from his eyes and dripping onto the floor and this is what he said. He said I was a member of a very large Church in Athens and all they cared about was my money and not telling me about how I could go to heaven. It was not until this man who is now my Pastor took time to tell me how I could go to heaven through Jesus Christ. I wish boys; that’s what he called us, boys. He said I wish I could have had what I have now at your age. Clarence died about 10 years later and went to his Heavenly home and became really wealthy; An heir of Jesus Christ. Could it be because one young preacher or boy as Clarence called him took time to tell him about real wealth, Jesus!

James 2:5 (KJV) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Think Heirs

I could be wrong here but what I’m about to write isn’t.  Mark 10:17 (KJV) And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? The need was urgent “there came one running” the person running was respectful “and kneeled to him” the person had a question, that maybe all have asked “what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life” With all respect to this person Jesus asked him questions. The first question to this person was  

“Why callest thou me good?” To which he was not given the opportunity to answer for Jesus answered it for him “there is none good but one, that is, God”

Mark 10:18 (KJV) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Then Jesus asks this “Thou knowest the commandments” you know  Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill,  Thou shalt not bear false witness,  Defraud not (to deprive of something by deception or fraud) Honor thy father and mother.

Mark 10:19 (KJV) Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

This person's response is so true. Yes sir I don’t just know about the commandments I have observed them ever since I was a young boy. That’s like telling the policeman that pulled you over. When he asked “sir do you know why I pulled you over? Your answer is not really. “You were speeding!” Then you could say “I find that hard to believe because I have been observing all the speed limit signs.” Yes but observing  is much different than obeying.  

Mark 10:20 (KJV) And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

Well young man have you or have you not committed adultery? Have you or have you not killed anyone? Have you or have you not stolen anything? Have you or have you not lied about anything? Have you or have you not cheated anybody out of anything? How about mom and dad? Ok just one thing you lack.

Mark 10:21 (KJV) Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Well what did this man do?  Mark 10:22 (KJV) And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

He came glad and left sad. It wasn’t his earthly treasures that Jesus was concerned with. No! It was where this young man's heart was at.  

Romans 12:2 (KJV) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. This young man’s mind needed to be transformed which would have been done by a change of heart. It’s not do’s and don'ts   Titus 3:5 (KJV) Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Titus 3:6 (KJV) Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Titus 3:7 (KJV) That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. Heirs??? James 2:5 (KJV) Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? Wow, the best is yet to come.  Possessions here and now or Heirs of His Kingdom? 💆‍♂️What’s wrong with you? Use your head, think!! Heirs of His Kingdom..

Being Like Children

Psalms 92:1 (KJV) It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: 

Jesus said “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.” Don’t stop the children from coming to me,

Why?  “for of such is the kingdom of God.” Children are a great treasure that bring such great joy to any family. My wife and I had three and they brought  great joy to our home. They grew up way too fast. I love children, they are so innocent. One thing I love to do is miss pronounce their name so they can correct me. Then I will say a name that almost sounds like theirs and they will correct me again. I just love being around children. But unfortunately there are some who don’t and it appears these disciples didn’t think these children were that important and wanted them out of the way. 

Mark 10:13 (KJV) And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. I see the problem. These kids were becoming a problem being a little loud. They wanted to play and do what you and I did when we were children. But mom and dad thought it was important to take them to see Jesus. These disciples thought like many, these kids don’t understand. Well that’s not what Jesus said. First Jesus says let the children come unto me. “Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not:” Then He make this statement 

Mark 10:15 (KJV) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Wait a minute  Jesus said before you run all these kids away. I want to teach you something. If you want to go to Heaven then you are going to have to receive me like these kids do. These children don’t try to figure Me out, they just except Me. These children don’t doubt who I am, they just accept who I am. What was Jesus teaching? Just be like these kids. Don’t try to figure Me out, just accept Me as a child. 

What Did You Really Mean?

“And they said.” Don’t you just love to hear people say things like that? Everybody is saying??? Who did you say, said it? Moses! Mark 10:4 (KJV) And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.   Mark 10:5 (KJV) And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept. Do you ever remember a time in your childhood when you drove someone crazy until they let you do what you were told not to do by someone else? Maybe this is what happened with Moses! Come on Moses, do you really think God wants me to live the rest of my life with this person? Come on, I need some relief. I don’t know, but what is very plain is what Jesus said.

Mark 10:6 (KJV) But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. Well, we got that missed up without Moses.

Mark 10:7 (KJV) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; Cleave (To stick; to adhere; to hold to) sounds a lot like Proverbs 5:19 to me.  “Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished (delighted to ecstasy)  always with her love.” Moses May have said,  Moses may have alouded but from the beginning that’s not the way marriage was designed.  But over time it has been adjusted many, many times to suit our needs.  Mark 10:8 (KJV) And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. Mark 10:9 (KJV) What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. But the question still remains “ does God expect me to live this way the rest of my life?” The answer may surprise you, No He doesn’t. Now let’s think for a moment, when you made this vow, not commitment but vow.   You did and willing said something like this;  “I, ___, take you, ___, to be my wife/husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and cherish always, until death do we part." Remember vow “A vow is a solemn promise made to God to perform or to abstain from performing a certain thing.” What went wrong? What changed? Who changed?  To the point that now you so dislike this person that you want to end what you said you would never end? Plus spend a small fortune to get out of what was said not to do “let not man put asunder.”

Get Busy

Let’s make Jesus look bad in front of these He is teaching. So they asked Him a question. 

Mark 10:2 (KJV) And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.

We are told why they asked that question; “tempting him” it was a tricky question. Jesus said so what did Mose say? Mark 10:3 (KJV) And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?

Mark 10:4 (KJV) And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.

 Deuteronomy 24:1 (KJV) When a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it come to pass that she find no favour in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness in her: then let him write her a bill of divorcement, and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house.

The man marries his sweetheart then one day he finds something he didn’t know about her or something she doesn't like. Ok, ok marriage brings out a lot of things you didn’t know. Some things you can fix but most you can’t, so you learn to adjust, that’s what love is. We adjust ourselves to a lot of other things. Why not in our marriage relationship? One may look at their mate and say “wow they have really let themselves go.” Here’s what I have learned about that. If a man will do this one thing he’ll never notice anything wrong. Proverbs 5:19 (KJV) Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished (delighted to ecstasy)  always with her love. You’ll be amazed what that will do for both. Two things I see here is a husband always seeing his wife as the apple of his eye which in return produces her love for him (with her love) she loves you back even with your fat belly. That’s God’s design for marriage. But that’s not man’s, therefore divorce comes and destroys the home and family. You get a new woman or man, hooray 👊🏻🥳 all is fine until💥you find something you don’t like🤔 and you will. Now what do you do? Get rid of them? That’s not the answer Proverbs 5:19 is! What’s the answer to the question?  “Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife?” Would the reverse side of that be is it lawful for a woman to put away her husband? No Jesus give the correct answer.

Mark 10:5 (KJV)  And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.

Mark 10:6 (KJV)  But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

Mark 10:7 (KJV)  For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

Mark 10:8 (KJV)  And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.

Mark 10:9 (KJV)  What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Did you say I do? Then get busy doing what you said you would do!

Prepare Don’t Fight 👊🏻

What did Jesus have to say about what John said? John said “we forbad him, because he followeth not us.” Mark 9:39 (KJV) But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me.

Mark 9:40 (KJV) For he that is not against us is on our part. If they aren’t against us then don’t waste your time fighting them. What a great tactic. If the enemy can get fighting going on within the people they are wanting to conquer. All they have to do is sit back and wait. So don’t lose sight of the main goal, don’t forget the main goal  Luke 19:10 (KJV) For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost. Jesus explains how important it is to reach the lost. It is better for one to cut off their hand, their foot even pull out one of their eyes than go into hell.  

Mark 9:43 (KJV) And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:45 (KJV) And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:

Mark 9:47 (KJV) And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Why?  Because it’s a place of no death, no comfort, all one has to do is read Luke 16 verses 19-31 for there we are told of a man who is now there in this place called hell. Notice what else we are told about this awful place. Three times we read these words “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” Watch out, for what your hands are reaching for, where your feet are taking you and what your eyes are looking at.

 II John 2:15 (KJV) Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

II John 2:16 (KJV) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

II John 2:17 (KJV)  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Don’t get so involved in preparing for the future that you forget the present. Your children will grow up faster than you think. Your health will decline sooner than you could ever imagine. One day you will realize that your strength is leaving you without your permission. Your mind! Well that’s a gamble. In this life. I have noticed you lose your mind or your body, very few get to keep both. I know it sounds like I’m saying don’t prepare for your future. But that’s not at all what I’m saying. Yes, prepare for your future here, but not to the point that’s all you are doing.  Proverbs 27:1 (KJV) Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. And yes prepare for your eternal future. In other words don’t forget you won’t always be here. Don’t get so involved here that you forget that one day you’ll be leaving here.  I remind you of the warning of  Luke 16:28 (KJV) For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 

“Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.” That’s what happens when you get to busy chasing the carrot 🥕 🏃‍♂️