Date: 26-Apr-2024
Name: Michael Ngethe
Topic: THE RICH YOUNG RULER.
Content:
Ecclesiastes 9:11-12
I returned and saw under the sun that—
The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor bread to the wise,
Nor riches to men of understanding,
Nor favor to men of skill;
But time and chance happen to them all.
For man also does not know his time:
Like fish taken in a cruel net,
Like birds caught in a snare,
So the sons of men are snared in an evil time,
When it falls suddenly upon them.
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ Honor your father and your mother.’ ”
And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
SOME LESSONS FROM YOUNG RICH RULER
1. The rich young ruler had accomplished so much at young age both riches and influence.
2. He was possibly very skilled and well connected. He had accomplished what take others year of hard work and perseverance.
3. He was humble. “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
4. He had an good understanding of scripture and practiced all that was required of him.
5. He desired to enter the kingdom. And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
6. He failed the ultimate test of the heart because he trusted in his earthly possessions. “So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
LESSONS FROM KING SOLOMON.
1. Race - Swift (time)- Speed.
“Life is a function of time”
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
So teach us to number our days,
That we may gain a heart of wisdom.
I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty,
But those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
2. Battle - Strong - Strength.
The types of strength
• Physical
• Spiritual
• Mental
• Emotional strength
Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the LORD
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.
Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
3. Bread (supplies) wise - wisdom.
Provision and supply -wisdom.
Proverbs 2:6-8
For the LORD grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.
He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.
He guards the paths of the just
and protects those who are faithful to him.
James 1:5
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
Proverbs 16:16
How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and good judgment than silver!
4. Richies- understanding.
Philippians 4:19
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Proverbs 8:18-19
Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
Ecclesiastes 9:16
Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man's wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard.
Proverbs 3:16
Length of days is in her right hand,
In her left hand riches and honor.
Ecclesiastes 9:14-16
There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it, besieged it, and built great snares around it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that same poor man.
Then I said:
“Wisdom is better than strength.
Nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised,
And his words are not heard.
5. Favour- skill- Talent.
Proverbs 22:29
Do you see a man who excels in his work?
He will stand before kings;
He will not stand before unknown men.
Exodus 35:35
He has filled them with skill to do all manner of work of the engraver and the designer and the tapestry maker, in blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine linen, and of the weaver—those who do every work and those who design artistic works.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
6. TIME and CHANCE happens to ALL.
“Time is the unit of destiny. If the devil can waste your time he can abort or destroy your destiny.”
- Lakers Komaiya.
“God is never late and rarely early. He is always exactly right on time--His time.”
― Dillon Burroughs.
“Everything is subject to God’s timing and everything depends on it”
― Sunday Adelaja
“You don't have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it'll go.”
Yogi Berra.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end
"One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." — Benjamin Disraeli
“Be ready when opportunity comes...Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet.”
⁃ Roy D. Chapin
A Chance is Something you Take. An Opportunity is Something You Get
A Chance is often an action not defined by careful thought and planning. You take a chance on having a winning ticket, a chance on leaving the house on a cloudy day without your umbrella.
An Opportunity however is something you get as a result of a situation which you may or may not have had anything to do with. An Opportunity is like a gift you can choose to open or not.
Opportunities mean things are much more likely to happen because of your actions unlike a chance where the odds may be no more or less in your favor.
FINALLY
Luke 18:23
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.
Search my heart ohhh Lord.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
“The heart is deceitful above all things,
And desperately wicked;
Who can know it?
I, the LORD, search the heart,
I test the mind,
Even to give every man according to his ways,
According to the fruit of his doings.
Psalms 26:2
Examine me, O LORD, and prove me;
Try my mind and my heart.
Proverbs 27:19 “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects man.”
Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
“We must learn to measure ourselves, not by our knowledge about God, not by our gifts and responsibilities in the church, but by how we pray and what goes on in our hearts. Many of us, I suspect, have no idea how impoverished we are at this level. Let us ask the Lord to show us.” JJ Packer.
Prayer Points:
