Do You Know Secrets To Endless Wealth–from God Through Peter Eyes?
Part 3
To understand where we’re headed in II Peter 3.
I like to give you what I call Peter’s biography so just for a moment think about Peter with me.
Jesus found Peter along the shores of the sea of Galilee. Remember that’s how the Gospels opened
with Jesus walking along the shore of Galilee. Jesus saw Peter and Andrew’s brother.
Jesus said to them follow me. That’s how Peter was called to the ministry. He lived along the sea of
Galilee. He worked as a fisherman. He’s presented in the Gospel as this hard-working, self-employed and
diligent businessman. Peter was trying to support his family. Did you know Mark chapter 1
talks about Peter’s mother-in-law? Did you know the only way you can get a mother-in-law is to have
what a wife right? So Peter as a disciple had a wife. He had a family had a mother-in-law. This caused him
to be really into supporting his family because he’s going off with Jesus. He’s got a family’s to support.
So he was this man who was trying to always weigh the cost of following Christ.
Whether he’s going to be able to support his family. So that’s all in the background.
Well one day Peter’s motivation for his career and his finances and for all of his goals in life
were radically changed. In fact the bible says that Peter felt like Jesus was the word astonished.
Greatly astonished is like someone hit him. What Peter records in fact. Let’s turn back there to
Mark Chapter 10:17.
“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?”
I want you to see it right through Peter’s eyes. I want you to see one of the most moving events of Peter’s
life that totally changed him for the rest of his life.
His outlook on his career, on his finances and on his day-to-day job.
How he looked at life financially and materially okay and it starts in verse 17
and this is what happened Jesus said something that Peter could not forget.
It starts in verse 17. Basically this verse 17 is about a wealthy man that enthusiastically comes to Jesus.
Peter watched him and you can see the eyewitness account Peter said this guy ran up to Jesus.
He didn’t just run up to Jesus verse 17 says he slid in and fell at Christ’s feet. He looked up at Jesus
and he popped on his knees. He pops the ultimate question to Jesus which is how can I have
eternal life. I mean that’s the dream of anybody in the ministry to have someone so excited about God that
they race to us instead of us having to find them and go through 50 people that denounce us for sharing Christ.
What a joy to have someone this enthusiastic just slide in but he wasn’t just enthusiastic.
He was very wealthy. The word there speaks of high piles. His wealth to everybody around was so much that it
wasn’t like he was kind of had something. It’s just like he had so much everyone knew it.
So that’s verse 17. Well that must have made Peter’s heart well up with great joy. Wow somebody on the team
with us a wealthy man. He can really help the work of Christ that Peter was a part of.
This must have just been so exciting for Peter but then what happens in verse 18 is what stunned
Peter the words Jesus said must have made Peter shake his head. What did I hear Peter must have been
going what did you say Jesus look at verse 18.
Jesus bluntly told this eager zealous young man who wanted to join in following Christ that he had to sell
all of his vast possessions. He had to give away the fortune after he sold it to poor people no less.
Then he could follow Christ. Those words were Christ’s pathway for that man to inherit eternal life.
That would be a summary of chapter 10 verses 18, 19, 20 and 21. Those verses Jesus was very blunt.
Well the result must been so disheartening for Peter in fact look at verse 22. That’s his eyewitness account
he captured the emotional response of the man. That I mean Peter was watching him. I mean he was still thinking
about this. The man as far as we know was still on his knees looking up at Jesus waiting for the answer.
Peter says look at verse 22 but the man was sad at this word. what word? Go sell everything when you get the
proceeds give every bit of it away. Then you can follow me and have that eternal life you want so bad.
When the man heard this that word he went away sorrowful because he had great possessions. Peter also records
that Jesus loved that man. So Jesus wasn’t looking all smugly. He was looking down at him and he says you want
eternal life? Okay sell everything you have and give all the money away and follow me. The man looked up
and he stood up. Peter registered that it wasn’t hardness it wasn’t meanness. The man just became deeply
sorrowful and he walked away. Look at what the ending of the verse 22 says. Why did he walk away? For he had
great possessions.
Next point Christ unrelenting lesson in all of this is you look at every time Jesus touches on money.
His unrelenting lesson was riches are a handicap. Now we know that is not talked about in America.
In fact if you went out and told people riches are a handicap. They would tell you are crazy. Jesus had
an intentional teaching time look at verse 23. This is when it really gets good. Jesus was training Peter
and the rest of the 12 Apostles.
Here’s the vital lesson what Jesus wanted them to know is riches are a handicap to eternal life that’s
not an aid. Wealth can be the greatest hindrance to eternal life. It doesn’t help you
get to heaven. Jesus looked around verse 23 and said to his disciples I mean they’re all kind of frozen.
They were amazed the guy comes running and sliding in at Christ’s feet. Then they were astonished at the
exchange. So they’re just looking at Jesus trying to understand. I mean like did we just hear what you said?
So Jesus says he looks around at them and he says how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the
kingdom of God.
Verse 24 and the disciples were astonished at his words. You know they were still shaking their heads.
So Jesus answered again and said to them even more bluntly. Children how hard it is for those who trust
in riches to enter the kingdom of God.
Now what Jesus saying is wealth is a handicap to eternal life.
In fact Jesus said you can’t get into heaven holding on to or trusting in riches to enter the kingdom of God.
Why Jesus said I’m the door. I’m the gate.
John 10 I’m the door that you enter into eternal life. I’m the gatekeeper. I’m the actual doorway.
If you walk up to me and if I notice that you’re pulling behind you your gigantic truck of the
ownership of all your possessions. I say no you can’t come in with that. If you won’t let go if. You won’t
divest yourself of trusting of having to have that with you all the time. You won’t go without the the
security and support and and whatever you get from all that being mine. Jesus said I won’t let you in.
See that’s what he told that man and that man looked back at the wealth he was towing through life.
He looked at Jesus and he looked at the doorway. He said if the doorway is too narrow to get my bag through.
I’m not going.
Mark 10:
17And 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?
18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19Thou 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.
20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21Then 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.
22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s,
30But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
Do You Know Secrets To Endless Wealth–from God Through Peter Eyes? Part 3