Bible Text: Mark 10:17-31 | Preacher: Lieutenant Rob Westwood-Payne | Series: Undivided Attention | In this sermon on casual Christianity, we are challenged that God demands all of us. Not 10 or 20 percent of us, but 100 percent of us. All of us.

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Are We Guilty of Casual Christianity?

How do you know you’re a casual Christian? You’re complacent about how you live, disengaged from your faith and indifferent towards the Kingdom. Continued rebellion is proof of our casualness.

Mark 10:17-31, NIVUK

The rich and the kingdom of God

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. ‘Good teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’

18 ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: “You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honour your father and mother.”[a]’

20 ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’

21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’

22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!’

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, ‘Children, how hard it is[b] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.’

26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, ‘Who then can be saved?’

27 Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.’

28 Then Peter spoke up, ‘We have left everything to follow you!’

29 ‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30 will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields – along with persecutions – and in the age to come eternal life.31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’

The Man Has a Lot Going for Him

Mark 10:17 ESV

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

He was young. He was reverential (he fell on knees before Jesus). He had good standing in his community. He followed the religious Law to the letter. He had plenty of financial resources to fund the mission. And he asked a good question. Was he genuinely seeking the Kingdom? He certainly seemed eager and excited.

One Thing

Mark 10:21 ESV

And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

Jesus lovingly confronted his pride and the barrier that would keep him out of Kingdom.Being a Christian, being a follower of Jesus isn’t a 10/20 percent thing. Jesus demands 100 percent of everything, everywhere, all the time.

Money Had Become This Man’s God

Money was the insurmountable obstacle that had such a hold on him that could never give 100 percent. Money had become his god.

Exodus 20:3 ESV

“You shall have no other gods before me.

Jesus demanded radical obedience. It was a test of his faith and his willingness to obey.

It All Seems a Bit Extreme

Mark 10:24 ESV

And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children,