Threading The Needle

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0:00God is so good. He is so faithful to us, and he's faithful to us to change us and shape us through his word. I knew a guy a long time ago that really loved his car. You probably know a guy like this. Maybe a girl. It seems to be guys. I don't know. And with this guy, I mean he really, really loved his car. What I noticed first is that not about how much he cleaned it or how much he drove it, but how much he talked about it all the time. About that particular make and model, about how the specialness of that year that they made that car, how unique and, you know, it was the apex of car manufacturing or something. He recited the specs, even though no one asked.

1:04And he would offer to drive people places and invariably be like, so what do you think? What do you think? Once just for fun, I asked him if I could drive it, and like I expected, it was a no. It was one of those polite no's where he didn't want to say no, but he's like, well, I don't know. I just, you know, just got it waxed, and you know. I don't know if you've ever driven a car like this before, but it was a no. What we love the most is usually pretty transparent to other people. It's sometimes more transparent to them than it is to us. What it is we really, really love. Now, today Jesus gets near someone, and what they love gets exposed, and that happens a lot with people. When they get around Jesus, he's a man of truth, and the truth will bring things to light. He is the light, and he sheds light on things that are in the darkness. So he, the person in this story, his greatest love becomes obvious, and then Jesus says something to him that he says to a lot of people, and it, I think it's Jesus's most divisive statement. He says, follow me. Now, that one thing, it just divides people immediately. So let's turn to Luke 18 and find out what happens.

2:34This is God's word. It is holy. It is given to us purposefully from a God that does not lie and does not change. So we can build our lives on his word. So let's receive it and respond to it that way, starting in verse 18. And a ruler asked him, good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said to him, why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother. And he said, all these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, one thing you still lack. 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 these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, how difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Those who heard it said, then who can be saved? But he said, what is impossible with man is possible with God. And Peter said, see, we have left our homes and followed you. And he said to them, truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many more times in this time, many, many times more in this time and in the age to come eternal life.

4:54And taking the 12, he said to them, see, we are going to Jerusalem and everything that is written about the son of man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he would be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him. And on the third day, he will rise. But they understood none of these things. The saying was hidden from them and they did not grasp what was said. Pray with me. Lord God, we are all ordinary clay vessels. But with your spirit and your word implanted in us, as we are sanctified in spirit and truth, you set us aside for holy purposes. And so, Lord, bless and make fruitful the going forth of your word so that it does profitable things in us, spiritually life-giving things in us, and directs our eyes to Jesus, the one and only Savior.

6:11There is no name under heaven or earth besides his through which we can be saved. We pray this, Jesus, in your name. Amen. Threading the needle. All other treasure is a trap. All other treasure is a trap. But complete devotion to Jesus sets us free. That's what we're talking about today. Threading the needle. How can we thread the needle?

6:45Lately, as we've been in the Gospel of Luke, the topics, ever since the Pharisees brought up the kingdom of God and asked when it would come, Jesus has talked about a certain theme of topics. He's talked about refuge and security. He's talked about how God can be those things for us and should be those things for us, but we have to leave behind self-reliance and other forms of security that we might run to. So it's not a surprise that the topic of money comes up because money is something Jesus knows our hearts. It becomes a refuge for us, a false refuge, shaky security. But listen, this passage is more about devotion than it is about money. It's beyond money, really. It's about whatever captivates our hearts, whatever we want to get most and keep most, whatever we try to hold on to other than him. It's about devotion. And so Jesus teaches us three things here about devotion.

7:55God expects our devotion. God enables our devotion. And God exceeds our devotion. Those are our three sections for today. God expects, enables, and exceeds our devotion. So let's start with the first section. Jesus had incredible insight into people. It did not take him long to really get a read on someone. Sometimes it was just one thing that they said, one question. And that's all it takes here for him. One question that this man asks. A ruler asks him, good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? And this one question reveals everything about the man that Jesus needs to know. First of all, the way that he addresses Jesus is taboo. You might not see that right away, but it is. Good was a significant word for Jews. When you would describe someone as good, you're describing them as righteous, as pure. As Jesus himself said, you don't use that word about anybody but God. Now, I just want to point out something and address something that you might be thinking. At first, it might seem like Jesus is denying here that he's God. Right? If you read it quickly, you can see that. But remember, that claiming that he's God is exactly what he did many, many other times. It's the reason why he was, people tried to kill him several times, and that is literally the charge that the religious leaders brought before him to ultimately crucify him. It's written all over the gospels. Jesus definitely claimed to be God. So, he must not be denying it here. Here's the way I think we should read this. Jesus is

9:54critiquing this young man's use of the word good. He's saying, listen, why do you use good to describe me? Why do you use good to describe someone that you just call a teacher? You see that? Those two things don't go together. If I'm good, pure, and righteous, then why are you just calling me a teacher?

10:20Good Lord, okay, I can accept that. Respected teacher, okay, that's fine. I know where you are on this matter. But good teacher, those two things don't go together. Good describes God and teacher shows me that you just think that I'm someone who gives some moral teachings, some moral lessons. The rest of his question confirms what the man really thinks. What must I do? He's focused on himself, his own behavior. He believes that a person can be good by doing good. What must I do?

10:56He has a low view of what goodness is and how you can achieve it, and a very high view of his own ability. So he is really off the mark here. In fact, he's a lot like the Pharisee in Jesus's parable last week. Those of you who are here might remember this. The Pharisee went in to pray and said, I'm, thank you that I'm not like other men. And he talks about everything that he did. This young man, whether or not he heard that parable, he is, he's following in the footsteps of that, of that Pharisee.

11:31So Jesus is like, okay, all right, I'll play along with you. What must I do? So he starts listing the commandments. He specifically lists the one that talk about treating other people a certain way. The man responds, all these I have kept from my youth. Now evidently, this guy has been trying to follow the law his whole life. He thinks he's doing pretty well, but can you see that the dilemma that he is in? He has no assurance of where he stands before God, even though he's been trying and trying and trying. He's basically saying, Jesus, I've done all that. I've done all that. Why don't I feel okay? So Jesus cuts through and goes right to the heart of the matter. Verse 22, one thing you still lack, sell all that you have and distribute to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven and come follow me. What is this that he lacks? Well, he lacks a humble trust in God. All his resources can never make up for the fact that he doesn't trust in God. In fact, all those resources are just making it worse. They have him trapped. Jesus wants his complete devotion and to do that, he's got to let go of the thing that he loves right now. Now some of you have heard this before. I've used this illustration before, but for those who haven't and kids, I want to just draw your attention here.

13:15Do you want to know how to catch a raccoon that's in your backyard? You want to know? Okay, there's a picture of a raccoon here. I picked a really mean looking raccoon to make you motivated to catch this raccoon. So here's what you do. You find a tree or a big log that's fallen over in your backyard and you drill a hole in it. The hole's got to be about maybe two inches in diameter and about four inches deep. And then you put nails that point down towards the bottom of the hole. You nail it into the side so that they point down. Can you visualize it? The holes go down like this. The nails go down like this. And then you take a little piece of tinfoil and you drop it down in the hole.

14:02Because raccoons, they love them some shiny stuff. They love it. They want to take it back to their home. So the raccoon comes along and sees the, you know, they're curious. They investigate things. They see the shiny thing in the bottom of the hole. They can see well even at night. And they reach their little paw down and they grab that shiny thing and now their fist can't get past those two nails. They try to pull their fist but the nail, it hits their little paw. Don't be too sad. This thing is getting in your trash. You want this thing gone. Okay. Don't be sad. He needs to go.

14:42So, but he doesn't hurt himself. He just pulls his hand up and he can't get it out. But here's the thing. He wants that shiny thing so much that he won't let go of it. He could be free if he just lets go. He could pull his hand right out and walk away. But he won't let go. He hits the nails and he, he's caught. So you come out in the morning, you put a cage around him, you scare him enough and he finally lets go and then you can take him to your neighbor's house and let him out. I'm just kidding.

15:13No, I don't know where you take him. Maybe you take him to Pocahontas State Park and let him out. But he could be free if he just lets go of that shiny object. But they don't do it. They're trapped. Jesus is saying to this young man, just let go. Let go of it. Let go of it. Follow me and you will be free. But the man doesn't. He's holding on to his wealth, everything that he treasures. Jesus is saying, let go and follow me. Be devoted to me instead of this stuff that you have.

16:02It's not going to satisfy you, but I will. I will. He's so close to real freedom. But like a raccoon, he is just holding on to this shiny nonsense and he won't let it go. When he heard these things, he became very sad for he was extremely rich. Now this is a tragic irony, isn't it? Look at this man. He has what he loves and he has it in abundance, but he's miserable and he won't let it go. Talk about being trapped. Listen, like him, we have to reckon with the cost of following Jesus. It requires a fundamental reordering of what we treasure, of what we love.

17:03And listen, it's not just money. Skip down to verse 29 where Jesus lists many things that we might have to leave for the sake of the kingdom of God. House or wife or brothers or parents or children. Do you see how Jesus has expanded it beyond just money? Now talking about leaving these things, he's not just talking about people who become missionaries and go to some foreign country and leave their hometown. He's talking about all of us. Anything that we might love more than him is on the table. Anything that we might, that might control our decision-making is on the table. Whether it's property, possessions, people, even family. I've had family tell me in the past that I'm spending too much time with Jesus. I didn't listen to them. And Lord help me, I have been the family member who has told people that they're spending too much time with Jesus and not enough with me. They didn't listen to me and they shouldn't have. God expects our complete devotion. All of it. He will not play second fiddle to your job, to your money, to your house, to your car, to your musical instruments, to your hobbies. He won't play second fiddle to any of it. He is a jealous God and rightfully so because there is no one higher or superior to him. There's no one greater than him. That's why follow me is such a divisive thing for Jesus to say because he means follow me more than anything else, more than anyone else. It is disruptive to our lives. How could it not be? That's what happens when a new and greater

19:12love comes into our heart. Pastor and author Sam Albury says this, if someone thinks the gospel has somehow slotted into their life quite easily without causing any major adjustments to their lifestyle or aspirations, it is likely they have not really started following Jesus at all. Friends, what is God calling you to let go of in order to be devoted to him wholeheartedly? Maybe it is your money or maybe it's your reputation or your competency or your hobbies. Maybe it's your autonomy.

19:57Maybe it's your family. Whatever it is, I'm here to tell you it is not worth as much as Jesus is. It will never fill you up like Jesus will and it will not deliver you the way Jesus will. This feels costly because it is costly. But listen, let's look at what Jesus says next here. God enables our devotion. Jesus saw the rich man was sad and he said this, how difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Now contrary to what you may have heard, the eye of the needle is not a gate in Jerusalem. That gate didn't exist until like the 9th century. So Jesus is not referring to some gate around Jerusalem. He's talking about a literal eye of a needle. He's talking about a literal camel. The eye of a needle would be the smallest opening that anyone around him who was listening would have been familiar with. The camel would have been the largest animal that most of them have ever seen or will ever see. He's making an analogy that's absurd. It's making a point. Rich people cannot be saved on their own. Their wealth does them no good.

21:30And this was shocking. He was trying to shock them to listen to him. In Judaism, as long as wealth wasn't made dishonestly, it was considered a sign of God's blessing and approval. Jesus is turning conventional wisdom on its head. They would have been shocked to hear this because they were used to looking at someone who was rich. As long as they weren't making it dishonestly, they would have seen someone as rich and said, ah, there is someone who's definitely going to enter the kingdom of God.

22:03And he's saying, no, it's the opposite. It's harder for them. The disciples don't know what to think. And so they respond with desperation. Who can be saved? Now this is the right question. The rich man asked, what must I do? The disciples asked the right question. Who can be saved? They have now seen how unreliable self-reliance is. This is exactly what Jesus is looking for. And so he tells them the secret. What is impossible with man is possible with God.

22:43The very thing you cannot do, God can. Only he can help the helpless. Only he gives rest to the restless. Only he makes dead hearts alive and makes blind people see. That's why the scriptures say salvation belongs to the Lord. It belongs to him. It is God's work from start to finish. It's God's power on display. It's God's glory alone. Hallelujah. That he exalts only himself in salvation.

23:18Listen, if you are struggling or scared to let go of something that you know you love more than him, then go to him about that. Take it to him. Ask him for help. Ask him to work in you. Ask him to show you. To open your eyes to see that he is better than that thing or that person. When we seek him in repentance and faith, when we cry out to him and we say, God, be my greatest devotion. Break the grip that these things have on my heart. He will do it. He will do it. He might ask you to walk in that direction before you realize that he's done it, but he will do it. So that's part one that God enables our devotion. But listen, he does even more. He further enables our devotion by giving us more than we give up. Look at this. Peter speaks up in verse 28. See, we have left our homes and followed you.

24:25They walked away from a lot. Their homes, their families, their professions, their jobs, their boats, their nets, everything. All for the sake of Jesus. Peter is saying, Jesus, what about us? What's going to happen to us now that we've done this? Now that we've given these things up? Maybe Peter is articulating what you've been wondering lately. When the cost of Jesus hits you, when the cost of following Jesus hits you like a wave again and you cry out to him, see, Jesus, I'm walking away.

25:02Hey, I'm seeking to put you first in my life. What? What now? Well, listen to the assurance that Jesus gives. Truly, I say to you, this is how Jesus says, pay attention. Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive many times more in this time and in the age to come eternal life. Here's the assurance of Jesus to his people. You are not getting swindled. It is not a trick. He is not a con artist where you suddenly look down and you're penniless and he is rich and you realize you've been had.

25:53It's the opposite. You give up a little ball of tinfoil and you get glorious, unfathomable riches. Listen to this. First and foremost, God gives you himself. He gives you himself. He's the treasure, the one of the highest value. Through Christ, we know him as our friend. And if that weren't enough, we know him as our father. Through Christ. Do you ever stop and marvel at the fact that the Lord of heaven and earth, the one who made the stars, put them in their place, the one who knows the operation of every cell in your entire body, the God of infinite glory and infinite worth and infinite majesty, is your father now. Through faith in Christ, your loving, doting, faithful father. This is what the spirit is put inside of us to say, to cry out, Abba, father. The spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God through Christ. And if children, then heirs. Heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ.

27:22The biggest treasure that he gives us that is many times more as himself. Don't lose sight of that. But it gets even better. He gives us even more. It's like one of those infomercials where they're like, but wait, there's more. Except it's actually a good deal, not a bad one. But wait, there's more. We have new family relationships. The church is the household of faith. Because we have become children of God, we now have brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers in the faith. And that's what we are to each other. Siblings, mothers and fathers to one another in Christ. That's how the Bible refers to our relationships. Look at this one, these two verses from 1 Timothy. Do not rebuke an older man, but encourage him as you would a father. Younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters in all purity. Oh, what a gift this is to you and to me. Oh, what a gift the relationships of spiritual family that we have by the Spirit in the church. Friends, we are sitting on a gold mine.

28:51All we need to do is just dig in and receive it. The gift has already been given. I just have too many examples to name. Last night we were at the retirement party of Stan Morton, who is the pastor at Crown & Joy. He's retiring. They've hired another pastor to take his place, and he and his wife, Terry, moving back to Pennsylvania. And we're sad to see him go. And the guidance that he has given to me, I count him as a spiritual father. It's one of the reasons why I'm glad to be Presbyterian. It's because the kind of network we have among churches encourages us to develop and be nourished by brothers and sisters and fathers and mothers from many different churches. And the local church, the individual church, is included in that. Spend some time thinking about how someone in this church has been a brother or a sister or a mother or father to you, and think about what you want more there.

29:58I could say more, but I'll keep going. Jesus saves the best for last. There is an inheritance for us in the age to come eternal life. That's why he said, I go to prepare a place for you. In our glorified body with sin and death abolished, we will be at rest in the land, at home in the Lord's presence. Have you ever heard someone do something in the name of Jesus? Maybe it's a short-term mission trip, maybe it's working in a prison, and maybe it's just taking a meal to someone. And they come back and they say, I was blessed more than I gave. I went to serve, but I came back realizing that I was served more than I served. I know we've all heard that. That's what Jesus is talking about. That's the economics of the kingdom. It's like a perpetual motion machine, but even better. He multiplies what we get. Whatever we give up, it comes back to us more. You don't have to be afraid to let go of the things that beguile your heart and really captivate you. You can put them down lower and put God higher, knowing that he will give you more than you have let go of. Always and forever. You cannot outgive God. Now, I'm going to close with this last section very briefly. God exceeds our devotion. Right after he talks about this, he knows the disciples are still thinking and chewing on what he said, and he takes the 12 aside and he reminds them of what is going to happen next. We are going up to Jerusalem, but something is going to happen to him. What awaits him is not a coronation. It's not a banquet,

32:06but it's betrayal. It's a trial. It's death. And he did it for our sake. For the sake of lost people like you and me, it was an act of devotion, my friends. An act of devotion from start to finish. Before you and I had to consider of letting go of our money, for his sake, he let go of the glory that he had with the Father from eternity to come down here for us. Before we had to let go of possessions or home to follow him, he walked this earth with no place to lay his head so that he could bring us home. Before we faced the sting of rejection from family and from loved ones, he endured the rejection of many of his own people, including some of his own brothers and sisters, his own family, so that we could become his family. God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He's more devoted to you than you are to him.

33:18He exceeds our devotion every day of the week. He always has been more devoted and he always will be. No matter what your devotion costs you, you will always have him more devoted to you at your side. Behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. Church, this is someone that's worth giving up everything for, everything to follow. This is someone you can trust. When he comes to you and he says, come, come follow me, you know that you can answer him, that it's the right call to answer him.

34:01Pray with me. Lord God, there's so many things in this life that promise us a great return on investment if we just will give up something, but they all fail to deliver and they fail to deliver us. All these things that we hold on to, there's no security there. Would you please help us, expose in us the things that we tend to put higher than you in our hearts, the loves that we love more than you. Reorder our hearts and Lord show us the many times more blessings that you give us in this time and remind us of the hope that we have for eternal life. Jesus, thank you for going to Jerusalem.

35:01Out of devotion to us, continue the good work that you have begun in us and carry us forward, Lord. We know that all your sheep are yours and no one will snatch them out of your hand. And Jesus, we pray this in your name. Amen.