Gospel of Mark Bible Part 57: The Problem with Wealth[Bible Study]

Bible Study Title: When Riches Own the Heart

Scripture

Mark 10:17-27

“And as He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and began asking Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰ And he said to Him, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up.” ²¹ And looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” ²² But at these words he was saddened, and he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property.

²³ And Jesus, looking around, said to His disciples, “How hard it will be for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ And they were even more astonished, saying to Him, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Looking at them, Jesus said, “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Introduction

Ask:

• What is something you would find very hard to give up if Jesus asked?

• How do you know when something has moved from “possession” to “idol” in your life?

  
  

Transition: In this passage we meet a man who had morality, religion, and money—but walked away from Jesus in sorrow.

1. The “Good” Man Who Was Wrong (Mark 10:17–22)

Read Mark 10:17–20

Discuss:

1. What do we learn about this man from the way he approaches Jesus (running, kneeling, calling Him “Good Teacher”)?

2. Why does Jesus answer his question about eternal life by quoting commandments instead of going straight to faith or grace?

3. The man says, “I have kept all these things from my youth.” What does this reveal about how he understands righteousness?

Brief Teaching Points:

• He comes to the right person and asks the right question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

• Jesus cites the Law because the man is under the Old Covenant and because the Law exposes the heart, not because keeping commandments can earn salvation.

• The man is outwardly moral, yet blind to his inner idolatry; he thinks in terms of “What more can I do?” rather than “Whom must I follow?”

Read Mark 10:21–22

Greek insight you gave (summarize for class):

• “Having become gloomy” = visibly shocked into sadness; his face falls at Jesus’ words.

• “He went away grieving” = he carries deep inner sorrow as he walks away.

Discuss:

4. What “one thing” did he lack, according to Jesus?

5. Why did Jesus’ command to “sell all…give to the poor…and come, follow Me” expose this man’s true spiritual condition?

6. How do his visible sadness and decision to walk away show who really “owned” him?

Application:

• What might Jesus put His finger on in your life—not because He hates you, but because He loves you (v. 21) and wants your whole heart?

2. The Spiritual Danger of Riches (Mark 10:23–25)

Read Mark 10:23–25

Teaching summary from your outline:

A. The absorbing interest of riches

• Riches do not satisfy; the more you have, the more preoccupied you become with using, keeping, and increasing them (Ecclesiastes 1:8; 5:10)

• Like a black hole, wealth can absorb your time and energy—time that should go to family, church, and the Lord.

  

Discuss:

1. In what practical ways can wealth or the pursuit of it absorb our hearts and schedules today?

2. Have you ever seen someone whose life is “eaten up” by money—even if they aren’t technically rich?

B. The deceitful promise of riches

Read Mark 4:19

• Jesus warns that “the deceitfulness of riches” chokes the Word and makes it unfruitful.

• Riches promise security and satisfaction, but:

  • They can vanish (Proverbs 23:5; Matthew 6:19–20)

  • They cannot buy salvation (Psalm 49:6–9, 16–20)

  • They cannot protect from God’s wrath (Zephaniah 1:18)

Discuss:

3. How do riches “lie” to us? What messages about money do we hear from culture that contradict Jesus?

C. The foolish pride of riches

• Wealth often produces arrogance and forgetfulness of God (Deuteronomy 8:11–17).

• This pride contributed to the downfall of Sodom and Israel (Ezekiel 16:49–50; Hosea 13:4–6).

• Many assume riches mean God’s favor, but Scripture shows rich unbelievers and suffering saints.

Discuss:

4. What are some subtle ways pride shows up in people who have money or status?

5. How can both riches and poverty become spiritual traps (arrogance vs. envy)?

D. The hardening selfishness of riches

• The rich often close their hearts to the poor; Israel did this (Amos 2:6; 5:11–12; 8:4–6).

• It is possible to talk piously about “what I would do if I had more” yet be unfaithful with what we already have.

Discuss:

6. Why does Scripture tie our treatment of the poor so closely to our spiritual health?

7. What might it look like, in our setting, to keep our hearts soft toward those in need?

3. Lessons for Our Hearts (Mark 10:26–27)

Read Mark 10:26–27

• The disciples are shocked: if the rich (who were often assumed to be blessed by God) can’t enter easily, “Then who can be saved?”

• Jesus answers: “With people it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.”

Emphasize:

• The core issue is not “Have or have not?” but “Whom do you trust—riches or God?”

• Salvation is humanly impossible; wealth cannot purchase it, and moral effort cannot earn it. It is a gift of God’s power and grace.

Discuss:

1. How does Jesus’ statement correct both the rich man’s thinking and ours about earning eternal life?

2. In what ways have you seen God do what was humanly impossible in someone’s salvation?

4. Covetousness vs. Contentment

A. The folly of covetousness

Read 1 Timothy 6:9–10; Proverbs 28:20

• Wanting to be rich leads to temptation, snares, and “many sorrows.”

• Covetousness is idolatry (Ephesians 5:5; Colossians 3:5).

• It is not a sin to have riches; it is a sin to love, chase, and trust them.

Ask:

• Where do you see covetousness most strongly promoted today?

• How can we guard our hearts from loving money?

B. The duty and gift of contentment

Read 1 Timothy 6:6–8; Philippians 4:11–12; Hebrews 13:5

• Godliness with contentment is great gain.

• Contentment is learned by:

  • Remembering we cannot take anything with us (1 Timothy 6:7).

  • Recognizing what is truly essential (1 Timothy 6:8).

  • Trusting God’s promise: “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Discuss:

• What practices help you cultivate contentment in daily life?

• How does believing God’s presence and care free you from the love of money?

Discussion Table (for quick review)

Theme	Danger/Truth	Key Texts
Morality without surrender	Outward obedience can hide inward idolatry	Mark 10:17–22
Absorbing interest of riches	Money can consume time, energy, affection	Ecclesiastes 5:10; Mark 4:19
Deceitful promise of riches	Wealth promises security but cannot save	Ps 49; Zeph 1:18; Luke 12:15
Pride produced by riches	Wealth can make us forget God and despise others	Deut 8:11–17; Ezek 16:49–50
Hardening selfishness	Riches can close our hearts to the poor	Amos 2:6; 5:11–12
Folly of covetousness	Desire to be rich leads to snares and sorrows	1 Tim 6:9–10; Col 3:5
Beauty of contentment	Godliness with contentment is true wealth	1 Tim 6:6–8; Heb 13:5

Closing Reflection

Invite personal reflection:

• Is there anything in my life that I would walk away with rather than surrender to Christ?

• Do I measure God’s favor by my finances or circumstances, instead of by the cross and His promises?

  
  

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