A Rich Man and a Poor Man
Clifford Henry Brown
Table of Contents
A Rich Man and a Poor Man: Part 1
Luke 18:15-43
In this chapter we have brought before us two most interesting characters, the one contrasted with the other-a very rich man and a very poor man. As a prelude to the consideration of these two, we find the Spirit of God bringing before us the lesson from the infants who were brought to Jesus.
The mothers brought their little ones to Jesus that He might touch them. If you are a parent, you can readily understand that statement. It is according to the nature of a mother to wish the very best for her small bundle of life. Here was One in their midst who combined in His Person all that was lovely. The mothers felt instinctively that the mere touch of His holy hands upon the head of a little one would do it good. So they brought the children to Him.
How different was the judgment of the disciples! They would stem the tide of love in the heart of both the mothers and the Lord. But our Lord would not brook their interference. He told out the love of His heart 14 hen tie said, "Suffer little children to come unto Me, and forbid theta not: for of such is the kingdom of God." He invited them to come. You and I in our self-complacence are disposed to discount the work of God in the hearts of the little ones. But may we not learn something from them? When we talk to the children about the Lord Jesus, we do not find it necessary to reason with them. They do not require a multitude of proofs as to the inspiration of the Scriptures, or of the deity of Christ. We repeat the story in simple words such as a little child can comprehend. Those little eyes look right into our eyes, and we can discern that they believe what we tell them.
The Lord invites the children to come unto Him. I wonder if perhaps we have made a mistake in overlooking them. One has very little sympathy with that disposition on the part of some who would raise objection to a special effort to take the gospel to the children. I believe it has proven a most blessed service, and God has owned it. Let us continue to bring the gospel to the little ones while their hearts are young and tender. "Forbid them not."
In connection with the incident of blessing the children, our Lord goes a step further and announces that "Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." The little child comes in all the simplicity of unquestioning faith. How did you come? How did I come? Surely not in the sense of personal merit. Not in virtue of a breast decked with badges, ribbons, and medals. No! nor with a list of degrees after my name. How did we get into the kingdom of God? If we entered at all, it was through that lowly gate of childlike faith. "A little child shall lead them." There are no private entrances, so we must all come through that narrow gate of faith.
This is no doubt the reason why: "Not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence." 1 Cor. 1:26-29.
But we are a generation of boasters. We are self-confident. We like to bring forth our strong reasons. We resent being placed in the infant class. So it is when you take the gospel to those who are of great station in life, that you meet with opposition immediately. You find yourself in an unfriendly atmosphere. You are conscious of what is called in the business world, "sales resistance." What a contrast we find to this when we get a group of little children together to talk about the Lord Jesus. We are immediately conscious of the simplicity with which they listen to the sweet story of God's love in sending His Son to die for them.
Let us turn now to the case before us in Luke 18-the rich young ruler. He is a rare character. He is a rich man, a cultured man, a man of position. Further, we gather that he was a fine man of estimable character. There are not many men in Scripture who are pictured in a more favorable light than this young Jew; so much so, that the Lord Jesus looking upon him, loved him. You have met such characters, perhaps a young man whose name you do not know; yet his bearing and demeanor are such as to arrest your attention. His presence bespeaks refinement and courtesy. His very speech reflects nobility of breeding. "Oh," you say, "I wish that man were a Christian." You have the consciousness that he is a stranger to the grace of God. Yes, we have met people like that. Well, here is such a one, "A certain ruler."
We all like to be rulers. None of us like to be ruled. We enjoy a position of leadership. The world is one vast arena where men struggle for the honors. Whether it is nations or individuals, organizations or cartels, there exists ever the struggle for priority, for mastery. Yes, men love to rule. So here we have a man who is a ruler.
This admirable young man comes to Jesus with a question: "Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He came to the right Person. Yes, he came to the right One. And everyone should weigh that expression: eternal life. 0 what a term it is! This expression, eternal life, is found only twice in the Old Testament, hut in those places it does not mean what it does in the New Testament. There it is millennial life on the earth. So perhaps this young man's question did not contemplate anything beyond the Old Testament concept of everlasting life here on the earth.
This earth could be a wonderful place for those who have plenty of money, if it were not for the flies of death in the apothecary's ointment (Eccles. 10:1). So-called "Death Valley Scotty" lived out there in comparative luxury for years, but the one thing that ruined his outlook was the fact of death at the end of the road. His valley was well named, "Death Valley." Another man, Mr. Randolph Hearst, built himself a palace in California. He spent a million dollars a year in entertainment. but was always embarrassed at the thought that at the end of his good time was death. He was offended if anyone mentioned that word "death" in his hearing. His close friends knew this and avoided the dreaded word. It was the end of the way that troubled him. I believe he had a fifty thousand dollar funeral; but, you know, that only took him to a hole in the ground, or perhaps a crypt in a mausoleum; money cannot carry beyond death.
In our chapter here the young man asked, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He came to the right Person, but he did not couch his question intelligently. There is a measure of self-confidence in that question. What shall I DO? This is innate in the human heart. And all religions of which man boasts are built upon that concept: What shall I DO? The thought that a salvation has been purchased and is offered on the terms of doing nothing, never seems to enter the heart of men. That is the reason that the plan of salvation as we find it in Scripture did not have its origin in this earth; it came from heaven. Man knows practically nothing of grace. It is not of works. It has its origin in the great heart of God, coming to man, not with a demand, but with an offer. God comes out with both hands full. He offers to man the best He has. He says, "Come... and he that bath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isa. 55:1. Yes, the wine of the joy of salvation is offered free. Come and get it from a giving God, from a God who is anxious to bless. How few there are who accept the offer! It is the old story of the fisherman trying to give away herrings on London Bridge. "Herrings for nothing," but he could get no takers. Everybody thought they were spoiled or that something was wrong with them. Herrings at a bargain. a dozen for a penny, that would be all right; but, herrings for nothing, no! God has come out in grace and is offering man salvation.
This young man said, "Good Master, what shall I DO?" Before the Lord Jesus answers his question, He corrects another blunder in his approach. He accosted the Lord as "Good Master." Now those terms are not correlative. Good-ah, what a word that is! If we turn to the 14th Psalm we find God canvassing this world for someone that was good, but He found none, not one who was good.
The Lord corrects the young man. If you call Me good, you will have to give Me the rest of the title. There is none good but God. Now notice: The Lord does not say, Young man, you are mistaken, I am not good. No, no; He does not say anything resembling that. How different it was with Paul and Barnabas when preaching to the pagans. These latter were accustomed to believe in demi-gods—gods come down from heaven in the form of men. They rushed out into the street with the priest and the offering to do them sacrifice, saying, These men are gods come down in human form. How stirred the apostles were! They ran in among them and tore their clothes and said, Do not this foolishness. We are men with like passions as you. We are just like you poor heathen-not a bit better. Do not sacrifice to us.
But with the Lord Jesus, no such rebuke is given. All He asks is, if we call Him good, which He was in the most absolute sense, we have to recognize that He is also God. No doubt this young man did not take in what our Lord meant. So the Lord goes on to say, "Thou knowest the commandments." The young man was religious. He had not been brought up in ignorance. The Lord repeats the commandments, "Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor thy father and thy mother." He replies, "All these things have I kept from my youth up." Yes, there are men like that. Surely there are. There are many men who have lived an exemplary moral life. They have never killed, stolen, etc. The Lord does not question his integrity nor his sincerity. "All these things have I kept from my youth up." The Lord marveled at the fine character that stood before Him. Our Lord's heart was filled with longing and pity for this fine young man standing there before Him so sincerely. Jesus replied, "Yet lackest thou one thing." Is it not true that until grace has wrought in our hearts, that is where we all are-"Yet lackest thou"? There is a void in every human heart, and there is only One who can fill it. Until He comes into the heart, we can say, "Yet lackest thou." He had everything else. Some men have gone very high in this world, in wealth, in honor, in position. As an example, take a man like Ghandi of India. He had much to commend him, and there are hundreds of millions of people who regard him with a veneration near that of a god, now that he is gone. But it was true of Ghandi, "Yet lackest thou one thing."
So our Lord's test to this dear young man was, "Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow Me."
Is it possible to make deposits in the bank of heaven? Oh, yes; and we can do it daily. We do not have to wait until the end of the year. We can make a deposit today, and if we are left here we can deposit more tomorrow. In that marvelous 16th of Luke we read this verse: "Make to yourselves friends with the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when it fails ye may be received into the eternal tabernacles" (J.N.D. Trans.). How wonderful to be let into the secret of a divine alchemy like that, so that by a mysterious metamorphosis we can take the humble things of life and transmute them into that which is the current coin of heaven. We can send on ahead a deposit in the bank over there. "Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal." Matt. 6:20. Our Lord would not tell us to do this unless it were possible, and our account stands today as the sum total of all the little deposits that we have been sending up along the way.
Why did our Lord tell this young man to sell all that he had? He did not permit him to keep even ten per cent for himself. I do not recall that the Lord ever proposed this to anybody else. Why single out this poor man? It is because the Lord is acting here in the capacity of a skilled physician. When such is giving an examination, he finally puts his finger on a certain part; there is a wince and a groan; ah, that's it-he has located the trouble.
Our Lord is here diagnosing the case. He is going to make plain to this young man something about himself of which he was not conscious. In spite of all that lovely personality-that beautiful exterior-down beneath, there was a hidden malignancy at work. The Lord exposed it-COVETOUSNESS! Yes, there it was. With all its ugliness covered up by a beautiful veneer, there it was. That is the reason for our Lord's prescription to the young man to go and sell all that he had and give to the poor. Come, follow Me, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.
A Rich Man and a Poor Man: Part 2
Luke 18:15-43
When he heard this, "he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich." Is not that remarkable? He was very sorrowful because he was very rich. Well, we might say, "If I were rich, that would solve all my troubles." Would it? Did it solve this man's troubles? He was very sorrowful, because he was very rich.
In another gospel, where the same incident is recorded, we read that "he went away sorrowful." (Matt. 19:22.) I know of no sadder words than these: "he went away"-from whom? From Jesus-away from life and love and blessing. He turned his back upon that light from heaven. Toward what did he turn? Toward eternal ruin. Some day that beautiful life was going to break up- to go all to pieces. He would stagger on, out into darkness. It is a dreadful thing to think of. Many a soul has done it-come down to the last hour with nothing to hold on to-nothing! They feel slipping from their grip all that they had held dear. It is being torn from their unwilling fingers. They go out into hopeless night.
It is to be remarked that we never read of this young man's coming back to Christ. There is no record of his having profited by the Lord's advice. He went away very sorrowful. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, He said, "With what difficulty shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God." Oh, you can bless God that you were not born rich. Had we been born rich, the likelihood is that we would still be on the highway of sin. "It is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God!" You can fill your pockets with gospel tracts and go out into the Mexican section of this city. You can leave your little Spanish messages from door to door. If you are able to speak a few words in Spanish, you will get many a courteous "Thank you." But suppose you fill your pockets with gospel leaflets and go out into that section of the city where live the millionaires in their palatial homes. The likelihood is that you will never get the opportunity to even contact the rich. You will be met at the door by the maid; and when you present your card and state your mission, you will be refused. With what difficulties shall they who have riches enter into the kingdom of God.
The answer of our Lord puzzles the disciples. They regarded riches as something desirable; perhaps they thought they would like to have a little more themselves. So they raise the question, "Who then can be saved? And He said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." Here we retreat into the sovereignty of God. The older I get, clear brethren, the more I enjoy that side of the truth. "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." God is going to invade some of those rich homes in that aristocratic section of the city and touch some hearts. He will have them with Him in heaven. He has ways and means of doing it. So we read down through the years, there were some rich who were saved. Joseph of Arimathea was one. He had a nice clean tomb waiting for the Lord's body. Yes, God knows how to save a rich person, and in His sovereignty He will do so to the good pleasure of His will, blessed be His name!
You and I are going to be saved because of the same sovereignty. It is not because we were poor, but because the grace of God sought us each in his hiding place, and drew us gently forth to meet Jesus. He gave us to see beauty in Him. We accepted God's offer of salvation.
At this point Peter interrupts with one of his sudden questions: "We have left all, and followed Thee." The young man had turned away. But Peter had just heard something about following Jesus, and so having treasure in heaven. He eagerly awaits the Lord's appraisal of the consequences of having left all to follow Him. Our Lord puts a "Verily" before His reply. It is important. There is no man-Peter, you, or any of the rest-who has "left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting." You know that the Christian gets the better part of both lives. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." 1 Tim. 4:8. We have seen this exemplified over and over again. I remember a well-known brother saying to me, "The children of the saints do get on." What he meant was, that as our children seek employment, their Christian faithfulness soon manifests itself in their work; and this is soon recognized by promotions, responsibilities, etc., with corresponding increased remuneration. They do not come to work Monday morning with the odor of liquor still on their breath. Their energies are not consumed in the gratification of the lusts of the flesh. They have more to offer their employer. Yes, godliness is profitable, even in this life. So in this way it pays to be a Christian. Who shall "receive manifold more in this present time," and then, what next? "In the world to come life everlasting."
Recently I was present at the funeral of a prosperous young man. He died in the bloom of life. The corpse was handsome as it lay there in the cold sleep of death. The wife was a believer, and she had a large floral piece standing in front of the casket with one word plainly wrought in the design-"REDEEMED." I thought, How lovely! Though the young man lay there in the defeat of death, yet the soul was redeemed; he was with the Lord. In the world to come, his will be the portion of life everlasting. Yes, dear saint of God, our best assets are on the other side. We are journeying on until we can enter into the good of them. Thus the Lord comforts Peter with the thought, Peter, if you have left house or wife or children for My sake, you will not be the loser. God will never be debtor to any man. Yes, it pays to be a Christian. "Them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise Me shall be lightly esteemed." 1 Sam. 2:30.
In the verses immediately following, we have the Lord's announcing what lay before Him as necessary to the accomplishing of this great salvation. He announces His crucifixion, His death, and His resurrection. These great transcendent facts lay at the threshold of all blessings that are to be ours through time and eternity. But they understood none of these things yet; they were hid from them. How dependent we are on the Spirit of God!
I have a cousin who some years ago said, "I read the Bible, but I cannot understand it; it is too deep for me." But that was years ago; she does not talk that way now. She enjoys her Bible. What has brought about the change? She has been converted saved. Now I never hear any complaints about her not being able to understand her Bible. God has sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in her heart, and to take the things of Christ and make them good to her soul.
We must have the indwelling Spirit of God if we are to understand the Word of God. Though the disciples did not understand the Lord at that time, yet, not long afterward, on that memorable day of Pentecost, they received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Now their souls were flooded with the light from heaven, and they were able to understand all things.
If you and I are to understand the Scriptures, it will be by the submission of our hearts to the gracious leading of the Spirit of God. That is why, beloved, we should not grieve the Spirit. A. grieved Spirit is occupying us with our wretched selves, rather than with Christ. Se we become conscious of a lack of progress in divine things.
We started our talk with the story of a very rich man. We shall close now with a brief reference to a very poor man. This will take us back to the 17th verse. "Verily I say unto you, Who-• soever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein." In the 35th verse we have a blind man by the wayside, a beggar. I could not conjure up a picture that would more excite the pity of the human heart than that. Blindness is a sore, sore trial. But when blindness is coupled with beggary, we have what calls forth from our hearts the deepest pity. Think for a moment of those poor unfortunates we see brushing the sidewalk with a white cane, with their little tin cup in hand, and a sign on the breast, "I am blind!" We hear the tinkle of an occasional coin in the cup. The human heart moves in pity toward a fellow mortal in his sorry plight.
So here in our chapter. This beggar had nothing to recommend him other than his need. He claims no other ground of recognition than his own exceeding need. "Jesus, Thou. Son of David, have mercy on me." Why did he not say, "Jesus, Thou Son of David, what shall I do?" Such was the approach of the rich man. But no, we read nothing here of doing. It is "Jesus, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me." What a difference in the approach! The other man in his self-complacency says, "Good Master." Not so here. "Jesus, Thou Son of David." He gives Him His official title and calls for mercy. His companions rebuked him and told him to keep still. But he cried the more, "Have mercy on me." He wanted nothing but mercy. And, beloved, that is the cry God likes to hear. It is the simplicity of the child, just bringing to the Lord his need. He is at the end of his resources, and casts himself upon the riches of that blessed Son of David. "Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto Him." He asks, "What wilt thou?" "And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight." He made no promises; he only presented his need. "Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight." Ah, when a soul owns that he is blind, and gets down at the feet of Jesus to own his need, then he gets the blessing. The last thing the natural heart is willing to do is to own its total poverty toward God.
I remember Dr. Dashwood's giving an address at St. Louis. He told about a young lady to whom he had spoken as to her soul's salvation. Her reply was, "I'm not interested." He replied, "It is not a question of your being interested, but of whether or not you are willing to be saved." She admitted that this was the real reason of her indifference. So the Doctor replied, "Are you willing to be made willing?" She said, "No, I do not think I am." "Well, possibly you would be willing to be made willing to be willing." Again she responded in the negative. Finally, he asked, "Would you go as far as to ask God to make you willing to be made willing to be made willing to be willing?" She thought a bit, and said, "Yes, I think I would be ready to go that far." So the Doctor said, "Let us kneel and tell the Lord what you have just said." So they knelt, and the Doctor prayed, "Lord, look upon us. Make this dear soul willing to be made willing to be made willing to be saved. So, Lord, we count on Thee to do this for Jesus' sake. Amen." As they arose from their knees, the tears were flowing; she was willing. And, of course, the result was, she was brightly saved right there. Yes, that was the crux of the whole matter.
Do we really desire salvation? are we willing? There is a bountiful supply awaiting us, but it must be on the ground of mercy; not by DOING. We have to come as a little child.
As this dear blind man received his sight, how happy he was to follow Jesus in the way, and glorify God. The rich man went away; the poor man followed Jesus. Which would you rather be? -the rich young ruler who went away from Jesus, still rich, but still blind, or the poor man who followed Jesus in the way, still poor in this world, but with the vision of his soul opened to the treasures of heaven? Will you come to Him now and be made eternally rich?
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