Gospel Doctrine Lesson Seventeen

What shall I do that I

may inherit eternal
life?

Purpose: To help
class members
understand that
we must be willing
to sacrifice the
things of this world
to obtain a place in
the kingdom of
heaven

The love of riches:

The Rich, Young Ruler

Researchers at the
University of Utah and
Harvard University
recently completed a
study that found that for
$10 million 25% of
Americans would abandon
their families, 23% would
become a prostitute for
a week, 16% would give up
their American citizenship,
16% would leave their
spouse, 13% would give up
their kids for adoption,
and 7% would kill a
stranger. Think of it. In a
gathering of 100
Americans, there are 7
who would consider killing
you if the price was right.
In a gathering of one
thousand there would 70.
Gulp.
Even more revealing than
what Americans would do
for ten million dollars is
that most would do
something. Two-thirds of
those polled would agree
to at least one, if not
several, of the above
options.

Mark 10:17- What an

amazing image! Imagine
this Gucci-clad,
handsome, aristocrat,
coming and kneeling at
the feet of a Galilean
peasant.
Mark 10:19- Of course the
Savior loved him! He was
humble, he had a
testimony of the divinity
of Jesus Christ, and he
had always striven to be
obedient. What qualities
do you have that the
Savior sees when he
looks at you?

Keep back nothing. For nothing that you have not given away will be
really yours. Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised
form the dead. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run
only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin and decay. But look for
Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else thrown in.
CS Lewis
I love the phrase, Nothing in you that has not died will ever be
raised from the dead. What are you holding on to, determined to
keep it alive all by yourself? What are you afraid to hand over to
the Savior? For the rich, young ruler it was temporal security. For
me, I think it is control of my future, my plans. What about you?

What happens to the rich, young ruler?

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is NOT doctrine. It is only my personal opinion..

I believe that Mark, the apostle who penned this book of scripture
may be the rich, young ruler. There is some evidence in the
scriptures for this. In Acts 12 we are told the the disciples held a
large prayer meeting in Marks mothers house in Jerusalem.,
indicating that he came from a family of means. Additionally, we
are told that Mark was the youngest of the apostles. Finally, while
the story of the rich, young ruler is told in the books of Matthew
and Luke as well, only Mark includes the detail, And Jesus looking
on him, loved him. This seems to be a personal detail that only the
rich, young ruler himself would have known.
Finally, there in another story told only by Mark. It is found in
Mark 14:50-52. Read it now. Perhaps the inclusion of this incident
by Mark is his way of telling us that the rich, ,young ruler who
went from Jesus so sad, did not remain that way. Perhaps, instead
after having thought things over, this rich, young ruler gave up
his inheritance and became a disciple of Christ who, in the end,
even gave up his robe, his only earthly possession, that he might
gain eternal life.

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be
required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which
thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for
himself, and is not rich toward God. Luke 12:20-21

Why does money tempt us to do things we wouldnt

do for any other reason?

Describe the balance between preparing financially for the

future and hoarding our wealth?

What pressures in our society cause us to define ourselves

by our possessions?

Which of your possessions would be the hardest to let go?

Worldly materialism equates a persons worth with a persons

bank balance. You got a lot = you are a lot. You got a little =
you are little. The consequence of such a philosophy is
predictable. If you are the sum of what you own, then we
feel pressure to own it all. No price is too high. No payment
is too much.
There is no magic number that determines when we have
too much or have started putting money before God. That
point is defined not by what something costs, but by what it
costs you. If anything costs you your faith or your family, or
your virtue, the price is too high

Parable of the Great Supper

Luke 14:16-20

Jewish Culture
It was the custom to invite people to
the same dinner twice. Once before
the host purchased the food and
made preparations., and once after
everything had been prepared..
Those who accepted the first
invitation were then counted. The
meal was prepared according to the
number who accepted the invitation.
The more people coming, the more
food had to be prepared. For
example, a chicken would be for 2-4
guests, a duck for 5-8, a lamb for
10-15, a sheep for 15-35, and a calf
for 35-75. In other words, the
amount and type of meat made
depended entirely upon the number
of people who accepted the
invitation. Once an animal has been
killed it must be eaten soon or else it
will spoil. Therefore, to back out at
the last minute was extremely be
rude. The invited guest was duty
bound to attend the banquet. The
guests in this parable had already
committed to attending. They are all
backing out, not at the first invitation,
but at the second, when the servant
proclaims that the food is done and
they are ready for the party to
commence.

Faithfulness will find

a way. Indifference
will find an excuse.

Elder Uchtdorf said, In

this age of selfjustification and
narcissism, it is easy to
become quite creative
at coming up with
excuses for not
regularly approaching
God in prayer,
procrastinating the
study of the scriptures,
avoiding Church
meetings and family
home evenings, or not
paying an honest tithe
and offerings.
My dear brethren, will
you please look inside
your hearts and ask
the simple question:
Lord, is it I? Have you
disengagedeven
slightlyfrom the
gospel of the blessed
God, which was
committed to [your]
trust?6 Have you
allowed the god of
this world to darken
your minds to the light
of the glorious gospel
of Christ?