Richness & Wealth, the Greatest Obstacle
Richness and Wealth, the Greatest Obstacle
Few months ago, I read about a billionaire in the London suburb who killed his himself and his family. He did it by barricading the entrance to their gated mansion with heavy duty equipments. He used gasoline and pour all around the premises. Then he shot his wife and children. After that he set the premises on fire and then shot himself. The whole mansion burned to ashes because the fire fighters could not get in since the gate was sealed. What went wrong? What a sad ending!
On the other hand we read about other billionaires like Bill Gate and his wife who are doing wonderful things around the world with their money and wealth. The Gates are fighting diseases, improving the health and welfare of the poor around the world.
Is wealth and being rich an obstacle, a hindrance or an asset for entering and enjoying the kingdom of God? Wana be rich? Watch out! You are already rich in many ways.
Luke 18: 18-30
18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'[b]” 21"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, 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."
26Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" 27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." 28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Let’s first understand what the rich ruler is asking for – inherit Eternal life. Eternal life is also referred to as “enter the kingdom of God” by Jesus in verse 24 and as “to be saved” in verse 26. So what does it really mean? The word translated “eternal” in this context means “perpetual, forever, everlasting” life (existence). So the rich ruler is asking how he can live forever. We are all going to live forever; but is it with God or without God? This is the real question. We cannot live with God in our sinful nature so that is why Jesus is saying it was impossible for the rich to enter eternal life. And it can be said for anyone else for that matter, rich or poor in material things, it is impossible.
2. “No one is good – except God alone”. The same problem the rich man was facing is the same the world is facing today. The world wants to recognize Jesus as a good man but refuse to acknowledge that He is God. If Jesus is good, then he is God for no one else is good. And only God can save man from sin. In addition, all good things come from God, so trusting God for every good makes the most sense. Doing good can only flow from the life of God in us by faith expressed through us.
3. Notice that Jesus did not mention one of the commandments, “do not covet” because He knew that the rich man’s problem is covetousness. We are all rich when it comes to covetousness. We are forever wanting more especially that which does not belong to us at least at this moment. Covetousness puts the focus of acquisition on me instead of trusting God for His provision. By requiring the rich to sell all is actually trying to find whether he really loves his neighbor and God which is the sum of the commandments. It was obvious whom the rich ruler worshipped – self instead of God. It is very easy to worship self in today’s age. Everything out there is saying to us, “take care of self first” and “charge it on the credit card on self”. I have a new name for the credit card. It is the “covetous card”. How are you managing your “covetous card” or is it managing you?
4. In giving away his wealth, the rich young man would have removed the obstacle that hindered him from trusting God. What are you rich in that are stopping you from trusting God? Yes, it could be money or your reliance on your family or position. Anything you are rich in can become an obstacle from trusting God. Even the “good and safe” neighborhood where we live can be obstacle to trusting God for protection. I was concerned about safety in traveling to Africa and God reminded me that it was here in America that I was car jacked and could have been killed if not for His protection. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
5. Give it up. Let’s learn from the shortest and richest man – Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9). He was willing to repay even up to four times what he had stolen through greed and covetousness. Zacchaeus was so desperate for God that he had to climb on a tree to get Jesus’ attention and then subsequently host Jesus in his house. What are you willing to give up? Are we willing to let Jesus come into the house of our hearts to see the corruption, greed and mess so He can clean it up”? Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:9). This statement is Jesus’ supreme mission. Has Jesus found you and saved you from yourself?
6. What do we give up for eternal life? Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." Don’t let any of these people stop you from inheriting eternal life. Satan will try to use them to stop you and me.
Wana be rich? Or did you know you are rich in many other things including money? What are you rich in that is stopping you from fully experiencing the eternal life here and now and in the age to come? Let’s give it up through God’s help. Let Jesus take it away. Amen.
Few months ago, I read about a billionaire in the London suburb who killed his himself and his family. He did it by barricading the entrance to their gated mansion with heavy duty equipments. He used gasoline and pour all around the premises. Then he shot his wife and children. After that he set the premises on fire and then shot himself. The whole mansion burned to ashes because the fire fighters could not get in since the gate was sealed. What went wrong? What a sad ending!
On the other hand we read about other billionaires like Bill Gate and his wife who are doing wonderful things around the world with their money and wealth. The Gates are fighting diseases, improving the health and welfare of the poor around the world.
Is wealth and being rich an obstacle, a hindrance or an asset for entering and enjoying the kingdom of God? Wana be rich? Watch out! You are already rich in many ways.
Luke 18: 18-30
18A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 19"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone. 20You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.'[b]” 21"All these I have kept since I was a boy," he said.
22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
23When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. 24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, 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."
26Those who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" 27Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." 28Peter said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!"
29"I tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life."
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Let’s first understand what the rich ruler is asking for – inherit Eternal life. Eternal life is also referred to as “enter the kingdom of God” by Jesus in verse 24 and as “to be saved” in verse 26. So what does it really mean? The word translated “eternal” in this context means “perpetual, forever, everlasting” life (existence). So the rich ruler is asking how he can live forever. We are all going to live forever; but is it with God or without God? This is the real question. We cannot live with God in our sinful nature so that is why Jesus is saying it was impossible for the rich to enter eternal life. And it can be said for anyone else for that matter, rich or poor in material things, it is impossible.
2. “No one is good – except God alone”. The same problem the rich man was facing is the same the world is facing today. The world wants to recognize Jesus as a good man but refuse to acknowledge that He is God. If Jesus is good, then he is God for no one else is good. And only God can save man from sin. In addition, all good things come from God, so trusting God for every good makes the most sense. Doing good can only flow from the life of God in us by faith expressed through us.
3. Notice that Jesus did not mention one of the commandments, “do not covet” because He knew that the rich man’s problem is covetousness. We are all rich when it comes to covetousness. We are forever wanting more especially that which does not belong to us at least at this moment. Covetousness puts the focus of acquisition on me instead of trusting God for His provision. By requiring the rich to sell all is actually trying to find whether he really loves his neighbor and God which is the sum of the commandments. It was obvious whom the rich ruler worshipped – self instead of God. It is very easy to worship self in today’s age. Everything out there is saying to us, “take care of self first” and “charge it on the credit card on self”. I have a new name for the credit card. It is the “covetous card”. How are you managing your “covetous card” or is it managing you?
4. In giving away his wealth, the rich young man would have removed the obstacle that hindered him from trusting God. What are you rich in that are stopping you from trusting God? Yes, it could be money or your reliance on your family or position. Anything you are rich in can become an obstacle from trusting God. Even the “good and safe” neighborhood where we live can be obstacle to trusting God for protection. I was concerned about safety in traveling to Africa and God reminded me that it was here in America that I was car jacked and could have been killed if not for His protection. “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain” (Psalm 127:1).
5. Give it up. Let’s learn from the shortest and richest man – Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1-9). He was willing to repay even up to four times what he had stolen through greed and covetousness. Zacchaeus was so desperate for God that he had to climb on a tree to get Jesus’ attention and then subsequently host Jesus in his house. What are you willing to give up? Are we willing to let Jesus come into the house of our hearts to see the corruption, greed and mess so He can clean it up”? Jesus said to Zacchaeus, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost” (Luke 19:9). This statement is Jesus’ supreme mission. Has Jesus found you and saved you from yourself?
6. What do we give up for eternal life? Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God 30will fail to receive many times as much in this age and, in the age to come, eternal life." Don’t let any of these people stop you from inheriting eternal life. Satan will try to use them to stop you and me.
Wana be rich? Or did you know you are rich in many other things including money? What are you rich in that is stopping you from fully experiencing the eternal life here and now and in the age to come? Let’s give it up through God’s help. Let Jesus take it away. Amen.
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