Jesus confronted a young man with the deception of wealth. This man sought to understand how to attain eternal life, claiming to live a righteous life. Jesus could see that the man’s love of money was a barrier. Thus, Jesus provided a way to overcome the obstacle, allowing him to follow Him.
Luke 18: 22 When Jesus heard his answer, he said, “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
23 But when the man heard this he became very sad, for he was very rich. [1]
Why Sell All?
Selling all his possessions would not give this man salvation. Salvation is humbly submitting to Jesus’ lordship and receiving the gift He won for us on the cross. This man claimed to have obeyed the commandments that Jesus listed. But money was his security, representing the accomplishments he had achieved through his own efforts. It was his idol. He had broken the commandment to have no other gods before the true God.
The Gospel of Mark also tells this story and adds a detail. Mark 10: 22 At this the man’s face fell, and he went away sad.[2] This man stood in the presence of Jesus, whom he had just called good, hinting at His divinity. Yet, when Jesus, God Incarnate, gave an instruction, this man did not obey but walked away. We can see the deception of wealth blinding this rich man to the truth.
Riches are an Obstacle to Heaven
Luke 18: 24 When Jesus saw this, he said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! 25 In fact, 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!” [3]
Here again, we see Jesus using exaggeration to make a point. A sewing needle would have been one of the smallest everyday items in a Jewish household, while a camel was the largest common animal. Jesus makes entering the Kingdom of God sound impossible for the rich.
It is not wrong to be rich; in fact, Abraham, David, and Solomon were all wealthy men. The problem arises when we rely on money rather than God. Money can be used to buy security and demonstrates success. Thus, wealthy people often feel no need for God.
Store Your Treasure in Heaven
As disciples, we are to value Jesus above all else. When this occurs, we want to use our time, talent, and money to serve Jesus. As we give sacrificially, we store treasure in heaven. Jesus asked the rich man to give to the poor. This man needed to see beyond himself to care for others, but he couldn’t bring himself to let go of his money.
Don’t let riches deceive you. If God has blessed you with wealth, use it for His service. If you find this difficult, help is only a prayer away. Ask God to show you how to use your money in a way that pleases Him. To find out more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-cost-of-discipleship
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.