The Rich Young Man
16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’a and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, 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.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
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16 Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” the man inquired.
Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’a and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, 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.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
27 Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”
28 Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
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These verses have been tugging at my heart lately. This past Sunday, Kristen and I heard a pastor say "It's not to say that God doesn't want you to have nice things, but you should give a lot." Well, we discussed it afterwards, and this is something that I believe is sugar-coated WAY too often within the church. It seems to me that the people that argue it are those that have lots of "nice things." So I've been praying about this, for discernment, for understand and patience and a lack of judgement or envy. The statement was also said that the only ones saying anything negative are saying it out of envy (paraphrased). I disagree. I don't envy those that have a lot of money and spend A LOT of money on material things. Ok, let me make something else clear before I have this "discussion" (one-sided discussion I guess). I am NOT talking about people that earn a lot of money because I believe that we all have our own GOD-given abilities and talents and God wants us to use those to the best of our ability to further His kingdom. I also believe that if you went to college and worked your tail off in college that you should earn the big bucks. So, this is what I'm questioning, is it God's will for us to possess a lot of materials? (an overabundance that stretch beyond our basic needs)
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8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. 9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD ?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God. Proverbs 30:8-9
Whoever trusts in his riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. Proverbs 11:28
A man's riches may ransom his life, but a poor man hears no threat. Proverbs 13:8
He who oppresses the poor to increase his wealth and he who gives gifts to the rich—both come to poverty. Proverbs 22:16
13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword. 14 O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children. Psalm 17:13-14
His children must make amends to the poor; his own hands must give back his wealth. Job 20:10
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. Isaiah 55:2
19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matt 6:19-20
18Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; 19but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19
The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. Luke 8:14
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Rev 3:17
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That's A LOT. Do you think Jesus really meant what he said? Hmm... What is to gain for the kingdom with a 20 million dollar house filled with CRAP and 6 cars per 2 people? The question is who is to say what is "too much"? Our standards of living are different than the majority of the rest of the world? Is an iPod necessary to live? Is a nice car necessary to live and does it bring honor to Him? I'm thinking out loud so excuse me. It's making me question everything in my life right now. Should I feel convicted for buying new clothes instead of thrift store clothes? Should I feel convicted for going to the tanning bed? Should I feel convicted for spending SO much money on eating out? Where is my money going?? Where is yours?
2 comments:
Hah, well said! "wherever your treasure is...there your heart will be also..."
hehe, I have been reading your blog as well, I am praying for you and your husband...and yes, I thank you for your blog because through it I was able to step away from anything the devil wanted to do to destroy you or him. God is so awesome, he sees our hearts and reads our thoughts. I only thank him for your strength and faith in Him. I'll keep reading as well :-)
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