This is Part 1 of 2 in Lesson 6: The Challenge of His Sayings. Click here to go back to the introduction to this lesson.
1. Wealth
The story of the rich young ruler is well known to many. I’ve included it below for you to refresh your memories:
Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.'”
And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”
So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Luke 18:18-23 (NLT)
In another passage relating to wealth, it’s interesting to see how the attitude of the early Christians changed after they were converted:
Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. Acts 4:32 (NKJV)
So, is Jesus asking us all to sell everything and give it to the poor? Should we be holding all property in common today? I like Doug Batchelor’s response in his podcast this week:
He is asking everybody to put everything on the altar… When you become Christ’s it requires an entire surrender, your whole heart. If God has all your heart the He’s got everything.
http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/CentralStudyHour/tabid/76/Default.aspx
Well that last sentence is a deep and searching one. We all need the Spirit’s help to ensure our heart is one that seeks God first, and our efforts to build treasure in heaven.
Some who have money are called to give it up. We note the example of the rich young ruler, as above. Same with Elisha – he was born with funds, but gave it all away to become Elijah’s successor.
What Jesus asked of the rich young ruler, he seems to ask of everyone:
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:33,34 NIV).
On the other hand, we should also reflect that God has endowed some with wealth who appear to have kept it during their lifetimes – Biblical examples are Abraham, Job, Solomon etc. But we should notice the experience of Solomon that a life of using weath to pursue gratification leads to emptiness.
So based on this, I believe that everyone however has to be prepared to give up all for the Lord, no matter what level of income they have. In addition to this, with whatever wealth level we have, we need to be good ‘stewards’ and manage what we have in line with what is truly important in this world.
Doug Batchelor again:
Why does God give resources to Christians? So that you and I can be channels of blessings to others.
He goes on to paraphrase John Wesley’s advice regarding money:
Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can.
Maybe we can say that with wealth comes additional responsibilities.
What do you think?
Click here to continue to the second part of this week’s discussion: Hard Sayings Part II
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