If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, said Jesus Christ to his disciples.
Scripture passage: 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.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:21-26).
When wealth competes with God
Jesus wants undivided loyalty and full-hearted obedience. This young man could not face that. He was willing to discipline himself to observe all the outward stipulations and even perform extra works; but because of his wealth, he had a divided heart. His money was competing with God; and what Jesus everywhere demands as a condition for eternal life is the surrender of self.
It is pretty evident that Jesus intended to make the young man a preacher of his salvation. Jesus wanted him to become his disciple and preach the kingdom of God to others. This was the same call that Christ gave to his disciples.
Men undergo great agony of mind while they are in suspense between the love of the world and the love of their souls. When the first absolutely predominates, then they enjoy a fake or artificial rest through a false peace. When the latter has the upper hand, then they possess true tranquillity of mind, through that peace of God that passes all human understanding.
The young man had great possessions. But what were these in comparison to genuine peace of conscience, and mental rest? Besides, he had unequivocal proof that these contributed nothing to his comfort, for he is now miserable even while he possesses them! And so will every soul be, who puts worldly goods in the place of the supreme God.
Many people, by their attachment to worldly and filthy treasures, have lost the honour of becoming or continuing to be ambassadors for the Most High.
Earthly riches are a great obstacle to salvation; because it is almost impossible to possess them, and not to set the heart upon them. Those who love the world do not have the love of God in them. To be rich, therefore, is in general a great misfortune. But what rich man can be convinced of this? It is only God himself who, by a miracle of mercy, can do this.
Money is not evil
Jesus is not saying that all poor people and none of the wealthy enter the kingdom of heaven. That would exclude Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to say nothing of David, Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathea.
Most Jews expected the rich to inherit eternal life, not because their wealth could buy their way in, but because their wealth testified to the blessing of the Lord in their lives. Their opinion was that being favoured with wealth on earth means a guaranteed entry into heaven. Jesus’ view is different and more sobering. The disciples, reflecting the common Jewish view of the rich, are astonished and ask If rich people, blessed of God, cannot be saved, then who can be? Jesus agrees: “With man this [the salvation of anyone] is impossible, but with God all things are possible”
“People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs” (1 Timothy 6:9 and 10).
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17 and 18).
In this passage,Paul addresses the rich. Interestingly he does not command them to give away everything and live in poverty. Instead, he tells them not to become arrogant or deceived into trusting something as unreliable as money. They are encouraged to put their trust in God. He is the One who has given the riches. Paul does not make any remark to make the affluent feel guilty for having riches. Instead, he encourages them to use the money wisely, to be generous and share with others.
Paul corrects those who desire to be rich for selfish reasons. He condemns mammon worship. This is why he says, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” It is not money itself that is evil but the love of money. The problem is not a matter of you having money but of money having you.
Churches have been built and many evangelists and missionaries are sent out. This is possible because believers had money and resources and they willingly obeyed God by passing along the blessings they had received. To prevent people from being blessed by God financially is to hinder the gospel. The need and purpose for financial prosperity in these end times is like never before in church history. It is urgently necessary to provide the means for spreading the gospel to every person on earth. The gospel must be spread to every land and nation, to people of every culture and language. And this requires financial means!
The lure and deception of the prosperity gospel
People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God- (2 Timothy 3:2-4)
Beware of the prosperity gospel, it is unbiblical and not the Gospel of Christ. Do not be deceived by preachers who claim that God is instantly going to remove all your personal problems, financial difficulties, and debts. They will ask for donations, beautifully wrapped as planting “the seed” for a future “financial harvest.” Most televangelists who preach prosperity doctrines are millionaires and live in luxury. They would convince you with their oratory skills that your donation will come back to you tenfold or even a hundredfold. Beware of this trap of greed. Which is more valuable to you, perishable material blessings or spiritual blessings? God is not operating a high-interest return banking institution. Ask God for your daily needs, his provisions never run out and he will provide you. Ask him to bless you spiritually and use you as an instrument for the extension of his kingdom. Put your whole hope and trust in him for he knows you, he knows all your needs better than you do.
Idolatry- the tragedy of Christians
“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew (6:24)
The master of our heart may be fitly termed the love that reigns in it. We serve that only which we love supremely. A man cannot be in perfect indifference between two positions or two objects which are incompatible. He is inclined to despise and hate whatever he does not love supremely, when the necessity of a choice presents itself.
Christians think that they are not idol worshippers. But they do have many idols. The things we love the most are our gods. When we place money and wealth, fame, pleasure and gratification of the desire of the flesh above God, we are committing idolatry. At its core, idolatry is often defined not just by the worship of physical idols, but by placing anything in higher regard than God. The pursuit of wealth and possessions can overshadow spiritual commitments. The desire for social validation and notoriety can lead believers to seek approval from society rather than from their faith. The quest for instant riches, comfort, gratification, or lust can take precedence over spiritual principles and individuals may find themselves straying from their beliefs. The pervasive cultural values that celebrate individualism, success, and material gain can subtly influence believers, making it difficult to uphold spiritual values in a world that often contradicts them.
We have replaced God with these worldly things and desires. We have become too materialistic. We confess to be believers but in our priority list, God is way down at the bottom. This is the real tragedy in the life of Christians. This is a call to introspection for believers. It’s essential for individuals to take time to reflect on what truly holds significance in their lives. They need re-evaluation of priorities, to assess how much time and energy they invest in their spiritual lives versus worldly pursuits. Engaging in regular practices such as prayer, reading scripture, and participating in community worship can help re-align priorities. These activities reinforce a commitment to faith and help counteract worldly distractions. Strengthening one’s relationship with God can provide a solid foundation that helps resist the temptations of idolatry.
Ultimately, recognizing the various forms that idolatry can take, allows believers to confront and address these challenges. By maintaining a focus on their faith and making intentional choices to prioritize their spiritual commitments, they can work towards a more authentic and fulfilling faith experience.
Selie Visa