Hebraic Musing – Can We Rich Americans Enter the Kingdom of God?
We Americans have
the best standard of living in the world.
We are the richest country in the world with almost 30% of the
entire world's net worth or wealth.
And we have less than 5% of the world’s population! Those in the bottom 10% of our standard of
living are about as well off as those in the top 10% in other countries. If Americans are that well off, why do so many
families think they “need two incomes to survive”?
When Jesus told
the rich man how to get to eternal life, the rich man was
sorrowful and went away. When Jesus saw
that that the rich man became very sorrowful, He said to His disciples -
“Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich
man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And
again I say to 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.”
Matt.19:23-24 NKJV
Since we Americans
are deemed to be rich, maybe we need to understand why Jesus said that being
rich might be a problem? Some
hinderances caused by our wealth might be:
· Our riches
tend to make us satisfied with this life, instead of longing for the age to
come.
· Sometimes riches
are sought at the expense of seeking God.
My personal testimony – too much time was given to “earning a living” in
order to satisfy all our wants instead simply our needs.
· Riches can encourage a
spirit of false independence. Remember
the problem in the lukewarm church of Laodicea? “Because you
say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ —and
do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—” Revelation 3:17 NKJV.
· We’ve often
assumed (or we thought, or we were taught) that riches were a sign of
God’s blessing and favor; and then we don’t recognize our sinfulness and our
need for His grace.
Jesus has a lot to
say in Luke 12 about our riches, treasures, etc.:
- “Take heed and
beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the
things he possesses.”
v.15
- “But God said to
him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those
things be which you have provided?’ So
is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” vs.20-21
- “For where your
treasure is, there your heart will be also.” v.34.
And here are a few proverbs to ponder about riches:
- “A good name is to be chosen
rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.”
Prov.22:1
- “He who trusts in his riches
will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.” Prov.11:28
- “Will you set your eyes on that
which is not? For riches
certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.”
Prov.23:5
Summary - 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. Those men were examples of devotion and
proper use of wealth. What did Solomon,
the famously rich man, do with his wealth? Here’s the speech he gave upon completion of
the Temple – “Now it was in the heart of my father David to build a
temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel....... and I have built a
temple for the name of the LORD God of Israel.” 1 Kings 8:17&20
Points to Ponder
How might our
wealth be used to build the Temple of the LORD?
Why do the poor
prosecuted Christians in other countries stand so strong?
Are we the spoiled King’s Kids?
Which is
stronger? Forged or Cast steel? Forged or Cast Faith?
In contrast
to the rich young ruler, Jesus’ disciples did leave all to follow Him.
♫ I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I'd
rather be His than have riches untold.
I'd
rather have Jesus than houses or land. I'd
rather be led by His nail-pierced hand. ♫
Yosef a.k.a. Joe Brusherd
February
21, 2023
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages
exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage (by Yosef)”
Weekly “Hebraic Musings”
insightsbyyosef.blogspot.com
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