“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me GOOD (agathos: naturally good)?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—EXCEPT GOD ALONE. You know the commandments: ‘YOU SHALL NOT murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony, defraud (apostereō: kept back by fraud), YOU SHALL honor your father and mother.'” (Mark 10:17-19) These are six of the Ten Commandments that deal with our treatment of others. And he answered and said to Jesus, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and GIVE TO THE POOR, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for HE HAD GREAT POSSESSIONS.” (Mark 10:20-22)
So, this extremely rich man said he diligently kept all the commandments concerning others EXCEPT FOR THE POOR! “Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who TRUST IN RICHES to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23-24) Jesus taught us, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves TREASURES IN HEAVEN, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For WHERE YOUR TREASURE IS, THERE YOUR HEART WILL BE ALSO.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Jesus spoke to His disciples, “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS AND BUILD GREATER, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up FOR MANY YEARS; TAKE YOUR EASE; EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY.” ‘ 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.” (Luke 12:16-21) “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we EAT?’ or ‘What shall we DRINK?’ or ‘What shall we WEAR?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father KNOWS THAT YOU NEED ALL THESE THINGS. But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD and His righteousness, and ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
Are we being told that wealth people will not go to heaven? NO! Jesus said, “…HOW HARD IT IS FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN RICHES TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF GOD!”
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham