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The Peril of Riches!
Mark 10:23-25
These words were shocking to Christ’s own disciples
and they are seemingly unbelievable to most people today.
After Jesus told the rich young ruler that he must sell all
he possessed and give it to the poor and then follow Him,
the man turned away in sorrow for "he was one who owned
much property" (Mark 10:21-22). Our Lord knew that this
man did not possess his possessions, but they possessed him.
Christ knew that money and possessions captivate the heart
and control our life. Money becomes a virtual "god" to
many people. This is why Jesus stated, "No one can serve
two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the
other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.
You cannot serve God and wealth" (Matthew 6:24). We
must choose whether we will serve God through Christ or whether
we will be captivated by money, possessions, property, retirement
funds, stocks, land, and bank accounts.
Jesus said it was "hard" for the wealthy to enter
the kingdom of God (Mark 10:23). He went so far as to say
that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a
needle than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom (v.
25)! The disciples might have thought of Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Job, and Solomon—all of whom had earthly riches.
But Jesus here stresses that the rich in this age are in
deep trouble! Peter responded to this by saying that he and
his fellow apostles had left everything to follow
Jesus. Then the Lord assured him that all who have left house,
wife, brothers, sisters, mother, father, children, fields,
and farms for the sake of Christ and the gospel would receive
eternal life in the age to come (vv. 28-30; cf. Luke 18:29-30;
Matthew 19:29).
Surely this is a revolutionary message! It was amazing to
the disciples themselves (Mark 10:24) and it is incredible
to people today. We somehow assume that we can pursue the
wealth of this life, we can drive the luxury automobiles,
we can live in the opulent homes, we can take extravagant
vacations to the Caribbean and sightseeing tours of Europe,
we can weekly dine in expensive restaurants, and we can pile
up unneeded money in the bank and still be a follower
of Christ. In fact, some false teachers in our day claim
that the Christian should "claim the promise" of
material goods and financial wealth! Jesus said that it cannot
be done. He said that we must not "store up for [ourselves]
treasures on earth" but must determine to "store
up . . . treasures in heaven" (Matthew 6:19-21).
Paul the apostle warns that a pursuit of riches will "plunge
men into ruin and destruction" for "the love of
money is a root of all sorts of evil" (1 Timothy 6:9-10).
We are responsible to use our money, our possessions, our
property for the cause of Christ, for the blessing of others,
and for the glory of God (1 Timothy 6:17-19; 2 Corinthians
9:6-15). This is the startling teaching that our Lord gives
to us who would follow Him as genuine disciples. How do you
look at money?
Richard
Hollerman
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