One particularly famous passage from the Bible is that of Jesus and the young rich ruler. It is there where we get the well-known verse of how difficult it is for a rich person to enter heaven. Coupled with the Bible’s criticism of the treatment of the poor and the love of money, it has bred a disdain for the rich, and entitlement to their wealth.
However, the Bible does not support such an attitude. Jesus was not even criticizing the man’s wealth in that passage. In fact, we can see the example Jesus set for us regarding our attitudes towards the rich: “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” (Mark 10:21)
And that is treated glibly. “Yes, yes, Jesus loved him, He loves everyone. Now, money please!” Do you treat people you love like that? Do you go up to your friends and demand them to give you things of theirs that you don’t have, or don’t have more of? Do you get upset with your friends for having more? If someone approached you with the same attitude and manner as you have towards rich people, and demanded you give them something of yours to make things fair in their eyes, would you be open to it or put off?
If the latter, perhaps Jesus’s example is not being followed. Jesus stating that it was difficult for the rich to enter heaven was not a criticism of wealth but a lament for the rich. He was lamenting the difficulty. He was lamenting how many of them would not be with Him in glory. If we are out demanding them to be good and generous people -according to our own standards- are we reflecting that lament? Or lusting after material riches? Tearing down someone out of envy?
The problem was not the man’s wealth. It was his heart. He had built for himself a treasure of material wealth, a comfortable lifestyle he could afford, and Jesus was not worth more than that.
What would you leave behind for Jesus? More importantly, what would you put in your suitcase as you packed to follow Him? The moment we say “But I need-“ how are we better than the rich man? Do we think ourselves better because we aren’t considered rich by our culture’s standards?
“But I need food, I need methods of communication, I need medical things, I need clothes-“ Did not Jesus already address this? Does God not know your needs better than you? If Jesus called you to follow Him and leave everything behind, is there no trust that He will meet those needs?
The disciples left everything, even their livelihood. Peter even reminds Jesus of this fact after the rich man leaves. If we want to consider ourselves on par with them, would we leave in the middle of our work day, on foot, with nothing on us but the clothes on our backs, if He called us? Or would we first return home to pack a bag?
Jesus loved the rich man. His command wasn’t a special command for the rich. It showed where the man’s heart was at. And it should reveal where we are. If there is something we would hold back or keep, we are more like the rich man.
Jesus loved the rich man. He did not hate or scorn him. He was not setting an income limit on heaven. He loved the rich man and wanted him to follow Him.
Do we want the same? Do we want the rich to get to heaven too, or are we rather focused on what they should be giving? Do we wish that they would desire Jesus just as much as us, or are we hoping that they become Christian so they might be convicted to get rid of their income?
If we are not doing what we would have them do, do we love them or their wealth?
If our excuse is that we do not have as much as they, then perhaps we should reflect on how we are more closely related to the rich man then the disciples. For in Acts, we see the believers, regardless of their wealth, sharing everything that they had.
If we have given up everything as the disciples, we should look to Paul’s caution: “And if I give away all my possessions to charity, and I surrender my body so that I may glory, but do not have love, it does me no good.”
Jesus loved the rich man.
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