The Greatest Hindrance in our Faith, According to Jesus
Guest Writer: Rachel Rupert
Jesus met a lot of people throughout his earthly ministry. He dined with the sinful. He met and healed many crippled, disabled, and diseased desperate for his touch. He came to the defense of a woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8:2-11) and shared a deep conversation with the outcast Samaritan woman at the well (John 4). He even met with the man notorious for his demonic possession among the tombs of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1-20). In all of his encounters, he never indicates their qualification to be welcomed into God’s kingdom. The beauty of the gospel message lies in how welcome all of us truly are; broken, sinful, and unworthy. Jesus compares the sinful man’s prayer to that of the Pharisees, and how the simple prayer of the broken is jealously loved by God over a pious ritual.
But there is one man Jesus questioned about his ability to enter the kingdom of heaven…
What sets the gospel apart from any other message of faith is the simplicity of how we are welcomed. The staple stories of our faith like the shepherd leaving the 99 for the 1, the father welcoming home his prodigal son, and many more are indicators of an unconditional, unrelenting love that welcomes all who accept Jesus. It seems uncharacteristic for Jesus to question whether or not someone could enter the kingdom of heaven.
So who was this man?
Jesus was talking about the Rich Young Ruler.
Mark 10:17-31 tells the story of the Rich Young Ruler. A young man, seeking wisdom from Jesus, the “Good Teacher,” asks what he needs to do to inherit eternal life. After Jesus cites the commandments, the young man confirms his obedience to them. Jesus’ response is recorded in verse 21:
“Then, looking at him, Jesus loved him and said to him, “You lack one thing: Go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”
Even though he had been obedient, his wealth had become an obstacle. Jesus follows up this encounter with a remarkable statement:
“Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! ” But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ life was riddled with interactions. Of all the people he met, his biggest concern wasn’t directed towards the most unclean or most sinful, but rather toward this obedient, rich man.
When Jesus has made salvation so easy to accept, it wasn’t so much about the rich man’s qualifications (which he achieved), but his heart.
Our heart matters more than anything else
Matthew 13 tells us of the parable of the sower. In this parable, some seed is scattered among thorns, which then choke them as they sprout. Jesus reveals to his disciples that the thorns represent the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth.
“Now the one sown among the thorns — this is one who hears the word, but the worries of this age and the seduction of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”
Notice it doesn’t say just the worries of this age OR the seduction of wealth. This verse shows us that when we have earthly concerns but look to our own earthly solutions rather than put our dependence on God, it hinders us. Today more than ever before, believers are faced with an incredible temptation to choose to put their trust in money, wealth, and possessions over their trust in God.
Salvation acknowledges our dependence on God. One of the reasons Jesus constantly warns us of the lure of wealth throughout the gospels is that it gives us a false sense of security. The lure of wealth is the lure of earthly security that wrongly replaces the trust and dependence we should have for God as our provider. It makes us believe that we are the ruler of our own kingdom, we’re the self-made man, and that we were responsible for something that was done by God alone.
When it comes to the story of the Rich Young Ruler, it becomes clear that Jesus wasn’t concerned about his wealth as much as the condition of his heart, and whether or not his possessions and wealth would compete with his devotion to Him.
Solomon Shows us that Wealth Doesn’t Have to be “Bad”
In stark contrast to the story of the Rich Young Ruler, we see King Solomon. 2 Chronicles 9:22 tells us: “King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the world in riches and wisdom.”
When God appeared to Solomon asking what gift he should give him, Solomon asked God for wisdom. He saw the example his father set before him as king. He realized King David’s success had to do with his obedience to God and faithful devotion to him. He replied, “Give Your servant an obedient heart to judge Your people and to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours? ” (1 Kings 3:9)
He knew in his heart that the only way he could succeed as king was to be submitted to God’s direction. He asked God for wisdom out of a desire to follow him. As a result, God blessed him.
Solomon received more riches than he could have imagined, but by the end of his life, the temptation of those riches had impacted him. His heart and desire for wealth led him away from the desire for God that he began his kingship with. “When Solomon was old, his wives seduced him to follow other gods. He was not completely devoted to Yahweh his God, as his father David had been.” (1 Kings 11:4)
Conclusion:
It’s a hard question to ask, but if Jesus stood before you today, would he see your heart being pulled away as he did with the Rich Young Ruler? The world we live in is even more inundated with distractions, temptations, and possessions than ever before. We all face temptation every day, and the only way to counteract it is to pursue Jesus with everything we have. Our hearts should be consumed with the thought of following Him, trusting Him, and choosing Him as we remember that these earthly things pale in comparison to what Jesus has for us.
For Further Reading:
What does the Bible say about Saving
Spending as a Disciple of Jesus
How to Invest in Kingdom Ministries
Two Keys to Managing Money Well
How Generosity Reveals your Heart
How to Teach the Next Generation about Money & Stewardship
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