Are You Rich?

There are many passages in the bible that refer to money. Jesus actually talks more about money than He does about hell. I believe it’s because it’s at the heart of the real issue for all of us. This can be confirmed with “The love of money is the root of all evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

What scares me is not the thought of being poor or of losing money, but not realizing that I’m already rich and not being a good steward of the resources God has put in my life.

Let me explain.

In Luke 18:18-27 a rich, young ruler runs up to Jesus asking about eternal life and Jesus tells him to sell everything, give it to the poor and come follow Him. Instead, he goes away sad.

This means for a few years he had great wealth and for over two thousand years he’s been in hell for his decision not to be obedient to Christ.

When I first read this, I thought he was stupid for his choice. It’s only stuff, right? And Jesus is right there! You know he’s God. You know you’ll go to heaven forever by following Him, right?

But what I realized recently is I’m  him! I’m the rich young ruler.

Even though I struggle with money and consider myself broke often, compared to the rest of the world that doesn’t have food, water, shelter and medical care, I’ve been rich my whole life.

To bring this closer to home, over one billion people live on less than $1 per day and over two billion people live on less than $2 per day. I just spent $2.16 on a cup of coffee.

Over and over again God warns us to protect and provide for the poor. Doing this is evidence that we are truly His.

Not doing it is evidence that we do not belong to Him.

Contrast the rich young ruler with Zaccheus.

He saw Christ and said that he was giving on this day half of everything he owned to the poor and if he wronged anyone, he would pay them four times what he owed them!

Jesus’s response was clear. “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

What is your response to Jesus about your life?

 

 

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