Whoever trusts in riches will fall, but the righteous will flourish like a green leaf. --Proverbs 11:28
The Wizard of Id was a daily newspaper comic strip created by Brant Parker and Johnny Hart in 1964 to satirize modern American culture and politics. One entry published in 1967 shows the squat King giving a speech from the balcony of his castle. "Remember the Golden Rule," he says. One of the peasants down below asks, "What's that?" Another peasant answers snidely, "Whoever has the gold makes the rules."
It's easy to view all human interaction in economic terms. To get what you want, you must give someone else something that they lack, and vice versa. I give my labor or my time and expertise to my employer in exchange for a paycheck; my employer utilizes the labor or talents of their employees to create or distribute goods and services, which they sell for a profit. The worker trades his paycheck for other goods and services, such as housing, food, clothing, transportation and entertainment.
With the accumulation of wealth comes a desire to protect that wealth, to keep it from being lost or stolen but also to be invested wisely so that the things on which it is spent add value. "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21). I think it is important to keep this in mind when reading the Bible passage commonly called the Rich Young Ruler.
Now as He (Jesus) was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" --Mark 10:17
This man, whom we find out later is a man of means, asks Jesus what it would take for him to make heaven. What one thing would he have to do, or build, or produce, or perform to get to heaven? In other words, what would it cost him? Again, he was rich, so he was thinking in economic terms. Unfortunately, many people today also test God in this way, thinking that the more good works we do, the closer we will come to attaining heaven. Sadly, there are even Christian denominations that teach one must do a number of works to either attain or keep salvation.
So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is God. You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' "Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and mother.' " And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." --Mark 10:18-20
It may seem like Jesus gets short with this man, much like He did with the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7:24-30. The mental whiplash we, the readers, experience may just be Jesus redirecting the narrative. Instead of speaking in economic terms (what do I have that I can trade for eternal life?), Jesus focuses the discussion on morality and religion. Jesus noted that the man had called Him good. Defining the word "good" as sinless or perfect, Jesus noted that only God is good--that is, only God can keep the entire Law. It is worth pointing out that Jesus did fulfill the Law, therefore He is God. This point may have been lost on the poor little rich man; he didn't realize who he was talking to.
The man, speaking in moralistic, relativistic terms: he was a "pretty good guy." He may not have killed anyone, or stolen anything, or committed adultery. He didn't make a habit of lying or of dishonoring his parents. Like us, he thought of himself as a decent person, so what else did he need? Why was there still something missing in his life?
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 your cross, and follow Me." But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. --Mark 10:21-22
Please note the love that Jesus had for the man. This is what the man lacked. This poor fellow loved his possessions more than he loved Jesus. This was not a call for all Christians to take a vow of poverty. It was a call to give up anything that we may love more than Him. Wealth was his hang-up. Yours may be a certain relationship. Jesus addresses this later in this passage. Mine may be a sin that makes me look back like Lot's wife. Thank God for grace. Thank God for the love Jesus.
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! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." --Mark 10:23-27
The disciples asked a good question: Who can be saved if we have nothing to offer God? If a rich man can't get to heaven without giving up all his riches, what do poor people have to give up? I think this is why Jesus repeated the warning, so that He could include the caveat including the word "trust". It is difficult for us to give up anything we trust in. Or put another way, we must not trust anything more than we trust God. Impossible, you say? Not for God.
Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You." So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first." --Mark 10:28-31
Peter, the most vocal disciple, tries to distance himself from the rich young ruler and justify himself by pointing out that he, a humble fisherman, left everything to follow Jesus. That has to count for something, right? Jesus rightly points out that if you give up family for the Family of God, you gain multiples of brothers and sisters, father figures and mothering types. You will also have access to the Church's resources to meet your needs; conversely, if someone in the church has a need and you are blessed with more than you need, then you can help meet their needs. Along with this wealth of family, friends and other things also comes persecution. This is something that the "health and wealth gospel" proponents forget to mention. Nowhere in Scripture does it say to name and claim your mansion, your promotion at work, your new car or boat, or your jet airplane. It does say that your needs will be met. It does say that there will be persecution. It also does say that you will have eternal life in the age to come.
Those who seem to be blessed in this life, who have obtained wealth, may be looked up to in this world. In the age to come, however, they will be last. Those who have suffered the most in this life, whom the world looks down upon here, will be rewarded the most in heaven. Instead of seeing things from the world's perspective, we must look at it from God's perspective, where a camel can go through the eye of a needle, and a sinful man can go to heaven by God's grace.
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