Last week we went through Matthew 19:16-22 and discussed the Young Rich Man and his walking away from following Jesus due to not wanting to sell his possessions and give to the poor and needy. We too can depend on earthly riches and affluence to enable a sense of security in life. We all need to make money to survive and not be homeless, but at some point we have survived, but lack faith in God to take care of our needs (Matthew 6:26).
After the young rich man walks away Jesus tells the disciples that it is hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Case in point was this man. We can look at our world today and see how many people who are rich or wealthy not giving their lives to Christ. Think of the celebrities and business owners of billion dollars companies that live in huge homes and own many properties, but would not stop to feed a homeless person.
Jesus then says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. The rich focus on money often. It can control life. It is the love of money that is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). You cannot serve God and money (Matthew 6:24). But you can serve God and be rich. The young rich man was not able to even see this. He only saw what he possessed. Jesus knew that the man loved his possessions which is why he told him to sell them. He didn't say leave them, he said sell them. That still could have left the man with enough money to be fine the rest of his life. We don't know that, but it is possible. He would rather hang on to everything (like a lot of us do but could do without).
Where is your heart? Is it focused on knowing Jesus and seeing what he did for you? Do you know what Jesus did for you? If you don't, then seek him and his will for your life. Are you going to continue to spend more energy on earthly riches and not storing up your treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-20)? It is time to see what abundant life God has for us by following Christ and letting go of our stuff.
