"I tell you the
truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matt
19:23-24 NIV
Money is a good resource that God entrusts to us to enable
us accomplish His purposes on earth. He gives us money to help us transact
kingdom businesses to His glory. But money is not the only resource that
amounts to wealth. Looking at the context of the passage in Mat.19, wealth
encompasses properties, possessions and every other thing that we may own which
makes us or others around us to consider us as rich.
A successful young man came to Jesus inquiring on what he would
do to get eternal life. The discussion went on and on until he was told to go
and sell his earthly possessions so as to have treasure in heaven. He became
sad and abandoned his desire for eternal life and walked away because of his
much wealth. The Lord did not bother to pursue after him because of his much
wealth, but “As he watched him go, Jesus told his disciples, "Do you have
any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Matt 19:23-24
(THE MESSAGE).
Yes, we do not have any idea how difficult it is for the
rich to sincerely seek and solely trust in the Lord until we watch our own
hearts each time we seem to possess something better than the next person. If the
Lord Jesus said it is tough, it means it is really tough. In my book, Following
Hard after God, I said that “money, positions of power, lifting and blessings
of God increase our capacity to create options in life. Unfortunately, the very
same things God has given to us to use to glorify Him turns around to hinder us
from seeking Him. Once there is a challenge, we turn and look around for
substitutes; we just pick one and move on as if we do not need God.” The capacity
to create solutions and options offered by wealth gives us some level of
freedom and liberty, which is the reason why no rich person wants to be poor
and every poor man wants to be rich. These solutions can translate into comfort
and security of all sorts both real and imaginary. The danger is that wealth
that is not surrendered to God can deceive our hearts into thinking that “it” is what works and not God. It is
possible to explore the alternatives wealth creates without any recourse to
God. This is the idolatry which God hates.
This is why we are warned not to be accumulators and
hoarders. (Luke 12:16-21). We are commanded to be givers, using our riches to
do good works. (1 Tim.6:17-19). Giving is the only antidote that will make our
wealth not to obstruct us from entering the Kingdom of God. Giving accomplishes
two things, it meets a need and saves our hearts from hanging on what we have.
Do not allow your heart to be deceived. Be wise. If the Lord
says it is difficult, make no mistake, it means it is difficult. May our good
God bless you with wealth. May you not allow it to be an obstacle to your
entering the Kingdom of God.
God bless.
