If I Were a Rich Man: Daily Thoughts from Mark (Mark 10:17-31)

What is the kingdom perspective on riches?  The vast majority of those on earth are in a serious endeavor to gain wealth.  We see money as the security that will provide all we need, which is to say, we won’t need God.

But Jesus has a different perspective on wealth.  And a question from a wealthy young man gives him the opportunity to express it.

And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult 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.” And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.” Peter began to say to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will 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 10:17-31, ESV)

The rich man has some assumptions that Jesus needs to challenge.  He calls Jesus “good” teacher and believes himself to be good also, as we witness from his declaration that he has kept the commandments since a child.  But Jesus is saying the truth we all need to hear, that only God is good in the absolute sense. 

Our goodness is very relative.  We have nothing to congratulate ourselves about.  Often we are “good” because we fear punishment or embarrassment.  Given enough opportunity to avoid these and we would do evil.  Be honest with yourself.  If you could get away with ______ (fill in the blank) would you do it?  Our own selfishness also spoils much of our “goodness” by making it more about us than others.  I like people seeing how good I am.

So Jesus proposes a challenge that will show the man’s true heart.  What is he depending on in life for his security?  Is it God or his riches?  And he chooses his riches.  It is very difficult to give up what is in our hands that we believe will guarantee our safety and happiness.  A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.  That is why Jesus says it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.  To the disciples who have learned to view riches as a blessing from God to a pure heart, this is astonishing.  But Jesus also says it is impossible, really, for anyone to enter the kingdom on their own.  It requires a miracle from God to bring someone to Himself and rescue them.

Peter asks the question on all the others’ minds: “What about us who have given up riches to follow you, Jesus?”  In light of the new family that Jesus is creating of those who believe and follow him his answer is that believers will share with one another their property and wealth and family relationships and this will be their reward in this period of time before the kingdom comes.  However, there will also be persecution, so disciples must count the cost.  But in the age to come, the kingdom on earth, there will be eternal life as the reward for following Jesus.

Human hearts will be exposed in that day and those who seemed to be sincere followers may prove not to have been and those who were given much acclaim as servants of Christ might be seen to have been less worthy of reward than those who were in the background serving.  Who are we trusting in for all that we do?  If faced with a choice like the rich ruler was, how would we choose?  Our hope must be fully upon the Lord Jesus.