Wealth and the Kingdom of God – Luke 18:18-30

It is hard not to appreciate the rich mindset versus the poor mindset.  For example, according to listenmoneymatters.com, “Rich mindset understands that the first goal is to gain a surplus of resources. Then, to use that surplus to accelerate things. Accelerate education. Accelerate a business. Accelerate the next generation.  Poor mindset immediately sees a surplus as an opportunity for consumption and inflated lifestyle.”  This is helpful.  But when they say “being rich isn’t all about money,” that just doesn’t fully persuade.

And a ruler 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 commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! For 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.” Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”  (Luke 18:18-30 ESV)

By the way he addresses Jesus, Jesus knows that this man believes he is inherently good enough to merit eternal life.  But he also knows that the man harbors a doubt, a good doubt, about how good his chances are.  He is clinging to his wealth to be his real salvation.  He does not really trust the living God to care for him.  He cannot accept Jesus’ challenge.  The way to inherit eternal life is not giving away your money, it is trusting God to be your Savior, nothing else, not your wealth, not your ability, not your standing in society, not a relationship, just God.

The belief that riches are a sign of God’s salvation is obvious among Jesus’ disciples.  They didn’t get why it was so hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom, that it was because they are so committed to self-preservation.  But God can do the impossible.  He can transform the hearts of those committed to self-preservation.  In fact, it takes God’s mighty power to save anyone.

Those like the disciples, who have given up everything to follow Jesus, are promised many times more than they gave up.  In this age, before the kingdom fully arrives, they will have a kind of fellowship that makes for homes that welcome them in and fellow believers who act as family.  And in the age to come they will have the eternal life the rich man was seeking.