Money, and the things it buys, are necessary for life, and God blesses his children with possessions to enjoy and use for him. There is nothing wrong with money, but allowing money to dominate you is a dangerous position.
Recognizing that what we have belongs to God and is to be used for him, will give our resources eternal value. It is one's attitude towards wealth that determines it's true value. Eternal treasures surpass in value material wealth on earth.
Jesus wanted a young man to learn that. And thru him, he wants us to learn that.
Luke 18:18- And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
This poor young man, like so many people today, was confused. An inheritance is a gift, not something you earn. Yet he thought there was something he could do to secure it. Jesus wanted to show this young man that obeying rules was not enough.
Luke 18:20- Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.
Jesus quoted 5 of the commandments that pertained to men. Jesus wanted to cause the young man to recognize something.
Luke 18:21- And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.
Jesus knew that this man was trusting in his good works. You see, this was the Old Testament and you were saved by keeping the law. God rewarded people with riches for keeping the law.
Luke 18:22-23- Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.
The man was a prisoner to his wealth. It was his badge that told others how good he was. He thought he had kept the law, but he loved his money more than his neighbors and more than God. Maybe he didn't realize he was doing it, but he had given riches the most important place in his life. The problem was not that he had riches, it was that his riches had him.
Luke 18:24- And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
The listeners were shocked! If a good person who kept the law and was rewarded by God with riches couldn't be saved, who could? Jesus wanted them to realize that the law couldn't save them. He wanted them to see that it was impossible to keep the law. To have eternal life one must admit that he cannot be good enough to deserve to go to heaven. He must receive Jesus' death as a payment and accept God's gift.
Jesus explained in the sermon on the mount why trusting in wealth is risky. Emptiness follows those who lay up earthly reasures for personal enjoyment.
Where one invests treasures and his life will determine where his heart will be.
Matthew 6:20-21- But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
