The Rich Do-Gooder

Who is Jesus to you?  We've been reading about Jesus through passages of Scripture for nineteen weeks now.  They've helped you see previews, psalms, and prophecies about a Savior/Messiah which were all fulfilled in Jesus.  We've traced his birth, ministry, sermons, parables, miracles, prayers, hard sayings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus.  We've even looked at the early church and his second coming.  Each segment has helped us build a picture of Jesus, but the question still remains: who is Jesus to you?

Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" "Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments." "Which ones?" he inquired. Jesus replied, "'You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,' and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'" "All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?" (Matthew 19:16-20 NIV)

The United States has less than 5% of the world's population.  We have more than 25% of the world's wealth.  No matter how you look at the numbers, we are rich.  Perhaps you are lie this young man.  You grew up going to church.  You've learned your Bible and even your theology.  You even work to put it into practice.  You go to church services, participate in small groups, tithe (give 10% of your income) to your local church, and even support that missionary in Uganda.  You're living out what you've been asked to do.  Is there anything else?

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. (Matthew 19:21-22 NIV)

How would you react to this Jesus?  Would you walk away, too?  I know you are waiting for me to say, "Well, that was for that rich young man but Jesus doesn't expect the same from you."  Rather than say that, though, let's look at what Jesus actually said.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:23-26 NIV)

Wealth can easily get in our way of following Jesus.  When we read passages like this, we say, "See, I told you.  All churches want is my money."  Before you stop reading now, I'd like to encourage you with a couple things in this passage.

First of all, Jesus didn't ask for the young man's money.  He told the young man to sell his possessions and give them to the poor, then come follow him.  Jesus wasn't going to receive the money from the young man, just his full time and attention.  The money wasn't for Jesus, it was working against the young man.

Secondly, Jesus did say God can do the "impossible" job of bringing a rich person into the kingdom of God.  We simply need to understand how.

Money is not the root of all evil.  It is the root of all kinds of evil (1 Timothy 6:10), but that just makes it more difficult (and dangerous) to manage.  It must be managed well.  We will talk about this more in a later series, but for now I will simply say this.  Stop saying "my money."  It's not your money.  It's God's.

The earth is the Lord's and everything in it (Psalm 24:1).  You had nothing when you came into this world and you can't take anything with you (1 Timothy 6:7).  When Jesus returns, it will all be kindling anyway (2 Peter 3:7 and others).  Anything we have has been entrusted into our care for the period of our lifetime to be used for God's purposes.  The real question we should be asking, then, is "How does God want us to use God's money?"

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. (Matthew 19:27-29 NIV)

It's the difference between holding onto wealth with a tight fist and opening up your hand in front of God.  You don't need to worry when opening your hand before God.  God is the giver of all good gifts.  God already allowed you to have the wealth that you have.  God works all things together for the good of those who love God and are called according to God's purposes.  Opening your hands before God simply let's God know you are open to God's purposes.

But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matthew 19:30 NIV)

How about you?  How do you see Jesus...and money?