Smoodock's Blog

We are told in the word of God (paraphrasing), “Blessed is the man who fears the Lord and delights in obeying his Law. When such a man is mighty in the earth, vis-à-vis rules the land, that generation of people will be blessed as well, and such a man will be blessed with wealth and riches, and his good deeds shall endure” (Psalm 112:1-3). Moreover, the text confirms that his wealth is a gift of God for the good he has done (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19). Finally, the man’s wealth is a strong defense against problems that arise in life, because it is God who gives him the power to enjoy his wealth (Proverbs 10:15, 22).

In my previous study, we were introduced to a rich, young ruler, who claimed he had been obedient to all the Lord’s commandments, since he was a child (Matthew 19:20; cp. Luke 18:18). For all intents and purposes, one would expect the people of his generation would be blessed, because a good man was in authority. As a young man, his wealth was probably inherited from righteous ancestors, father, grandfather etc. (Psalm 112:1-2), so his wealth was a gift from God (Psalm 112:3). In other words, this was a righteous young man who was wealthy and powerful, and for all intents and purposes, he would rule well, and those under his authority would be blessed. What is wrong with this picture? Answer: absolutely nothing! This is as things should be, when folks set their hearts to respect the Lord and obey his commands (Psalm 112:1; cp. Ecclesiastes 12:13). If the Lord gives such a man power and authority, such a man will rule well and those he rules will be blessed (Psalm 112:2). It is a win/win for everyone concerned.

The problem is the Kingdom of Heaven is an upside-down world, as it compares with our world. There it is the meek who inherit (Matthew 5:5), and not the go-getters (those who are rich in themselves); it is the poor in spirit who enter (Matthew 5:2), and it is the go-getters who make light of and persecute those who are entering God’s Kingdom (Matthew 5:10). In fact, those entering the Kingdom of Heaven will find that often, they must give up their reputation in this world and permit folks to speak and work against them, and that without retaliation on their part (Matthew 5:11).

Therefore, Jesus gave his disciples his conclusion, concerning the matter of the rich young ruler, vis-à-vis what works here, simply does not work, as that pertains to entering God’s Kingdom. Moreover, not many rich will enter (cp. 1Corinthians 1:26), because it would be easier for a camel to squeeze into the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:23-24). How is that? What is Jesus actually saying?

What Jesus is saying is that a righteous rich man knows how to use his wealth to obtain good, but he would have to unlearn all that he knows works here, if he wanted to enter into life. The saying, “You can’t take it with you!” is true about death, but it is also true, when entering the Kingdom of Heaven. To enter, is to be born again and we cannot take it with us. There is a little controversy over Jesus’ proverb about the camel. Some scholars say he is speaking of something impossible, which may be true (cp. Matthew 19:26), but others mention a “door” in the gate that was used to enter the city at night, when the gates were shut. This was the proverbial needle, and the camel had to be unpacked of its burden and enter the door bowed down. Which interpretation is true is a matter of conjecture, but I like the latter for a picture of what a man must do to enter the Kingdom. He must be unburdened of his riches and enter bowed down.

Of course, Jesus’ disciples, being familiar the scriptures that claimed a righteous man’s reward from God was often his great wealth, were astonished with Jesus’ claim that it would be difficult for the righteous rich to enter the Kingdom of God. If this is true, who can be saved (Matthew 19:25)? After all, his wealth is a gift of God and often used to bless others (Psalm 112:2). If such a man isn’t worthy of the Kingdom, who can be saved? Jesus replied, “With men this is impossible…” vis-à-vis it is not in man’s power to save himself. A man’s riches or blessings in life are for living here. They cannot be used to acquire the right to enter the Kingdom of God. God is not moved by a man’s wealth. God cannot be bribed, nor can we add to his wealth in any way. Instead, “…with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26), and it is by his grace that men are saved, through the labor of Christ (Romans 6:23; cp. Ephesians 2:5, 8).