Matthew 19:16-30 The Trap of Wealth

And someone came to Him and said, "Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may obtain eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments."  Then he said to Him, "Which ones?" And Jesus said, "You shall not commit murder; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; honor your father and mother; and you shall love your neighbor as yourself."  The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept; what am I still lacking?" Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."  But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property.  And Jesus said to His disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.  Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."  When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved?" And looking at them Jesus said to them, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."[Matthew 19:16‭-‬26 NASB]

The point that this passage makes is that the love of money can take precedence over the love of God in our lives. Even if we do everything else right, we can lose out on the kingdom of heaven if we don't have our priorities straight.

The cultural belief at the time was that riches were a sign of God's blessing. Thus the Sadducees and Pharisees, who were the rulers in Israel, being very wealthy, considered their money to be evidence of their spiritual superiority.

This is not much different from much of the teaching we hear from televangelists and mega-church pastors today. Some come right out and say that their wealth is a sign of God's blessing on their life and "ministry". I believe that many of these preachers, if faced with the same challenge as this young man to sell everything and give to the poor, would make the same choice: to walk away from Jesus in favor of their wealth. In fact, when I hear some of them preach, I am convinced that they have already made that choice.

To the disciples astonishment, Jesus said, "It is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." They still labored under false impression that Jesus was going to establish a physical kingdom in Israel. Sure, they were living rough for the moment, but when Jesus came into power, they would rule alongside Him and be rich and powerful.

Then Peter said to Him, "Behold, we have left everything and followed You; what then will there be for us?" And Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, that you who have followed Me, in the regeneration when the Son of Man will sit on His glorious throne, you also shall sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.  And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or farms for My name's sake, will receive many times as much, and will inherit eternal life.  But many who are first will be last; and the last, first. [Matthew 19:27‭-‬30 NASB]

Jesus let the disciples know that their reward was not meant for this life, but for the life to come. The Twelve will have a special place of honor in the kingdom of God.

Jesus also issued a promise for the rest of us. He let us know that whatever we sacrifice in this life for the sake of the kingdom of God will be rewarded many times over.

Examine yourself and ask God to reveal your heart. Is their anything that you have place before God? You may say, "I don't have money, so that's not an issue." But a poor man grasping for money is just as greedy as a rich man who holds onto his.

No possession should come between you and God. Jesus asked the rich young man to sell everything and give it away because He knew the man's heart, that money came before God, and therefore had become his god.

Jesus didn't make this a commandment for everyone; not everyone should sell everything they have. But if money, house, car, or anything else has precedent over God, then it has become an idol. It may be that selling it and giving the money to the poor is your best option as well.

Do whatever it takes to keep God first in your life. He is worthy of being first in all of our lives. Do so, and the rewards in the next life will be great.