Mark 10:17-21
"17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, "Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?" 18 So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one [is] good but One, [that is], God. 19 "You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery,' 'Do not murder,' 'Do not steal,' 'Do not bear false witness,' 'Do not defraud,' 'Honor your father and your mother.' " 20 And he answered and said to Him, "Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth." 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
I would like to quickly paraphrase the scenario above addressed. Here, Jesus encounters a rich young ruler who requests to know the path to eternal life. Specifically he asked Jesus how he could “inherit “eternal life which is ridiculous in and of itself because the very definition of inherit implies an un-earned gift by virtue of the benevolence of the giver. Jesus then speaks some commandments to the ruler that are not in order nor are complete. In verse 21 the Lord makes a statement that is NOT a commandment from the Mosaic Law when He instructs the young man to sell what he had, give to the poor and come and follow Him. Of course we know that the young man departed from Jesus sad and did not follow Him. Then, Jesus stated to His disciples that 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. As it would with us, this statement cause great astonishment in the hearts of the disciples so much so that Jesus responded to their apprehension. He spoke more clearly the second time when He stated; “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom of God.” {Let me just say here that I love that God wanted them -and us- to have a clear understanding}. The disciples then asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus replied that with man it is impossible but with God all things are possible.
The first point to be made at this juncture is that there is no possible way that a man could get saved or get another man saved. But with God all things are possible. Jesus was iterating that there is no thing that a person can do to be saved. The disciples were so used to rich people being able to purchase whatever they wanted they believed in their hearts that this rich young ruler could purchase his way into the kingdom of God. The fact that Jesus said it is impossible clearly distinguishes that even if this rich men had given all of his money and belongings away and made himself a poor man that he still could not be saved because with man it is impossible. That means that it is not at all by any means possible. Therefore, the bunk notion that poverty is a path to the Holy One is invalidated. That notion is steeped in religious control and bias. The point I am trying to make is this there is nothing anyone can do to be saved but we are saved by faith through Grace so that none of us can boast.
Notice that Jesus said it was hard for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God. Let me point out here that the kingdom of God is the manifestation of the kingdom of Heaven on earth. What happens is that people who have a lot of money don't have to rely on God for much that they realize. They believe that they themselves are responsible for the extremely good quality of their life so what could God possibly add to them? This is why it is very hard for them to enter the kingdom of God because they don't see a need to enter the kingdom of God . It is only when we come to an understanding of our desperate need for a savior that we fall at the feet of Jesus as Savior. However if our life is so blessed that it takes a straight course from birth to death and deviates very little and definitely not large enough to be an unmanageable situation then why on earth would we need a savior other than creating an eternal home in heaven. Salvation is not possible with man at all and that means no matter how good you are, no matter how bad you are, no matter what you cannot save yourself. It's only possible with God and God has prescribed a way by faith through Grace.
It is imperative that you realize Jesus Christ did not say that it is impossible for rich people to go to heaven. This has been the notion that has been presented when preachers have explained these verses. That is not with the Bible says ! The Bible Says it is hard for those who trust in riches to manifest the kingdom of heaven here on earth which is called the kingdom of God. Jesus is saying that people who have a lot of money don't have to rely on God for miraculous wonderworking power because usually they can buy whatever it is they need.
Beloved please understand that if you have money you can still go to heaven and you can still manifest the kingdom of God here on earth. You do this by taking your ability to provide for yourself away so that you must rely on God. When Jesus sent out his disciples he told them don't take an extra tunic he told them don't take a money bag with you. He told them these things because they had extra tunics and moneybags but Jesus was teaching them that He is their source.
If you don't have money you are equally not allowed to be resentful of those who do have money thinking that only you can get into heaven and only you can manifest the kingdom of God.
No with man it is impossible with God all things are possible so please do not become judgmental but take yourself from the state of poverty to a state of wealth for it is the Lord your God who is giving you the power to get wealth so that he might establish the covenant which was sworn to your fathers as it was that day. Beloved, I hope this helps you to understand that money is not really the issue the heart condition regarding money that is the issue.
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