A Penny for Your Thoughts

Can you tell me why people hate "the rich," but spend crazy money trying to win the lottery?

Jesus loved the rich. Well, sure, Jesus loved everybody; but, surely, He didn't approve of the rich, right? Wrong, He loved them. Abraham was wealthy. God rewarded Solomon with wealth. Job was wealthy before he became ultra-wealthy! Expensive gifts were presented to Jesus in childhood; pure nard valued in the tens of thousands today, was poured on Jesus' feet -- and He encouraged it! Jesus loved the rich.

Mark 10:17-27, provoked my thinking this morning. The young man that approaches Jesus is, we can assume, an achiever, an up-and-comer of his day. "What must I do?" he asks. But true discipleship is not a works-driven life; it is a life in which faith and works are two sides of the same coin, so to speak. Faith produces works which, in their implementation, grow and strengthen our faith.

"Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said..." (v. 21)

Just stop there for a second. This young man had it all wrong. Jesus said, "I know you know what to do, but I want you to know who you were made to be." Jesus had compassion on this young man; His heart was breaking for him. He loved him.

Scripture tells us the young man went away sad; but I don't think he was alone in his sadness. I think Jesus was sad as well.

"How hard it is for those who have riches (verse 24 says "trust in riches") to enter the kingdom of God!" (v. 23)

Where did that exclamation point come from? Do we know from the original text that Jesus was emphatic? Was it anger or judgment? Was this a "woe" kind of statement (as it is so often suggested to be)? Or  do we insert the judgment and woe, the bitter jealousy of those who have not been given great wealth?

Jesus was not filled with contempt at this young man or the money he possessed (after all, Jesus had given it to him). He was sad and righteously angry at the grip money had on this young man's life and by extension, his soul. Jesus was mourning the loss of this young man aloud, possibly, that others might see wealth for the tremendous responsibility -- even hardship -- it is; that others might love and have compassion on those with wealth.

James 3:1 tells us to be aware, those who become teachers will be judged more strictly. We understand the responsibility a teacher bears, and we esteem godly teachers as courageous givers of a precious gift. Do we consider those with money as highly? Are we praying for them as they steward their finances? that they not fall into temptation? that they continue to be gracious with the blessing God has given them? that they remain wholly God's and do not allow money to be their first love?

"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." (v.25)

Jesus doesn't say the rich can't or don't enter the kingdom of God. He is saying it is hard for them, and it's not necessarily a responsibility we should want or a dream we should chase. As with us all, the rich cannot do it in their own strength; but "with God all things are possible." I'm just pretty sure Jesus would want us praying for them.

And that's my two cents.