Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person 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 a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were utterly astonished and asked, “Then who 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
“Riches”
Jesus had just spoke with a man known to us as the rich young ruler. He was a good man who had kept all the laws, but when it came down to the cost of following Jesus he wasn’t willing to pay the price. Jesus told him:
“If you want to be perfect,” Jesus said to him, “go, sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard that, he went away grieving, because he had many possessions. Matthew 19:21-22
Understand that Jesus is talking about money here but in the context of our lives,"riches"can be anything that we make an idol or put above God in our hearts.
This man went away grieving because Jesus told him he had to make a choice – to pay a price – to follow him. Jesus knew his heart. He knew that he loved his riches and would not give them up and follow Jesus. He was miserable and was not willing to give up the very thing that was making him miserable. How true is that for so many of us? The thing we hold onto and don’t want to let go of may be the very thing that drags us down into the quicksand. Jesus saves. He gives life – eternal life – that begins the minute we accept his gift of salvation. New life now and for all eternity. Yet we want to believe that we can drag our “riches” with us and still live the Jesus way. But Jesus does not share his throne with anyone or anything. Following Jesus is a sold-out, all or nothing commitment. He wants our whole heart. That does not mean we can’t love anything or anyone else. It means we cannot love anyone or anything else more than we love him. It means giving him the highest place in our lives.
A common false belief at that time was that wealthy people were favored by God. Jesus tells them this is not true. Trusting and following are not usually traits of someone who is very wealthy, but they are required to live the Jesus way and have a relationship with him. At least there is the perception that money = power and security. Jesus tells his disciples that it is hard for rich men to enter heaven because riches can also create a false sense of contentment in the moment. Riches can cause us to feel like we don’t need Jesus or to worry about eternal life.
Then Peter responded to him, “See, we have left everything and followed you. So what will there be for us?” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, in 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 children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first. Matthew 19:27-30
Peter responds to Jesus saying that the disciples have done what he asked by leaving everything behind and following him. He asks, “What will there be for us?” Jesus tells him that everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields because of my name will receive a hundred times more and will inherit eternal life. Jesus promises us that our blessings from leaving our “riches” behind and following him will be a hundred times more, on top of inheriting eternal life. A life surrendered and following Jesus will be so much more fulfilling than anything any “riches” could ever give us. If you have ever chased ”riches” of any kind then you know that you are never fulfilled and always reaching for more. Jesus is everything we ever need and want. The abundance of the world is never enough but the abundance of a life lived in Jesus provides peace, contentment, complete joy and so much more than we could ever ask, seek, or imagine.
How about you? Aren’t you tired of trying to drag dead things with you on a path only meant for life?
What are your “riches?”
Are you willing to go all or nothing for Jesus?
