“I have made the mistake of striving for stuff in place of first seeking the kingdom of heaven. My earthly kingdom building is a tireless endeavor that wearies the soul, frazzles emotions, kills the body, and puts relationships at risk…Jesus rocks the religious world by describing the humble in heart as those who are truly happy. To be poor in spirit is to be humble in heart.
Advancement in the kingdom of heaven comes from downward mobility to the feet of our Master Jesus. The way up is down…Can those wealthy in worldly goods also be poor in spirit? Yes, of course, but it is harder because they have more competition for their affection and devotion to their heavenly Father. This is why Jesus said it is hard (not impossible) for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
Boyd Bailey in Wisdom Hunters daily email “How to Die Rich” dated 1 May 2015.
Jesus does not condemn the rich man. He’s sympathetic toward him (cf. Mark 10:17-31). He knows how hard it is for those who have riches to let go of them. He Himself became poor so that we might become rich (cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9). What does this mean for us?
Jesus wants us to identify and release whatever competes with Him for our affection? Let it go! Whatever we are not willing to let go of is the thing in which we are placing our trust. For most Americans, it’s money. In our rich context, many believe we can stockpile riches for ourselves and claim to trust in Jesus.
To “trust in Jesus” is to give up on the tireless striving to build an earthly kingdom. Those who follow His plan work hard, and they may amass great wealth, but it’s not for hoarding but for enjoyment and sharing. In the case of the rich man, Jesus instructed him to share it with the destitute.
I have made the mistake of thinking it is my job to take care of my earthly life while Jesus takes care of my eternal soul. How we live our earthly life shows what we believe about eternal life. And to the rich man seeking eternal life, Jesus said, “go, sell, give, come, and follow!” This was not a call to emptiness but to richness.
To follow Jesus does not mean we end up empty and alone (as the world claims), but rather we find a place in God’s family where (along with persecutions) we work, enjoy, and share the fruit of our labor with those who can’t work, such as the elderly and the needy. Life according to Jesus is one hundred fold better than anything we can build on our own.
Sadly, what the world offers looks good, which is why it competes for our affection. Don’t be fooled.