IS JESUS AGAINST BEING RICH?

“You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)

I occasionally get phone calls at the church from people who want to argue about the Bible. Recently, a fellow called wanting to argue about where the Bible teaches on the Trinity. A few years ago, I received a call from a woman who wanted me to explain the gospel to her, only she had a specific "gospel" in mind: a gospel that required every believer to sell all they have. She believed Jesus' instructions to the rich young man was a universal command to all who want to enter the Kingdom. Unless we sell everything and give it to the poor, we will not enter.

This idea is not new. Many have taken Jesus' statement to this young man to mean he is against anyone being rich, and that if you have riches it can only be because you are a greedy, wicked person. But this interpretation is influenced by modern negativity towards those who are wealthy. The culture of the Bible viewed wealth as God's blessing bestowed on the righteous. Today, those with wealth are first assumed to be full of greed, and to be crooked until they prove otherwise. This is a general sentiment we sometimes witness today especially among more liberal minded people.

But both sentiments, though they each have a grain of truth in them, broadbrush the issue and lead one to significantly flawed thinking. Consider the following verses and what they say about being rich and being poor.

"Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine." (Proverbs 3:9–10)

"The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life." (Proverbs 22:4)

"A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich." (Proverbs 10:4)

"Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways." (Proverbs 28:6)

"Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him." (Proverbs 14:31)

"Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth, or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty." (Proverbs 22:16)

"Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God...But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation." (Luke 6:20, 24)

As these scriptures show, being rich MAY mean a person is greedy, or it may be God has blessed them with riches because they love the Lord and will honor the Lord with what he gives them. We also see here that being poor MAY be the result of sinful choices, but it may also be the result of injustices done unto them, possibly by those trying to amass wealth for themselves. We cannot broadbrush the issue. It isn't that simple!

Back to the question: is Jesus against being rich? Yes and no. Certainly riches can be a problem for people and in that case, the answer is yes. The rich young man was fairly certain he had the right to enter the kingdom because he was rich. He was gravely mistaken. Likewise, those who are poor might read Luke 6 and conclude that because they are poor they are entitled to enter the Kingdom. This is the same egregious error made by the rich young man.

Being rich does not mean a person is righteous, nor does it mean a person is wicked. Likewise, being rich is not what keeps a person out of the Kingdom anymore than being poor gets one in. The issue is are you aware that you cannot enter apart from total dependence on the righteousness and sacrifice of Christ? In the next section of Mark 10, Jesus tells his disciples his plans to suffer for the third time. He came to suffer for rich and poor alike because both need the salvation he provides.

So if you are rich, the important question for you to ask is how important are your riches to you? Are they hindering you from fully resting and trusting in Christ alone for salvation? Are you honoring God with your wealth? Do you find it hard to be generous with your wealth? If the answer is yes, or even maybe, then you might have a problem, and at that point Jesus' instructions to the rich young man may be for you also. But again the problem is not the riches themselves. The problem is the place riches occupy in the heart. Even someone who is poor may be guilty of of bowing to the idol of wealth if he sees wealth as his savior. In that case the words of Christ to the rich young man would also be for the poor man.

Both rich and poor alike are spiritually poor apart from the generosity of God. Both come to the gates of the kingdom empty handed. Both come singing together "nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling. Naked come to Thee for dress. Helpless look to Thee for grace." Both must become like little children and receive the Kingdom neither deserve.