Matthew 19: 16-30
And, look, one came and said to Him, Good Master, what good thing should I do to have eternal life?
And He said to him, Why are you calling Me good? There is only one that is good, God. Are you testifying that I am the Son of God? The Lord God of Creation?
But if you want to enter into eternal life, then keep the Commandments. Obey what you already know God wants you to do.
He asked Him, Which commandments?
Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, honor thy father and thy mother; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
Just don't do anything against anyone else, always treat them as you want them to treat you. All the second Tablet of the Ten Commandments.
The young man said, All these I have kept since I was a child; but it doesn't seem to be enough; What else do I need to do?
Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect enough to live with God in Heaven, then go and sell what you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; and then come and follow Me.
But when the young man heard Him saying this, he went away sorrowful, because he owned a great amount of possessions. And he valued his possessions over having eternal life!
Then Jesus said to His disciples, Truly I say to you, that a rich man has a very difficult time entering the Kingdom of Heaven.
And again I say to you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God.
When the disciples heard this, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
The prevailing opinion of that culture was that God would bless the most godly with the most material possessions.
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. God does the impossible as a matter of course.
Then Peter said, Look, we've given up all our stuff and are following You; What will we get out of it?
And Jesus said to them, Truly I say to you, that you who have followed me, in the Regeneration when the Son of Man shall sit on the Throne of His glory; you also will be sitting on twelve thrones ruling over the twelve Tribes of Israel.
And everyone who has given up houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or real estate, for My Name's sake, shall receive a hundred times more in this life, and shall inherit eternal Life.
But many that are first in this life shall be last in the next, and the last shall be first.
The whole point here is about our priorities. Those that are wealthy in this World's goods most likely gained their riches by focusing on getting more stuff, rather than focusing on building their characters to be like God. Their priorities are skewed, putting material possessions over spiritual values.
That's why it's so hard for "rich people" to get saved. But when God draws even a rich person (No one can come to Me unless the Father Who sent Me draws him ... Jesus, in John 6:44), then He changes his heart, and shows him his need; then he can be saved.
And it's not always necessary to give up stuff, only the stuff that gets in the way. But even then, Jesus says we'll receive a hundred times as much in this life, and still inherit eternal Life!
And the impossible is possible with God. He's God and can do anything He wants! What I think is impossible for me, He can do for me, no problem! Wow!
O Father, You are so good! You are so generous! You Love me so much! You Love us all more than we can imagine! You want for all of us to come to You, but so many of us are still caught up in trying to "make ends meet," so we're focused on gathering this World's goods.
Father, don't let us get so caught up in the "rat race" that we forget who we are in You! And let those who don't know You yet realize how much better You are to Your own than the World is to those who belong to it.
Father, Your riches come without regret, without sorrow (Psalm 10:22); unlike the World's riches, that come with problems and troubles.
Father, help me always to remember how Your good is so much better than anything this World can give me, even if I am able to amass a great fortune, eventually. Teach me to use it wisely, for Your Kingdom; not foolishly waste it on my own comfort.
And send me and my words out over this whole World, Father, into every Nation, every tribe, every language; so that every creature will hear and have a clear, informed choice to choose You, and come to You, and willingly bend every knee, unlike all the rest who will be compelled to bow.
And every creature in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth will bow the knee, and every tongue in every language will proclaim Your authority and glory and praise and riches and blessing.
Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
