In effect, Jesus
said to him, "You lack reality, young man. I quoted to you the seventh, sixth,
eighth, ninth, and fifth commandments. These commandments have to do essentially
with your behavior toward your fellowmen, with your professed safeguarding of
the well-being of others. You want to do something to inherit eternal
life. This is what you have to do: love poor people as God loves them, as I
love them. You say that you have always kept these commandments. Prove it. Invest
everything you have in the poor. You will have treasure in heaven.
"Oh, and there
is one thing more. I am on the way to a place called Calvary, there to die on
a cross. I invite you to come too. `Take up the cross, and follow me."' It was
very strong medicine indeed.
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And he was
sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (10:22)
It was more than
the young man had bargained for. It is more than all of those who are committed
to doing something bargain for. He came running; he went away broken. Instead
of owning Jesus as Lord and investing his all in eternal treasure and eternal
life, he turned his back on Jesus and went away.
What happened
to him? Did he eventually become the rich man of Luke 12:15-21 and finally the
rich man of Luke 16:19-31? The possibility certainly exists.
Then came the
sermon on the rich man (10:23-31):
And Jesus looked
roundabout, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches
enter into the kingdom of God. (10:23)
Two worlds exist:
this one and the one to come. Two systems exist: this world's system, with its
promises, prospects, pleasures, possessions, perspectives, and power; and that
other world's system, with its totally different set of values. The two worlds
appeared suddenly in human history. They surfaced immediately after the Fall.
The descendants of Cain (Gen. 4) lived for this world, and the descendants of
Seth (Gen. 5) lived for the world to come. There can be no compromise between
these two worlds.
Wealth tends to
ally itself to this world, which is why materialism is such a deadly enemy of
the kingdom of God. Ultimately, God brings people to Calvary, where we learn
what this world thinks of Christ and what God thinks of this world. Those who
have riches have a greater stake in this world than do those who are poor. That
is why it is harder for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. Riches
tend to blind one's eyes to ultimate, eternal, and spiritual realities by anchoring
us to the wrong world.