Can The Rich Enter the Kingdom of God?

It’s your time to pray…

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Mark 10:23-31 (NKJV)

With God All Things Are Possible

²³ Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
²⁶ And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
²⁷ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
²⁸ Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
²⁹ So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, ³⁰ who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first.”

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The disciples were amazed.  Was not wealth a blessing from God, a reward for being good?  This misconception is still common today.  Although many believers enjoy material prosperity, many others live in poverty.  Wealth is NOT a sign of faith or of partiality on God’s part.  Jesus said it was very difficult for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God because the rich, having their basic physical needs met, often become self-reliant.  When they feel empty, they buy something new to try to fill the void that only God can fill.  Their abundance and self-sufficiency become their deficiency.  The person who has everything on earth can still lack what is more important-eternal life.

But it isn’t only the rich who can suffer from filling the God-sized void with people and things; you and I do it as well.  Jesus explained that in the world to come, the values of this world will be reversed.  Those who seek status and importance here will have none in heaven.  Those who are humble here will be great in heaven.  The corrupt condition of our society encourages confusion in values and a great emphasis on money, fake, youth and self.  We are bombarded by messages that tell us how to be important, beautiful by their standards and how to feel good; Jesus’ teaching about service to others seem alien or again they reverse it back to themselves “It makes ME feel good.”  But those who seek to get His teachings and implement them into their very being; those who choose to humbly serve others will be the most qualified to be great in heaven.

BUT A HUGE CAUTION TO YOU:  Don’t do anything just to be great in heaven.  This is just a promise that follows our motives and actions in accordance to the Word here on earth.  It’s a great secret that God graciously revealed to us.  So concentrate on your motives and actions according to the Word of God instead and allow the promise to follow.

Often times living this life of faith requires us to give up things that we value.  Jesus assured the disciples that anyone who gives up something valuable for His sake will be repaid a hundred times over in this life, although not necessarily in the same way.  Along with these rewards, however, we experience persecution because the world HATES God.  The world may seem to tolerate Him or come at us politically correct about Him; all while it is trying it’s best to remove God and portray Him as the enemy.  Jesus emphasized persecution to make sure that we do not selfishly follow Him only for the rewards.  Because if rewards are the only thing on your mind, you’ll definitely fall and turn away from God the first chance you get.

So to answer the titled question, Can the Rich Enter the Kingdom?  Yes, they can.  Just like each and every one of us can.  We just have to come correct; in the way that He has lovingly revealed to us in His Word.  We have to make Jesus the center and director of our lives.  For alone it is impossible, but with Jesus all things are possible.

Build a strong foundation in God and His Truth.

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Daily Prayer:  Heavenly Father, may Your children choose You.  From those who do not know You, to those of us who do.  May we all choose You and Your way; experiencing Your very power in our lives, circumstances and situations.  Living in a solid relationship with You and allowing Your Spirit free rein in all that we are and all that we do.  May we choose righteousness and stop making decisions that do not honor You.  And as we do grow in You individually, may we be obedient servants to one another – encouraging each other that we’re not created to serve You all alone; but we’re called to fellowship as a diverse family of believers.  May Your heart be represented through our fellowship with one another and through direct intentions to be in the world but not of the world from this day moving forward.  With honor and in Jesus’ Name.  Amen.