The Rich and the Kingdom of God Part II
“Perhaps few weaknesses have marred the integrity of the church more than the partiality shown to the rich. The church has compromised with their vices because it has feared the loss of their patronage. Its voice has been silenced by respect of persons and discipline has been sacrificed in deference to worldly prestige.” John Murray (John Murray was a Scottish-born Calvinist theologian who taught at Princeton Seminary and then left to help found Westminster Theological Seminary, where he taught for many years. He was ordained in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in 1937).
What does Abraham, Job, Jacob, Boaz and King Solomon have in common? They were very wealthy and they feared God and were used by God to accomplish His purposes in very significant ways. King Solomon didn’t end well, but God knowing that ahead of time still chose to give him great wealth.
Money, riches and wealth come in handy in the caring for our families and the expansion of God’s kingdom on earth. But there are some powerful and sinister forces behind it, and many have underestimated these forces at great detriment to their own souls and the intended destiny of their families.
Jesus has much to say about this. Luke especially brings this home in his gospel. So I want to continue with our discussion starting with a warning or an exhortation re: exercising hospitality in our homes.
And He also went on to say to the one who had invited Him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, otherwise they may also invite you in return and [that] will be your repayment. But when you give a reception, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, since they do not have the means to repay you; for you will be repaid a the resurrection of the righteous.” Luke 14:12-14
Our Lord is very much into hospitality whether it be in our homes or at a coffee shop or restaurant. But He is not pleased when we adopt the world’s motive and way, which is to use hospitality to win favor with wealthy influential people or to show off our own wealth. I would add single parents and single youth/young people to the list above, not to mention single older women who struggle to make ends meet. Very important that husbands and wives are one on whom they open up their homes to.
In chapter 16 Jesus wants His disciples to understand several things re: money. First in vs. 1-9 He tried to help them see the importance of being shrewd and responsible in one’s dealings with financial obligations. Second in vs. 10-13 the importance of being faithful in all things financial – knowing that there are true riches God wants to entrust to us that will be dependent upon how we deal with money or “unrighteous wealth”. In these verses the reality of mammon is introduced and Jesus ends the discussion by maintaining that “No servant can serve two masters….You cannot serve God and wealth (or mammon).” Vs. 13. In vs. 14,15 Luke informs us that “…the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.” It is very likely that they were the intended audience of this next story starting in vs. 19.
Luke 16:19-31 “Now there was a rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, joyously living in splendor every day. And a poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores. Now the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; and the rich man also died and was buried. In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried out and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, so that those who wish to come over from here to you will not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us.’ And he said, ‘The in beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house – for I have five brothers - in order that he may warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment. But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ “But he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’ “But he said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’” This story, (whether a parable or true story) which only appears in Luke is inserted to teach several important lessons. First hell is very real. Second, God will often allow a rich godless person to enjoy their riches on earth for a time. Third, they will be held accountable for how they stewarded their riches – given to them by God – and especially how they treated the poor within their reach. Fourth once they die their eternal destiny is fixed. While they might have been able to manipulate and use their riches to get their way on earth, that will not be true once they die. Nor will they have any ability to influence their family members and loved ones after their death.
Luke 18:18 And a ruler asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 19 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 20 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.’” 21 And he said, “All these I have kept from my youth.” 22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” This story, which actually happened, appears in Matthew, Mark and Luke. Mark informs us that Jesus had a tender place in his heart for this man. But Jesus could not for a second tolerate his self righteousness, and Jesus knew his riches truly were his god. Jesus used this sad encounter to illustrate how very difficult it is for wealthy people to not be bound to their wealth. But Jesus also declared that even the stronghold of love of money can be overcome by God’s power and grace.
Luke 19: 1 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. 3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” This story, again which really happened, only appears in Luke. I’m so thankful Luke included this story because it shows that “…What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Zaccheus is the last person anyone would have expected to come into a vibrant relationship with Jesus, but that is exactly what happened here. And a big part of that is his willingness to put all of his wealth on the altar. Whereas the rich young ruler walked away from Jesus with his head down in sorrow because of his inability or unwillingness to part from his wealth and allow Jesus to be the Lord and master over his wealth, Zaccheus on the other hand fully embraced Jesus as His Lord and master and gladly offered to give to the poor and to restore any unrighteousness he had carried out towards others.
Jesus cares about much more in terms of money than just our giving to the church or to Christian ministries as can be seen by all the passages we just discussed. But He does care about our giving, and He does watch what we give and why we give. And He is pleased when we give out of devotion to Him and love for Him – trusting Him to provide for us. I once heard a minister try to explain this short account away – saying that Jesus would never expect a poor widow to give all the money she had to live on. What is important to see here is this lady gave this money on her own accord. No one told her to do this. And Jesus seeing her give all she had out of her love for and devotion to God, I’m sure couldn’t wait to provide for her in some wonderful creative ways.
“And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on.” Luke 21:1-4
OK. Here are some basic truths about money:
1. God owns it all – Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.” & I Chron.29:12 “Both riches and honor come from You…”
2. God distributes it all – “…it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone.” I Chron. 29:12
3. God gives the ability to make wealth – Deut. 8:18 “But you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth..”
4. Satan wants people to worship money/wealth so they can’t/won’t worship God
5. People cannot worship/pursue/long for riches and at the same time worship/pursue and long for Christ
6. People who truly encounter Christ and who are truly born again by His Spirit will gladly in time worship Him alone – trusting Him with their financial needs – being generous with all He has entrusted to them.
May you and I be ever increasingly free from the love of money and be found ever more faithful in our management of all the resources He entrusts to us. May we know Him ever more as the generous and good Father and Provider that He is. And may He use the resources He entrusts to us in ever more fruit bearing ways for His glory in Jesus’s name, Amen!!
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