Jews in Jesus’ day believed that if you were wealthy, then that was a sign from God that He was pleased with you. It is so very dangerous to equate wealth with righteousness or, conversely, poverty with sinfulness.
The OT teaches that prosperity is a blessing from God: Deut. 28:1-14; Job 1:10; 42:10; Psalm 128; Prov. 10:22. It was a short jump from that theme to believing (incorrectly) that if one was wealthy, then God was pleased with one’s behavior.
WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? – 10:17-22:
First, Jesus draws attention to the man’s address to Jesus as “Good teacher” (ver. 18). No one is inherently good, except God “alone.” In this context, we believe Jesus is drawing this man’s attention to the “good God” who alone can tell man what to do to “inherit eternal life.”
What did the good God say to do to inherit eternal life? In verse 19, Jesus quotes six of the Ten Commandments. To this statement, the young man responded that he had done that since his youth (ver. 20). We should not be surprised at this statement nor think that the man was inappropriately bragging. The apostle Paul will say that relative to the righteousness that was required by the law, he was without blame (Phil. 3:6). What this means is that when they did violate the law, they would perform the sacrifices, rituals, and vows which the Law required. What the statement in verse 20 shows is that this young man was a serious Jew, but he was not saved.
Jesus looked intently into the man’s heart and felt love for him (ver. 21), which motivated Jesus to be honest with him. There was one thing remaining for this man to do: “sell all you possess and give to the poor.” In that way, the man could have his treasure in heaven. In essence, Jesus was telling him to “cut off his hand” or “pluck out his eye” (see 9:42-48). Then he could follow Jesus. It is clear from the subsequent text that this man was wealthy and loved his wealth and trusted that since he was wealthy, then God must have been largely pleased with him, at least with that aspect of his life. But he was trusting in his material possessions and not in his spiritual relationship with God, through Jesus Christ.
“To keep God’s commandments” does not mean that one believes he or she is saved by “works.” Obedience to God’s commandments is not the same thing as “salvation through works.” Even under the Law of Moses, Jews had to understand they were saved by faith in God (Hab. 2:4). Trust in God motivates one to fulfill God’s commandments and any requirements or stipulations God gives in order to be saved.
Jesus does not require all disciples to sell all they have in order to be right with Him. If everyone did this, the whole church of Christ would become beggars! The point, however, is the same as the teaching given in 8:34-38 and 9:43-48: we should not allow anything (including our possessions!) to separate us from an obedient life before Jesus Christ. Zacchaeus gave generously, but freely (Luke 19:8-10), as did Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37). The danger of wealth does not mean it is sinful to be wealthy.
So dangerous it is to believe that wealth is a sign that God is pleased with one’s behavior or teaching, Jesus warned extensively about trusting in wealth: Mark 4:19; Matt. 6:19-34; Luke 12:13-34; 16:1-15, 19-31; 19:1-10.
We absolutely must keep our priorities in order: faithfulness to God comes first, accumulating material wealth is second.
Paul Holland
