Mark Chapter 10 - Wealth

Mark chapter 10

I want to focus this post on an interaction Jesus had with a particular young man, verses 17-31. The man comes to Jesus and kneels before him. He obviously believes Jesus to be a holy man. He asks him his burning question. “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus stops him there. He challenges the assumptions the man brought with him. “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.” This statement serves two purposes. First, it brings into question the who the man thought he was. Did he think he was merely a teacher, a human like himself? Or was he divine?

The second question is if no one is good except God, then how do you expect to ever do enough to inherit eternal life? He had kept the commandments, but Jesus had already told him, that was not enough to make him good. The man must have understood that keeping the law would not be enough to get him eternal life, otherwise why ask the question? Romans 3:23 says, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law”. We are made righteous by faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The scripture at this point says Jesus loved him. This was a man who pursued God. What did Jesus do for him in his love? He challenged him. He went to the root of the man’s issue and spoke to it. Jesus tells the man to sell everything he had and give it to the poor and come and follow him. Wow. Can you imagine leaving everything and following a Rabbi you just met? There was no safety net here. If things didn’t work out, there would be nothing to go back to. He knew that it would be difficult for the man. Jesus asks us to make costly choices for him. He does this in love. There is a buy-in to be a disciple. There are things that must be given up. Jesus said we must count the cost of following him (Luke 14:28-30). He said that whoever seeks to keep his life will lose it (John 12:25).

The man goes away disheartened. Instead of being commended for his holy life, he was asked for even more. Jesus correctly points out the man’s issue. His wealth was more than he could give up. Jesus will not allow us to keep anything that vies for his affection. We cannot serve God and money (Matt. 6:24). This man had to get rid of the power his possessions held over him.

Is this a rule for all Christians? Do we have to sell everything and give it to the poor to follow Jesus?

Peter claims here that is what he and the other disciples had done. The early church was known for having everything in common. People would go sell lands as needed to provide for the church. Jesus said that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Does this imply that Christians must live in a commune to be true followers? What is God’s position on wealth and believers?

While the communes that the early believers in Jerusalem may have been wonderful, there is no reason to think that it is required for Christians. Paul stayed with people in their houses at various times (. He said in his instructions about communions that each of you have your own house (1 Cor. 11:22). This implies that the communes had not become widespread. More importantly, when he collects money to give to the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem, he instructs the gentile believers to set aside a sum in keeping with their income and save it up as a gift (1 Cor. 16:2). He also told them to “give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7)

The key here for the believer is generosity. God is more concerned with our hearts than our possessions. He already promised us that he would take care of us. “Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear… your heavenly Father knows you need them” (Matt. 6:25-32). God wants his people to be able to live without worry for their needs. With this freedom comes a responsibility. We were made to give. Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” (Luke 6:38).

I want to look at the book of James here, because he has strong words about wealth. In chapter 5 verses 1-6 he blasts the wealthy. He says your wealth will “eat your flesh like fire”, and “You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter.”

These words should give us pause. It would not do to simply sweep those away and say, “that’s not me.” We live in the wealthiest nation on the planet. To be poor in the United States means you are incredibly rich in many nations of the world. We need to examine these warnings and take heed that we do not end up condemned.

James’s warnings basically have two parts as you read through the section. He warns about how you got your wealth, and he warns about how you use your wealth.

There are two ways he warns us of condemnation in how we get our wealth. One of those is by cheating. He says, “the wages of the laborers who have mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you”. Another way is by murder. “You have condemned and murdered the righteous person”. If your wealth is made dishonestly, then it does nothing but testify against you. As Christians we need to be above reproach in our business dealings. We represent not only ourselves, but Christ, at all times, in our lives. We are supposed to work as unto the Lord (Col. 3:23). Cheating in business shows a lack of trust in God. We don’t believe that God will come through for us, so we try to make our own way. This is fear or greed acting in our lives. It is antithetical to faith.

The second issue with wealth that James warns us of is what we do with it. And this breaks down into two points as well. The first problem is when we make wealth our security. When we trust in it. “You have laid up treasure in the last days.” Why store up wealth? It is for security. We believe that is we have enough stored away we will no longer have to worry about anything. But that is not who God wants us to deal with our worry. He told us instead of worrying to pray (Philippians 4). We are supposed to find our security in him. In his promises. This is faith.

Jesus told a parable about a man who had particularly good year of crops (Luke 12:13-21). He decided to tear down all his barns and build bigger ones to store it. Then he could relax for many years. But that night he died. Jesus said, “This is how it will be to those who store up things for themselves but is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:21) Again, we are led to the answer for how we are to deal with the issue of wealth. It is all about generosity. Giving.

The other problem that arises with how we deal with wealth is what we do with it. If we are not storing it up, we are spending it. James says: “You have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence.” Now this should hit home. How much of our income is spent on making our lives more comfortable? When we stand before the judgement, will this statement that James makes be true of you? You lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence?

So much of our lives is the search for creature comforts or entertainment. We are a consumer culture. Frankly, we need to hear this. 

C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianly said, “I am afraid that the only safe rule is to give more than we can spare. In other words, if our expenditure on comforts, luxuries, amusements, etc, is up to the standard common among those with the same income as our own, we are probably giving away too little.”

Our comfort does nothing to build up our spirits. Our entertainment does not have eternal value. If our focus is on these things, we are likely to miss what really matters.

 James also ties both of the issues in with the time we live in. He says you have laid up treasure in the “last days”. You have fattened yours heart in the “day of slaughter”. We need to understand that Jesus is returning soon. We have one chance to make a difference in the kingdom of God. How would you feel if Jesus came back and you had a huge pile of money? It would be worthless. And it could have been used to build the kingdom in the last hours. If we really believe he is returning, let’s live like it.

I need to say here, I don’t think that Jesus is totally against saving. I think the problem is wealth building/using that is in exclusion to giving. Starting a 401K is a wise thing, particularly the younger you do it. But God must be your top priority, and that should be evident with your finances.

When I was younger, I was broke. I thought that it was good to be broke. “Blessed are the poor” (Luke 6:20). I believed that Jesus loved poor people (which he does) and that being poor somehow made me more holy (not so much). It came to a head for me one time when I had to go to the doctor but couldn’t afford to. A pastor friend helped me pay the bill. It was a blessing and I was really grateful. I realized at that time that if I kept on the path I was going, then I would always be the one who needed help, never the one giving help. That realization totally changed my outlook. Wealth doesn’t have to be a curse. Jesus addresses this. After describing how difficult it is for a rich man to be saved, he says, “all things are possible with God”. It is possible to have wealth and not hoard it and not waste it on yourself but to use it to build his kingdom and bless people.

I believe God is looking for people he can entrust with wealth. Not for them to hoard or spend on luxuries, but to pour into his kingdom. He wants us to be a conduit of blessing. But you can’t be a conduit if you hang on to want you’ve got. God can’t put anything into your hands if they are full already.  We need to recognize that we are stewards of everything he has given us on this Earth. Not just our money, but our time and talent as well. Let’s remember that we are responsible to God for how we used the gifts he has given us.