Too Rich for Heaven

–

How much money is too much?

–

While most people are not rich, many are middle class or lower middle class, trying to save for their future.

–

To the modern society, having a retirement account is a necessity, in case social security does not pay enough, and to the modern church, money is a blessing.

–

Jesus said it is very hard, or impossible, for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.

–

Matthew 19:

21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

–

29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife[e] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

–

Luke 12

15 Then he [Jesus] said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”

16 And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.

17 He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’

18 “Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.

19 And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

–

–

So what is the cut off between smart savings, retirement accounts, and having too much to qualify for heaven?

–

–

Personally, I thought I might have had “too much,” until I got laid off before I retired.

If I had not had my savings, I would have been lost.

And even now, I have current financial burdens that require sums of money I had never imagined.

And if I had given all my money to the poor, trying to be a “kingdom person,” I would have ended up poor and in trouble myself.

–

One never knows what financial emergency is around each corner, and so how do we predict what to hold onto, and what to give away, because it is “too much?”

–

And now we have news of imminent financial collapse of society. So what do we do now? How much do we give away, and how much do we hold onto?

–

–

This may seem like an odd concern, when most people are trying to get more money into their lives, not less.

–

–

Heart vs Wallet

Jesus said

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)

Maybe we should start with our hearts.

I think what Jesus was concerned about was greed, waste, and ignoring the poor.

Reference:

http://www.gotquestions.org/giving-to-the-poor.html

Moses instructed his people how to treat the poor and needy: “Give generously to [them] and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to” (Deuteronomy 15:10).

This sentiment is perfectly captured in Proverbs 14:31: “whoever is kind to the needy honors God.”

Proverbs is in fact filled with Scripture clearly showing that God loves the poor and is offended when His children neglect them (Proverbs 11:4,17:5, 19:17, 22:2, 9, 16, 22-23, 28:8, 29:7, 31:8-9).

The consequences for ignoring the plight of the poor are also made clear in Proverbs: “If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered” (Proverbs 21:13).

And note the strong language in Proverbs 28:27 “he who closes his eyes to [the poor] receives many curses.”

Among the many sins of Sodom described in Genesis 19, her people were “arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy” (Ezekiel 16:49).

–

–

Here in my post

Are you a goat and don’t know it?

we see that if we neglect the hungry, the poor, the prisoner, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the thirsty, that we are “goats” and will be rejected by God.

–

There seems to be a list of people we need to keep up with and help, or we face  “everlasting punishment.”

–

–

For the truly selfish and uncaring person, this is a warning and wake up call.

For those who have many burdens of their own, it is another burden and a real concern.

Suppose in our weariness, we just push aside those that need us?

How will we be dealt with?

–

Will I have to explain to God that I did not visit prisoners or give water to the thirsty, because the prison environment spooks me, or I do not know any thirsty people?

Having a total stranger live in my house seems unsafe, considering the current lack of spirituality and morals in our society.

–

Do I have to seek these people out? This takes a lot of time. The average sick person does not even know me, or want me, and may already have their own family to visit them.

I can relate to giving to the poor and hungry, and I do that, both on a personal level, and through a local homeless mission.

I want to please God, but don’t want to neglect my own family in the process, who seems to get every spare dime I have.

–

There are some who say “let your family do for themselves” and then give to a church or charity, but this is against the bible, which says, anyone who neglects his own household is as a heathen.

1 Timothy 5:8 KJV

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

–

I do not want to be an infidel either. !!!!

–

–

Walking in faith and obedience seems sometimes like walking a tightrope.

We are balanced between 2 worlds, and either way, we could fall.

If I hold onto what I have saved for unexpected needs, I have neglected the poor.

If I give away all my possessions to the poor, then I have neglected my family, and I am worse than an infidel.

–

Sometimes, trying to obey God can be a burden, because we don’t know how.

We are surrounded by needs….needs everywhere, too many needs, intense ones, good ones and selfish ones, all pulling at us.

We feel like we are doing our best, but we are going to collapse in the process, stressed that we are goats, instead of sheep, neglecting something, when we have no energy to extend ourselves any further.

We need rest for our souls.

This is when we look to our Redeemer, Jesus / Yeshua, to help us carry the load, and get what we need to do…done.

We do our best, and then collapse in His arms, knowing that He will finish the job for us.

–

–

Prayer

Lord give me strength and wisdom to know your will, and my failings.

Give me opportunities to share you with others, and quicken me to respond properly.

Open my heart, and enlarge it, to include those I would normally not consider.

Forgive me when I neglect your mission for me, and act like a goat.

Please help me be a good sheep.

–

Make me generous enough for others, but wise enough to provide for my family.

Help me find a balance in my life so that all needs are met….mine and others.

When I am getting pulled down, lift me up.

When I am out of line, show me, and bring me back.

Show me when I am selfish or wrong, and help me fix myself…or better, you can fix me.

Please keep me in your kingdom, and bring my loved ones into the kingdom as well.

–

May all those I neglect to help find the help they need.

And may I always have another chance to make up for anything I have missed.

I really love you, I just don’t always do things right.

Keep me humble, and open, and obedient to your voice.

Forgive me for anything I have done, and help me do better.

–

Amen

–

–

Let us all remember that our real riches are in

heaven, not here.

–

–