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It’s incorrect to say that “it is okay to be rich” and to imply Jesus simply spoke out against “greed” and not wealth. Jesus taught that you should give all you have and avoid being caught up in material things. “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” Matthew 19:21 and Mark 10:17-31 “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” Matthew 19:24 He says that coveting defiles a person Mark 7:22 and teaches his disciples to carry only what they need including only one tunic, no spare. He exalted the widow who donated all she had in two small copper coins Mark 12:41-44 it is made quite clear if you are wealthy, even if you worship God and have faith you could still do more by giving what you have to the poor.
You are confusing a specific instance (rich young ruler) with a general rule. If giving up all you possessed was a condition to become a disciple, why was this never mentioned again by Jesus or by any of the Apostles when they preached the gospel? Abraham, Issac and Jacob along with David, Solomon and others in the Old Testament were rich and yet pleasing in God’s eyes as was Nicodemus and Lydia in the New and yet none of these were ever asked to give up their wealth as a way to become righteous before God. I agree that the “Love” of money is the root of much evil and Paul tells us that contentment can be attained whether one is rich or poor (Philippians 4:11), however it is not accurate to make the divesting oneself of worldly possessions a condition to become spiritual or righteous. In the end it is not wealth that blocks our entrance into the kingdom, it is depending on wealth rather than on God that prohibits us from entering in. - MM
Glory be to God
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nice exegeses
It’s incorrect to say that “it is okay to be rich” and to imply Jesus simply spoke out against “greed” and not wealth. Jesus taught that you should give all you have and avoid being caught up in material things. “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” Matthew 19:21 and Mark 10:17-31 “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” Matthew 19:24 He says that coveting defiles a person Mark 7:22 and teaches his disciples to carry only what they need including only one tunic, no spare. He exalted the widow who donated all she had in two small copper coins Mark 12:41-44 it is made quite clear if you are wealthy, even if you worship God and have faith you could still do more by giving what you have to the poor.
You are confusing a specific instance (rich young ruler) with a general rule. If giving up all you possessed was a condition to become a disciple, why was this never mentioned again by Jesus or by any of the Apostles when they preached the gospel? Abraham, Issac and Jacob along with David, Solomon and others in the Old Testament were rich and yet pleasing in God’s eyes as was Nicodemus and Lydia in the New and yet none of these were ever asked to give up their wealth as a way to become righteous before God.
I agree that the “Love” of money is the root of much evil and Paul tells us that contentment can be attained whether one is rich or poor (Philippians 4:11), however it is not accurate to make the divesting oneself of worldly possessions a condition to become spiritual or righteous. In the end it is not wealth that blocks our entrance into the kingdom, it is depending on wealth rather than on God that prohibits us from entering in.
- MM