"But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.' " (Matthew 19:16-24)
The problem that this person had was that he loved his wealth more than God. This is a clear violation of the Tenth commandment that forbids us to covet. We see in the New Testament that covetousness also causes a violation of the First and Second commandments against idolatry: "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. " (Colossians 3:5) Allowing material things to become more important than God in our lives makes us guilty of IDOLATRY. No real Christian would want that because if it is not repented of it will cut you off from God. "And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.' " (Luke 12:15) Perhaps this is why there are so many warnings against pursuing wealth. It is very difficult to be pursuing wealth and have time for the things of God. It is also very difficult to have attained wealth and not set your heart on it. A few people in the Bible, however, have been what we would call wealthy yet dedicated to God: "Abram (Abraham) was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold. " (Genesis 13:2) "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil . . . Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East." (Job 1:1, 3)
We should prepare for the future, get a good education, save for your retirement, and leave a good inheritance to our children: "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." (Proverbs 13:22)
It is unwise to chase after riches and think we can stay focused on God's purpose for our life. We cannot serve God and mammon. (Luke 16:13-14) ". . . and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. " (Mark 4:19)
A balanced approach is what we read in the book of Proverbs: "Remove falsehood and lies far from me; Give me neither poverty nor riches - Feed me with the food allotted to me, lest I be full and deny You, and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God. " (Proverbs 30:8-9)
Even the kings in ancient Israel were instructed to not increase in gold because it would lead them astray: "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. " (Deuteronomy 17:17) We are taught in the Sermon on the Mount that our lives are to be directed towards God's kingdom: "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven . . . For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:19-21) ""Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. " (Matthew 6:31-33) The conclusion of the whole matter is that keeping the Commandments is the key to loving God and loving our fellow humans. Love is the most important thing because God is love. "Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 'Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?' "Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets." " (Matthew 22:35-40)
This fits perfectly with what is written by the Apostle John so many years latter: "And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also." (1John 4:21) Our father in heaven has given us the instructions we need to solve most of the worlds problems, but most people have rejected a vitally important part of that solution, the Ten Commandments. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man's all. " (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
I hope this has been helpful for you to see the far reaching ramifications of this one aspect of the ten commandments. |