Does Jesus Want You To Be Rich?

DOES JESUS WANT YOU TO BE RICH?

( by brother Tarran Dookie)

WHAT DID JESUS AND THE APOSTLES TEACH ABOUT RICHES?

Matt 6:19-21 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Jesus makes a distinction between earthly treasures and heavenly treasures. The Lord would have us focus on heavenly treasures. If you are taken up with the riches of this world, what you can acquire of this earth’s goods, that is where your heart will be. Your affection will not be on the things above but rather on the things of earth.

Matt 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

The word ‘mammon’ means riches. You cannot serve God and riches. A choice has to be made. The word of God is choked when the heart is cumbered with the cares of life and riches (see Luke 8:14). Attachment to the riches of this world results in separation from God.

Mark 10:23-25 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Jas 2:5-7 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called?

Jesus declared that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. James says God has chosen the poor of this world to be the heirs of the kingdom. The majority of faithful believers belong to the poorer classes. While poor Lazarus entered Paradise when he died, the rich man ended up in hell (see Luke 16:19-31). To aspire after prosperity and riches is a danger to the soul.

Luke 6:24 But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.

Luke 12:15 And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

Luke 12:16-21 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

In the parable found in Luke 12:16-21 the rich man laid up treasure for himself, and was not rich toward God. He had the wrong view that life consisted in the abundance of the things which he possessed. He trusted in his possessions and not in God. Such a person’s riches are their consolation and reward and they are excluded from the kingdom of God. ‘Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation’ is the warning of the Lord.

Jas 5:1-3 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

In these last days when materialism is so dominant, many worldly and carnally minded preachers are promoting a false gospel of prosperity and riches. The riches of this world will not last. They shall fade away and those who trust in uncertain riches shall see miseries come upon them.