How To Get Rich
“Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” (Mark 10:21-22)
He walked away. He walked away from the chance of a lifetime- to be the very disciple of Jesus Christ. He actually “dumped” the King of Kings! What kind of fool was this rich kid?! Didn’t he know who Jesus was and the life he could’ve had?
The kid missed out. And he knew it. Why? Because he loved his life too much: his things, his toys, his riches. Selling his possessions and trading his prosperous life for the poor life of a disciple was too hard for him. “Treasure in heaven” was too difficult for his mind to grasp when his treasure on earth had his heart.
Yet how many of us never surrender because we aren’t willing to “sell all we have” in order to follow Him? How many of us miss out on the treasure that could belong to us in Heaven? How many times have you “dumped” Jesus- choosing your friends, your desires, your plans, your dreams, your addictions, your whatever-it-may-be’s… instead?
There is a choice, and He so lovingly leaves it up to us. Will we choose the fleeting things of today- or the everlasting treasure of life and eternity with Jesus. Every time we choose the things of this earth, thinking they will satisfy and make us happy- we end up walking away with nothing in the end.
Our problem is, we don’t have an eternal focus. We do not value the things that Jesus values. We lay up for ourselves “treasure” on earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. (Matthew 6:19) We love our jobs, and the security they bring. We love our possessions and the pleasure they give. We love our friends because of the companionship they offer. We love our lives because we love ourselves. We fail to live every day with the sobering awareness that our lives are not about us, but about Him. We place much more value than we ought to upon this present, fleeting life. This is partly because of the fallen world we live in. Everywhere you look, the world is screaming, “It’s all about YOU.” When was the last time, when given the choice to pick God’s way, or the world’s way- did you stare that decision in the face and say, “I choose HIM.”? For when you do, you may walk away a little poorer by way of life’s gain- but you can be sure you became a heap richer in God’s Kingdom.
There is so much in God we miss out on, because we do not want to become “poor” in this life. Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.” (Matthew 5:3) But instead of being willing to lose our life, counting all else as “dung” in order to “win Christ,” we hold onto what will one day be as dust. What our friend, the rich ruler didn’t realize was that in order for him to get rich, he had to become poor.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.”(John 12:25)
Are you still holding out on Him? It’s not enough to say you’re a “good Christian” because you follow the rules, and go to church. This was the pat on the back the young rich man gave to himself in our story. But it wasn’t enough. Jesus is so worthy of it all! And oh, how He deserves ALL of us- every bit and piece of our lives!
Though surrender might seem like a loss, the gain in much greater. There is nothing you’re holding onto that God can’t replace with far greater pleasure and fulfillment! The trade is worth it. Dare to believe that you haven’t yet begun to live, unless He’s got all of you.
“Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. (Psalm 16:11)