RICHES AND POVERTY

Luke 18:24 - 25 (NIV): 24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for
the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25 Indeed, 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."

One of the most shocking statements made by our Lord is that it is virtually impossible
for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God. Yet this is but one of many statements
that He made on the subject of riches and poverty, giving a perspective that is repeated by
the apostles in several of the N.T. letters.

RICHES

(1) The prevailing view among the Jews in N.T. times was that wealth was a sign of that
poverty was a sign of faithlessness and God’s displeasure. The Pharisees, for
example, thought this way and derided Jesus for His poverty (Luke 16:14). Although
this false idea reoccurs at times in the history of the Christian church, it is soundly
rejected by Christ (see Luke 6:20; 16:13; 18:24-25).

(2) The Bible identifies the pursuit of wealth with idolatry, which is demonic (cf. 1 Cor.
10:19-20 Col 3:5) Because of the demonic power associated with possessions, the
desire for wealth and the pursuit of it often bring enslavement (cf. Mat. 6:24)

(3) Riches are, in Jesus’ perspective, an obstacle both to salvation and to discipleship
(Mat. 19:24; 13:22). They give a false sense of security (Luke 12:15ff), they deceive
(Mat. 13:22), and they demand the total loyalty of one’s heart (Mat. 6:21). The rich
often show that they have no need of God. By searching for riches, their spiritual life
is choked (Luke 8:14) and they are led into temptation and harmful desires (1 Tim.
6:9), resulting in the abandonment of saving faith (1 Tim. 6:10). All too often those
who are rich take advantage of the poor (Jas. 2:5-6). Thus, no Christian ought to
desire to get rich (1 Tim. 6:9-11).

(4) Selfish amassing of material possessions is an indication that life is no longer seen
from the vantage point of eternity (Col. 3:1). A selfish, greedy person no longer has
his goal and fulfillment in God, but rather in himself and his possessions. The tragedy
of Lot’s wife, for example, was her placing all her affections on an earthly city rather
 than a heavenly one (Gen. 19:16, 26; Luke 17:28-33; Heb. 11:8-10). In other words,
striving after wealth has in it the seed of total alienation from God (1 Tim. 6:10).

(5) True riches for a Christian consist in faith and love that express themselves in self-
denial and following Jesus (1 Cor. 13:4-7; Phil. 2:3-5). Those who have true riches
have gained freedom from the things of the world through confidence that God is
their Father and that He will not forsake them (2 Cor. 9:8; Phil. 4:19; Heb. 13:5-6).

(6) With regard to the proper attitude toward, and use of, our possessions, the righteous
are under the obligation of faithfulness (Luke 16:11). Christians must regard them not
as personal wealth or security; rather, they must relinquish their wealth and place
their resources in the hands of the Lord for use in His kingdom, for the furtherance of
Christ’s cause on earth, and for the salvation and need of others. Thus, those with
wealth and possessions must see themselves as stewards of that which is God’s (Luke
12:31-48). Christians who are materially rich should be generous, ready to share, and
rich in good works (Eph. 4:28; 1 Tim. 6:17-19).

(7) Every Christian should examine his or her own heart and desires: Am I a greedy
person? Am I a selfish person? Do I yearn for abundance? Do I have a great desire for
the honor, prestige, power, and position that often come from obtaining great wealth?

POVERTY

One of the tasks that Jesus saw as His Spirit-directed mission was “to preach the gospel
to the poor” (Luke 4:18; cf. Is. 61:1). In other words, the gospel of Christ can be defined
as a gospel of the poor (Mat. 5:3; 11:5; Luke 7:22; Jas. 2:5).

(1) The “poor” (Gk. “ptochos”) are the humble and afflicted within the world who turn to
God in great need and seek His help. At the same time they are faithful to God and
look forward to God’s redemption of His people from the sin, suffering, hunger, and
hatred that are in the world. They do not seek their wealth and life in earthly things
(see Ps. 18:27; 22:26; 25:9; 37:11; 72:2,12-13; 74:19; 147:6; Is. 11:4; 29:19; Luke
6:20; 16:25; John 14:3, note).

(2) Deliverance from suffering, oppression, injustice, and poverty will most certainly
come to God’s poor (Luke 6:20-23; 18:1-8).

(3) God sees His people in poverty and declares that they “are rich” (Rev. 2:9). In no way
can they be seen as spiritually or morally inferior (see Rev. 2:9, note).

This article is from The Full Life Study Bible (The New Testament), on Riches and
Poverty, pp 164. General editor Donald Stamps, © 1990 by Life Publishers International.
Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids MI
This article is from The Full Life Study Bible (The New Testament), on Riches and
Poverty, pp 164. General editor Donald Stamps, © 1990 by Life Publishers International.
Published by Zondervan, Grand Rapids MI