The Rich & The Poor

Perhaps your familiar with the New Testament story of the rich young ruler.

Luke 18:18-24
18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. 20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. 21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. 22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. 23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. 24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

To help us understand the meaning of this account, let's consider what the rich ruler actually asked Jesus. He did NOT ask Jesus, "What shall we all do to inherit eternal life?" he asked, "What shall I do to inherit eternal life." His question was directed at himself, and Jesus being God knew this man's heart. This is why he was sorrowful when he heard Jesus' answer, "sell all that thou hast." His possessions were his god, and that fact meant he wasn't as righteous as he thought.

Jesus never commanded that everyone who wanted to follow Him had to sell everything in order to do so. He certainly never gave that command to the women of substance, who ministered unto Him.

Luke 8:3
And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

Why do so many people believe that God's word honors individuals who are poor and condemns individuals who are wealthy? I believe the answer is envy. Now, God's word does condemn, greed, oppression, selfishness, thievery, and not being charitable.

But these are attributes of morality and conditions of a person's heart, not issues of a person's monetary wealth.

There are other examples of rich individuals in the Old Testament, who God doesn't condemn for being well off. In fact, quite the opposite, God honored wealthy men like Job and Abraham and even with all they went through, those two Old Testament figures treated others according to what was morally right, and that's what God cares about.

Proverbs 24:17
Rejoice not when thine enemy falleth, and let not thine heart be glad when he stumbleth:

John 15:12
This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Romans 12:18
If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.