Rich or close to Jesus

[Nehemiah6]

Lucky for me (i guess?) im dirt poor. Come now Jesus.

Not sure how someone came up with this expression "dirt poor". Dirt (soil) is rich in nutrients for plants! So a plant would say "I am dirt rich".

Getting back to wealth, there is no question that wealth generally becomes an idol to the wealthy, and many (if not most) of the wealthy are extremely stingy. Hence wealth also becomes a barrier to salvation. See the story of the Rich Young Ruler.

At the same time Christians should understand that without cash the Gospel cannot go forward, and neither can the poor brethren and sisters (as well as widows and orphans) be provided for and assisted in their need. God wants us to consider the poor, but without cash we cannot be a blessing to them.

Which means that we need to have a balanced view about riches. They can be a tremendous blessing if they are not worshiped (as we see through wealthy and righteous Job) . And they can also be a tremendous curse, as seen in the example of the Rich Young Ruler.

 

[LPT]

It seems that a camel is generally accepted and that gate was a gate in Jerusalem if you wanted to take a camel through it you had to unload all the baggage it carried in order to enter through.

But as you say it could be a rope going through the eye of a needle.

Cyril of Alexandria (fragment 219) claimed that "camel" is a Greek misspelling; that kamêlos (camel) was written in place of kamilos, meaning "rope" or "cable".[2][3][4] More recently, George Lamsa, in his 1933 translation of the Bible into English from the Syriac, claimed this as well. (Wikipedia)

19:24: easier for a camel: This analogy reinforces the difficulty that wealthy people face in entering the Kingdom. A few manuscripts have a Greek word meaning rope (Greek kamilos) instead of camel (Greek kamēlos), a difference of only one letter. • to go through the eye of a needle: (NLT Bible study notes)

Indeed and i like both, is a rich man going to drop all his riches to squeeze through the needle of that east oriental city gate, probably not.

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

What is the central theological error of a rich man? He believes that He can pay for his own ticket into heaven. To accept a pass to him is undignified - it is charity. This is one of the groups which will say, "in thy name done many wonderful works?"

Unfortunately for them, this verse is still in the Bible . . .

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6).

 

[LPT]

The prosperity Gospel is not anything new really.

Jesus’ comment about a rich man’s salvation would have been difficult for some Jewish people in this period to accept because they held to a form of “prosperity theology.” If people prospered, it was evidence of God’s blessing on them (NKJ study notes)

wealth was seen as proof of God’s approval, it was commonly taught by the rabbis that rich people were blessed by God and therefore, go to heaven.

I think this is why the disciples said

Matthew 19:25
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

And Jesus said

Matthew 19:26
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

But note he never said it's impossible for the materially rich

V23 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.

Having lots of money is not an issue.
Having lots Money, wealth is not evil.
The love of money is the root of evil.

The love of money and wealth was the issue for the rich young man.
He loved it more than God and did not want to give it up.

I like that as well, Jesus knew the rich young man's heart, one doesn't have to give up all his riches to be a disciple, Joseph the rich man who ask Palite for Jesus body was a disciple, the small stature man who gave half of what he owned and that was enough.

 

[BillG]

What is the central theological error of a rich man? He believes that He can pay for his own ticket into heaven. To accept a pass to him is undignified - it is charity. This is one of the groups which will say, "in thy name done many wonderful works?"

Unfortunately for them, this verse is still in the Bible . . .

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6).

Hi BBB.

The rich young ruler is interesting.

Given that financial and wealth at the time were seen as a blessing and approval from God then one would think in those days they were going to heaven, inherit eternal life.
So that was his ticket to heaven

Yet we find

Matthew 19:16-22

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
(Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 Honor your father and your mother,’ and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

He asks Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Now I'm assuming that he is genuine in his question.

So Jesus says keep my commands, to which he asks which one's.
Then Jesus quotes laws 5-10.

The man responds I've kept them.

Then Jesus focuses in on the problem.

If you want to be perfect give all you have to the poor.

But he went away sad because he had a lot of wealth.

For me he fell foul of his money.

It was his God and Idol.

I can't say this is the case but is it possible that this relates to the rich man and Lazarus?

So is it possible that his theological error is not paying for his ticket but falling foul of what Jesus talks about with Lazarus?

Yes wonderful works mean nothing if we do them in order to be saved.

But there are wonderful works that prove we are saved.

Matthew 25:35-36
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Matthew 25:40
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Hi BBB.

The rich young ruler is interesting.

Given that financial and wealth at the time were seen as a blessing and approval from God then one would think in those days they were going to heaven, inherit eternal life.
So that was his ticket to heaven

Yet we find

Matthew 19:16-22

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler
(Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23)
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 Honor your father and your mother,’ and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

He asks Jesus "What must I do to inherit eternal life?
Now I'm assuming that he is genuine in his question.

So Jesus says keep my commands, to which he asks which one's.
Then Jesus quotes laws 5-10.

The man responds I've kept them.

Then Jesus focuses in on the problem.

If you want to be perfect give all you have to the poor.

But he went away sad because he had a lot of wealth.

For me he fell foul of his money.

It was his God and Idol.

I can't say this is the case but is it possible that this relates to the rich man and Lazarus?

So is it possible that his theological error is not paying for his ticket but falling foul of what Jesus talks about with Lazarus?

Yes wonderful works mean nothing if we do them in order to be saved.

But there are wonderful works that prove we are saved.

Matthew 25:35-36
35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Matthew 25:40
40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

I've heard others refer to this rich ruler as the Dives of Luke 16.

 

[BillG]

I've heard others refer to this rich ruler as the Dives of Luke 16.

Ooh who is Dives?

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Dives is the name used for the rich young ruler . . . as opposed to Lazarus.

 

[BillG]

I've heard others refer to this rich ruler as the Dives of Luke 16.

Hey BBB I see that you have a picture of a dog

Here is the new addition to our family

 

[BillG]

Dives is the name used for the rich young ruler . . . as opposed to Lazarus.

Oh ok.

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Hey BBB I see that you have a picture of a dog

Here is the new addition to our family

View attachment 188555

Dawgs! We can't live without them!

 

[LPT]

I've heard others refer to this rich ruler as the Dives of Luke 16.

Interesting seems it was used in early translations, the word is Latin for rich wealthy etc.

There was a certain rich man," in Latin is "Homo quidam erat dives."

 

[Nehemiah6]

Indeed and i like both, is a rich man going to drop all his riches to squeeze through the needle of that east oriental city gate, probably not.

No. But Christ gave us a hyperbole to demonstrate how difficult it is for the rich to turn away from the idolatry of riches. As Scripture says covetousness is idolatry. And to Christians, Scripture says "Little children, keep yourselves from idols".

 

[BillG]

Dawgs! We can't live without them!

Tell me about it.

We got Margeaux (above) after our toffee dog died, just before my birthday, our first dog
We also have a Bichone who we adopted, we are his 5th family his name is Rufus.
Long story but we will be his last family.

Trying to post pics but too large

 

[LPT]

No. But Christ gave us a hyperbole to demonstrate how difficult it is for the rich to turn away from the idolatry of riches. As Scripture says covetousness is idolatry. And to Christians, Scripture says "Little children, keep yourselves from idols".

Indeed but there are folks who don't idol money who are rich, Joseph of Arimathea is a prime example. probably not many are like him.

 

[dcontroversal]

I would have taken the billion and sent 100,000 missionaries to the 4 corners of the globe with the CORRECT GOSPEL message..........any cash left to poor familes with sick children.....!!

 

[Embankment]

Wealth of any kind is a sin. Having something and calming it to be mine and putting it above your fellow man is a sin. It is our human nature to take care of ourselves above the welfare of our neighbor.
It’s in everyone of us.
Just another example of how we cannot possibly justify ourself before God.
It also proves that we all willfully sin and even boast about it!

 

[dcontroversal]

Wealth of any kind is a sin. Having something and calming it to be mine and putting it above your fellow man is a sin. It is our human nature to take care of ourselves above the welfare of our neighbor.
It’s in everyone of us.
Just another example of how we cannot possibly justify ourself before God.
It also proves that we all willfully sin and even boast about it!

Yeah, got to be one of the most ignorant comments I have ever seen....so you are saying God promotes sin right? Because Solomon asked for wisdom over riches and the power to over come his enemies God GAVE HIM ALL THREE....INCLUDING WEALTH....wealth is not a sin....the love if money is...get your facts straight!

 

[Embankment]

Yeah, got to be one of the most ignorant comments I have ever seen....so you are saying God promotes sin right? Because Solomon asked for wisdom over riches and the power to over come his enemies God GAVE HIM ALL THREE....INCLUDING WEALTH....wealth is not a sin....the love if money is...get your facts straight!

You do not understand grace or the cross at all.

 

[LPT]

Wealth of any kind is a sin. Having something and calming it to be mine and putting it above your fellow man is a sin. It is our human nature to take care of ourselves above the welfare of our neighbor.
It’s in everyone of us.
Just another example of how we cannot possibly justify ourself before God.
It also proves that we all willfully sin and even boast about it!

Wealth of any kind, how about wealth in the knowledge of God?

Now I would agree with putting money first can be.