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Kingdom Wealth
Reorienting the way you see wealth in your life
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” — Matthew 19:23
When people think of wealth in culture and society, they generally think of money. Gold coins in Jesus’s day, zeroes behind a number in the bank account our day; it is all the same. Wealth is connected with money.
The Christian community and society have taken this passage and condemned money, wealth, and the rich for hundreds of years. Even today, the thought of a pastor driving a nice car or having a large house makes people suspicious, uncomfortable, and jealous.
I remember the first time I walked into a very fancy church. They had lights, sound systems, a stage, and a coffee bar. There were all these extra things for the church and the congregation, and I felt something was wrong.
Yet, the wrong thing was how I saw wealth, money, and the ‘rich.’
The Rich Young Man
Before the scripture above, Jesus is talking with a wealthy young man. The man asks what it takes to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. The young man turns away downcast because he is very wealthy.
