8-7-09-2

The parable of the rich ruler is a stumbling block for many.

Since we have it in the Bible people, especially the religious, brought up the idea of the devil that we should be poor. The devil controls people through poverty since poor are controllable and dependable. The Bible says that nobody listens to a poor man. The borrower is a slave to the lender. When someone believes that poverty is a virtue then he will get what he believes. It will happen according to his faith.  One Israeli saying says: “Being poor is not shame but in it is not good either.”

One who is the owner and those who are in debt to a lender are dependant since the lender can at any time demand the money. The poor are always used to being in fear. If bad times come, people are worried if they will get an extension to pay their mortgage or not. I know I used to be poor.

Worry is sin. Why? That time when worry set in the faith is out of order.  The New Covenant definition of sin is “anything, which is not of faith is sin.”

The rich young ruler kept all the commandments, since he was very young and this was the reason he was rich. He had an abundance of blessings. This is what Deuteronomy 28 says. But keeping the law did not satisfy him and he was looking for a more satisfying, higher level of life. Then he heard about Jesus and came to Him.

We read in Mark 10:17-30 an interesting episode, which needs to be explained and understood. Many Christian don’t.

Lord Jesus here in essence is teaching about sorting out priorities. In the same episode He gave to His disciples inside of more than just a priority. Messing up priorities is most common to misunderstand many issues. The priority is as follows: On the first place in life is God, the second is the spouse, then children (or parents), job (work) and Church.

1.      God (His Word

2.      Spouse

3.      Children

4.      Job/work

5.      Church

The misbalancing of priorities may have grave consequences in life.

As we see the Church is not in the same position as God. The Church is only in fifth place.

We know that God mostly communicates with us through His Word. When we pray, we communicate with Him. We may talk with Him any time. He always has the time for us.

Life has priority over the law. Jesus meant to take out camel from the well in Sabbath day. Looks like one broke the law and saved the life.

In Mark 10 we see a statement regarding of riches, which may be an obstacle for entering the kingdom of God. Loving money (not having money) is root the evil, the Apostle Paul said.

An interesting statement is the matter of the camel going through the eye of the needle. The statement is dealing with impossibility.

I heard from Jewish sources that in Jerusalem the wall around the city was protecting against the enemies. The travelers and caravans usually came late to the city when main gate was closed. The persons could be in big danger it they will stay outside. There were dangerous animals and thieves.

Within the big door to the city there was a small door which was not meant to fit big items. The name of the smaller door is the Eye of the Needle.

The man with the camel and goods on the camel has to enter in, by priority. First is the life and then second are the goods. The first owner had to put down the goods from the camel. Then owner entered in. He pulled the camel through smaller opening that camel must crawl through. Then the owner brought the goods in. When in danger, the man and the camel had the priority since the lost goods could be replaced. It is difficult to replace the life.  We in this country value life highly. It is not the same in many other countries and cultures.

The first is God and His kingdom and secondary are money and riches. The priority has to be sorted out properly. Jesus asked the young ruler to sell everything and follow Him. The young ruler left his conversation with Jesus sad. He did not grasp the Jesus’ point. If the ruler was a millionaire then with Jesus and in His kingdom he would be a multi-millionaire. See Jesus was not poor. But He did not talk about it. Jesus had a kingdom not of poor-dom.

Peter said: We left everything (v. 30), what about us?  Jesus made an interesting statement.  But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.

We receive hundred fold in this time. It does not say in the heaven. It is interesting. Some say, we should be poor. We will be rich in the heaven. 

Hundred fold is more than a hundred times. We may be wealthy if we have our priorities straight. The same time we have guarantee of eternal life.

The people of the world see us that we should be poor. It is because it was us, who used to preach that. We sowed the idea and worldly people took it.

The Lord said clearly that being rich and trusting in riches are two different matters. Again the love of money not having money is root of all evil.

Some suggested that later in the first Church, the rich man came back. But then he must have his priorities already straight. 

No. 8709-2

© 2009 Vladimir Uhri