Jesus Was Rich

It would be ridiculous to even consider a comparison between the creature and the creator. This is because of the profound dissimilarities that exist between the two. Unless ones intention is to demean, every analogy between the creator and humans will always be inadequate. And yet we seek to bring the Son of man down to the level of human endeavor just because he came in the flesh.

The master will at all times exist at a level that will always be unreachable by the servant. In a nutshell, though elevated in stature, the creature will at all times remain base. This is by no means being prejudicial. It is in logical consideration of the state of existence of the two. In this world of men and women, anything that reasons and walks on two legs like man stands to be judged according to man’s laws. The creator must have known this when he came to earth via the natural way, ate, mingled and lived like us, and grew in stature like we do.

At the end of it all, it clearly emerges that the creator was just trying to reach the creature the best way possible, with a possible risk of rejection. However, the passage of time, logical thought and a synoptic consideration of what transpired when the creator walked on earth, eyes pop open to see things as they are, especially when light is shed upon our hearts.

Money is not bad. Rather, it is our love for money that is the root of all evil. (1Timothy 6:10 says “For the love of money is the root of all evil :..”). Love for money implies placing money before everything else without considering that there are many things that money cannot buy. This tends to water down all other things that are not money, thereby esteeming money.

You must have a few neighbors who won’t look at you because they feel your monetary worth is not equal to theirs. There is good money, for instance, that which is gotten through ones sweat. There is also dirty money, that which is ill gotten i.e. through trickery, theft etc. it is written “From the sweat of thy brow shall you eat”. The Son of man did not shun money, neither did he love it. He only used it. Man is better than money.

The human mind has always tried to relate experiences, encounters and acquaintances with money. There is valuable money and useless money. The former can be put to many uses, while the latter is not even worth the paper on which it is printed. Money as a commodity has little value.

As a means of exchange, money can be valuable. Instead of barter trading, we need a portable means of exchange that is less cumbersome to deal with during business transactions. This means of exchange must be of a higher value than the goods of trade. When used well, money can only be profitable.

When interpreted in religious perspectives, people would have us believe that money is bad. If money is that bad would you be looking for it as earnestly as you do? The Son of man would not have put gold and silver in the earth under your feet if it was that bad. It is recorded in Genesis 1:10 “And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good” All that he had made was good. He creates all and conceals better stuff beneath the soil for you to discover. This is the stuff he uses to pave his avenues. The prime implication is that he treads upon the stuff we hold most dear here on earth.

Your creator has very good things to say about money. He would not have rewarded Abraham with gold and silver if it was not good. All other esteemed generals were rewarded the same way. This is because “Money answers everything”. (Ecclesiastes 10:19 says “A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things”). Without this commodity, you cannot do much. Your self-esteem drops.

Society will not want any alliances with you if you happen to be poor. A rich man is heard but a poor man is shunned. Nobility comes with pecuniary ability. Have you considered that your loved one must first consider your ability to provide before they accepted your proposal for marriage? They might deny this now, but believe me, it counts. What would they eat if there was no bread on the table? Even the loveliest couple needs dishes on the table.

When the Son of man walked on earth, he had a treasurer. What exactly was the treasurer or accountant adding up after each gospel crusade? It is clearly recorded that Judas was not only the treasurer, but he was also a thief. Thieves usually steal things of high value like money.

There must have been a lot of money to steal from Jesus, without people noting or without being caught. John 12:6 says “He said this, not because he had any love for the poor; but because he was a thief, and, having the money-bag, took for himself what was put into it”. Every accountant risks being caught if they steal from the little money present in the kitty. Theft from copious supplies of money is likely to go unnoticed. Is it possible that the Son of man was this rich?

Our governments demand that we pay tax as a way of collecting revenue that is used to maintain public utilities that serve everybody in our society. These charges are usually directed to workers who enjoy public amenities during wealth creation.

Failure to pay tax denies authorities funds for road construction, salary for public servants and provision of other significant services. One therefore needs to make money in order to pay money. Jesus always paid tax. Mathew 17:27 says “…lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee”. You cannot give away that which you do not have.

The utterances of the master tell much about the son. Psalms 50:10 says “For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills…..if I were hungry I would not tell thee: for the world is mine and the fullness thereof” our imagination of cattle on a thousand hills creates a baffling picture. This is definitely not the picture in a poverty stricken individual’s mind. How often have we seen such cattle?

A hungry poor man will expectedly extend their hand towards you for alms, but not the Son of man. The fullness of the earth is found in him. Was Jesus rich? Yes. Very, very rich indeed, from our world’s perspective.