Lighthouse Community Church

How would you answer someone if they asked you, "What does it mean to be rich?"

For many of us, we would think about a person's annual salary, maybe where a person lives, what kind of car they drive, how much they have saved, or how much money is in their wallet. The dictionary defines rich as, "Possessing great material wealth." There have been people in the Bible who have used their wealth for good and there have been some who have used their wealth for evil.

One danger of having great wealth is that it may keep a person from seeing and addressing his or her greatest problem: sin. This barrier is seen in a conversation between Jesus and a young rich ruler. The gospel of Luke records the ruler saying, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Scholars believe that this rich young ruler was an influential wealthy lay leader or even a leader of the church. This man is seeking eternal life and Jesus asks if he has followed a number of the Ten Commandments. The ruler replies in affirmation that he has. It is at this point where Jesus gets to the heart of the matter by giving a command that unveils this young man's true heart.

Jesus states, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor; and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

What would you have done if Jesus gave you the command? For when we place ourselves in the shoes (or sandals) of this rich young ruler does this become an extremely challenging command. One question we must ask ourselves is, "Why do I hold tightly to money when asked to give?"

Here are some that come to mind: money brings me security; money brings me happiness; money makes me feel confident; money brings me honor and respect; money brings me pleasure; money gives me control; money gets me what I want.

Do any of these things rule your heart when it comes to having money?

Remember being rich is not sinful, but the love of money is. The love of money leads to a number of other sins that have been listed above.

Take some time to think deeply about how tightly you hold onto money and repent and ask God to give you the freedom from the chains of sin associated with wealth. I hope that you will do so, so that you may gain eternal life and freedom that can only be found in the riches of the gospel. Be rich in the salvation that God has given to you through Jesus Christ. Think about the penalty of sin that has been paid by Jesus Christ. Meditate that death has been conquered by Jesus' death. Be moved that you have the most valuable thing any human can ever have . . . Jesus Christ and him crucified.

When you grow in your depth of love for Jesus, when you grab hold of Him, you let go of your idol of money.

And Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."