Category: Money

10/9/2021

Rich Man, Poor Me

"He who dies with the most toys wins." This quote was attributed to flamboyant millionaire Malcom Forbes in the 1980s.

You can't take it with you." In stark contrast Jesus taught in the story of the Rich Young Ruler in Mt 19:16-26.
16 Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”
17 “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
18 “Which ones?” he inquired.
Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, 19 honor your father and mother,’and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
22 When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

While it was clear no big ol' hairy humped desert beast could pass through an eye of any needle, the 'eye of the needle' Jesus refered to was a small gate in Jerusalem where a camel could only pass through if it stooped and had its baggage removed. Not impossible but difficult, and the camel could take it (anything) with him.

Now I should be safe from being convicted by the teaching of the rich young ruler as I grew up in a lower middle class home and my 'wealth' since then is barely a blip on any money radar. BUT.. Wealth is a relative commodity, and I believe there is a lesson here for all of us.

ME ME ME ME FIRST!
I may not have wealth, but.. I am convicted there are things that keeps me from really following Jesus? How about you?

Maybe our toys, hobbies, sports, friends, family (yes family), or simply maintaining my comfort keeps me from being ALL IN FOR JESUS?

I desire to put God first.. but there is a lot of ME in me. I like, I want, I slip up, and am afraid of messing, and/or give up my time to serve Him..

SO I KNOW.. whether a 'Rich Man' or a 'Poor Man' it is clear to me we daily need to say to God I am yours. This pursuit of Him is through prayer, Bible (God's word), fellowship, and an intentional effort to serve Him in big or small, whether rich or poor, in sickness and in health (like a marriage vow).. all to the Glory of God.

My prayer is all of the RICH and POOR folk of God be faithful in the lives we live and the resources we are blessed with. May we all be about the business of sharing Jesus to a world that is lost as 'One body, many parts'.. God bless y'all!

Jeff (relatively poor and content) Larson

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10/8/2020

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Rich Man, Poor Man 2020

A popular saying in the 1980s was "He who dies with the most toys wins." The quote is attributed to flamboyant millionaire Malcolm Forbes.

In stark contrast to the advice of Mr. Forbes I recall as a kid in Sunday School learning the story in Mt 19:16-26 where after the dejected rich young ruler leaves Jesus he tells his disciples "it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven."

This was GOOD NEWS for my lower middle classed family and BAD NEWS for those 'blessed with RICHES' living on the other side of the tracks.

AND.. It was clear even to my elementary school understanding of physics no big ol' hairy desert beast of burden will pass through an eye of any needle.

I later learned the 'eye of the needle' Jesus was referring to was a small gate in Jerusalem a camel could only pass through if it stooped and had its baggage removed. This is a great analogy of wealth which can be a great blessing and resource for self and others in this life, but.. "you can't take it with you." .

So clearly the smirky advice of 'Rich Man' Malcom Forbes (even if true) pales in comparison to 'Poor Man' Jesus words of eternal perspective.

But what about me? As a relatively poor man I find myself strangely affected by the thoughts of the Rich Young Ruler.

Let me paraphrase Mt 19: 16-22 if I was talking to Jesus. Ok, as I said I am more poor than rich, so how would that conversation look?

Jeff: Teacher, what must I do to get eternal life?
Jesus: keep the commandments.. don't murder Jeff: CHECK
Jesus: don't commit adultery Jeff: CHECK
Jesus: don't steal Jeff: CHECK,
Jesus: tell the truth Jeff: CHECK
Jesus: honor father and mother Jeff: CHECK
Jesus: and love your neighbor as yourself Jeff: CHECK.
Jeff: {thinking so far so good}
Jesus: "Now give yourself totally to me. Give me your time, your leisure, your resources, your thoughts, and trust me when life is good and when it is difficult. Ready?"

<insert awkard pause here>

Jeff: I thought you were going to ask me about money? Money is ok to give up since I don't have much, but I need my TV time to unwind at night. No more than 3 hours.. and my sports.. let me keep my sports, ok?

If Jesus would ever slap his head, and mutter "Oh brother".. It would be after this conversation.

ME ME ME ME FIRST!
I agree with the teaching of the rich young ruler.. but also if honest I am not sure I give myself totally to Jesus. In fact, I know I don't.

I have to say honestly that today I am seeking God like never before in my life. I have a rush of passion for Jesus, and pursue him humbly like never before.. BUT .. oh what a wretched sinner I am.

I think of my past, my regrets, my SINS, hurt relationships, and know I could have only done better. I think about my present state of exhilaration in pursuing God and feel a bit stuck, and that whatever God calls me to do big or small.. I WILL MESS IT UP.

I claim to put God first.. but I have a lot of ME in me. I like, I want, I slip up, and am afraid of messing up my witness, and/or give of my time.

BUT I KNOW.. whether a 'Rich Man' or a 'Poor Man' we daily need to say to God I am yours. It will take our daily pursuit of Him (prayer, Bible, and fellowship), and an assertive effort to serve Him. In big or small, whether rich or poor.. all to the Glory of God.

My prayer is all of the RICH and POOR folk of God be faithful in the lives we live and the resources we are blessed with. May we all be about the business of sharing Jesus to a world that is lost as 'One body, many parts'.. God bless y'all!

Jeff (relatively poor and content) Larson

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Rich Man, Poor Me

Rich Man, Poor Man 2020

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