JUST SWALLOW THE NEEDLE
"And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." - Matt 19:24
When Jesus asked that rich man to sell all he has and give to the poor - He didn't in anyway imply that the cost of his salvation was his riches, but it is important to stress the nothingness of our wealth when compared to our salvation. Some see riches as a defence, they hang their whole existence on wealth and really, that is all that counts to them - they believe they can serve God well when they have riches.
It is important for the rich man to know that the matter of your faith is between you and God - your wealth doesn't prove anything to God, as a matter of fact, He is the source of all true wealth. When you think your wealth places you on a better platform before God - you need to realise that you are seriously under serious illusions. Wealth is the least thing that moves a man to God, money isn't a factor in our relationship with God, so everyone should pocket their riches when they fellowship, He is bigger than all your money.
The rich man that wants to go to heaven, has a good desire and God commends such, riches doesn't take anyone to heaven, poverty also doesn't take anyone. The man who desires a relationship with God must allow that same needle puncture his or her hump; that same needle must deflate all of his or her pride, must reduce our arrogance and we must pass through - because with God a rich man can make heaven.
The eye of the needle will not become bigger, the camel will only have to be smaller, and this can only happen with God. The disciples doubted the possibility of a rich man going to heaven - Jesus admitted that it is difficult, yet He also said it is possible. It is possible if the rich would allow God work in them, it is possible if we humble ourselves before God. As a matter of fact, it is not wealth that is the barrier, it is the man who has placed wealth as his god.
THE NOTHINGNESS OF POSSESSION
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for the joy over it goes and sells all he has and buys that field." - Matt 13:44
It takes a discovery to see the value of salvation and at the same time, see the nothingness of our possessions. When we have found the essence of our salvation, everything we own will be of lesser value. I am drawing your attention to this because, many have been deceived to think that the amount of possession they have is the measure of God's quality in their lives. Anyone can be rich, it is not a prove of fellowship.
One would wonder why men would sell their possessions and decide to share the proceeds amongst the brethren like it happened in the book of Acts, what would have caused that kind of madness? All their life savings, all they have ever worked for - just by an experience became nothing. This is indeed the blessedness of genuine encounter of the faith, we see the nothingness of material things.
Another reason why our minds need a fix, is the trending perception in the world that measures a man's esteem by his pocket. A man's life does not consist of the things he possesses, a man's purpose is the definition of who he is and not his wealth; and the truth is just that Satan have made many worthless by making them see wealth as the ultimate - and forgotten about purpose.
"So Satan answered the LORD and said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing?'" - Job 1:9
Imagine bro Job, at his time of trial - the devil raised a valid point about his salvation. The devil was trying to say 'Job loves you because you blessed him with riches'. He was saying that God earned our love because He blesses us, and that if the blessings were not there we wouldn't love Him. The truth is that God can never stop blessing His children, His goodness is His nature that cannot change, but He wouldn't want us to hang our love based on possession. Thank God Bro Job didn't fail, but I can't say if this is the case for us today.
Take the whole world and give me Jesus, is not a popular phrase anymore, we have been deceived to receive the whole world and add Jesus. We have come to trust in riches, and this cannot be healthy for the church. No one wants you to remain poor but you can't be a captive of wealth at the same time. The riches of His grace should be the value we see, not possession.
Let it be known to you today, that wealth is given to all children of God, if we can apply kingdom principles. Wealth is not even a big deal, but wealth should not be the deal of our salvation. God wants to bless us and He is blessing us - but don't value Him based on possession. You need a revelation of Him, a communion in His presence and a letting go of the old man, this is the major reason we love Him.
GIVING IT ALL UP
"Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.'" - Luke 19:8
Jesus did not preach the sermon of giving all to Zacchaeus and He really didn't need to, Zacchaeus discovered true salvation first hand from the Saviour Himself, He met Jesus in truth, so it was not hard. What is our possession to what we have received and have become by His grace. Our reputation becomes nothing, we can easily give it all up.
One of the very important things we discover when we encounter salvation is that we begin to consider others, this life doesn't become a competition amongst peers anymore, it becomes a matter of genuine care for the poor and those who are less privilege. This was also the gospel of John the Baptist. The rich man would give without requiring service, he sees the other person as his or her responsibility.
It may be difficult, because most of us do a transport of our cultures and traditions into the house of God. The rich must stop classing even amongst brethren, remember it was pointed out that our wealth has no place in regard to our fellowship. We must come into the service as members who seek God in truth, and this will make us all equal to approach the throne of grace.
"So He said, 'Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.'" - Luke 21:3-4
Riches in human perspective can be really relative, a man can be wealthy to me, and to another the man could just be a pauper, but all these may not count at all if we are not possessed by our possessions. The rich and the poor will be required to give up that which they have, it will cost some sort of sacrifice or something of divinity to allow such happen.
The ability to give up to the poor or for the gospel sake as the case is, may just be a conquering of our greed. The man who cannot take instructions from God on sacrifice of his wealth just got bigger in size amd of course the eye of the needle becomes smaller. Let us not be afraid of the unknown, our riches cannot be quantified to the fellowship we have in Him, just give it all up for him. Let us also know that it is not out of a coercion that the Lord will require us to give...it is most times, joyful and willingly.
What is your most prized asset? What is it that you cannot give up, God may not ask you to give it all up now, but let's just say - He ask you to. Paul said everything he has, he counts as dung for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ.
DON'T TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES
"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." - 1Tim 6:17
Some may say it takes a richer man to command a rich man, - but if that is what we are asked to do. I find grace to do a little 'commanding', please, I may not know the value of your wealth, but I command you not to trust in uncertain riches. It is more scary to know that even the scriptures call it uncertain - don't start to trust money in the place of God, that is too much of a risk without insurance.
We live in a world where every one thinks money is everything, we think money gives power and all, and we have started to worship money, we live vain lives just because of monetary value - purpose become lost, yet because the account is full we trust we may not be too far - nothing can be more deceptive. I command you; don't trust in your riches.
It is necessary to also point out this moment that God is not an insurance for wealth; He is bigger than that, He gives lasting wealth - but He is not our insurance, but it will be good for the Christian to know that, trust in God who is everlasting, is riches in itself.
"And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'" - Luke 12:15
That rich man had plans, he wanted a guaranteed life of bliss, but doesn't even understand that there is really no insurance for life - what they call life insurance you don't get benefit from in any way. God showed him his foolishness when he didn't wake up the next day, the riches counted for nothing, he was helpless - he couldn't save himself - why do we then, become so proud.
Don't trust in riches in place of God, it is too uncertain - it is more than risky because it only has failure as its outcome, you can't serve God and mammon. Please, don't get trapped in the cycle of the devil, don't lose your peace just yet - God is saying you can be rich and go to heaven, but it is only possible with Him.
Many have lost their wealth and thereby taken their lives, they lose on all sides and are just a shadow of themselves - the grave doesn't respect class, everyone who is down there has the same thing in common - they know nothing, they are dead! Why do you think money should define you before God does.
CONCLUSION:
God wants you to be rich and also to make heaven - but you need Him to make you, so that this seemingly impossible task of making heaven is possible. Don't place money above God, don't rate God by the riches you have - just value your salvation more than anything in the world.
God bless you and I love you.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
When Jesus asked that rich man to sell all he has and give to the poor - He didn't in anyway imply that the cost of his salvation was his riches, but it is important to stress the nothingness of our wealth when compared to our salvation. Some see riches as a defence, they hang their whole existence on wealth and really, that is all that counts to them - they believe they can serve God well when they have riches.
It is important for the rich man to know that the matter of your faith is between you and God - your wealth doesn't prove anything to God, as a matter of fact, He is the source of all true wealth. When you think your wealth places you on a better platform before God - you need to realise that you are seriously under serious illusions. Wealth is the least thing that moves a man to God, money isn't a factor in our relationship with God, so everyone should pocket their riches when they fellowship, He is bigger than all your money.
The rich man that wants to go to heaven, has a good desire and God commends such, riches doesn't take anyone to heaven, poverty also doesn't take anyone. The man who desires a relationship with God must allow that same needle puncture his or her hump; that same needle must deflate all of his or her pride, must reduce our arrogance and we must pass through - because with God a rich man can make heaven.
The eye of the needle will not become bigger, the camel will only have to be smaller, and this can only happen with God. The disciples doubted the possibility of a rich man going to heaven - Jesus admitted that it is difficult, yet He also said it is possible. It is possible if the rich would allow God work in them, it is possible if we humble ourselves before God. As a matter of fact, it is not wealth that is the barrier, it is the man who has placed wealth as his god.
THE NOTHINGNESS OF POSSESSION
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for the joy over it goes and sells all he has and buys that field." - Matt 13:44
It takes a discovery to see the value of salvation and at the same time, see the nothingness of our possessions. When we have found the essence of our salvation, everything we own will be of lesser value. I am drawing your attention to this because, many have been deceived to think that the amount of possession they have is the measure of God's quality in their lives. Anyone can be rich, it is not a prove of fellowship.
One would wonder why men would sell their possessions and decide to share the proceeds amongst the brethren like it happened in the book of Acts, what would have caused that kind of madness? All their life savings, all they have ever worked for - just by an experience became nothing. This is indeed the blessedness of genuine encounter of the faith, we see the nothingness of material things.
Another reason why our minds need a fix, is the trending perception in the world that measures a man's esteem by his pocket. A man's life does not consist of the things he possesses, a man's purpose is the definition of who he is and not his wealth; and the truth is just that Satan have made many worthless by making them see wealth as the ultimate - and forgotten about purpose.
"So Satan answered the LORD and said, 'Does Job fear God for nothing?'" - Job 1:9
Imagine bro Job, at his time of trial - the devil raised a valid point about his salvation. The devil was trying to say 'Job loves you because you blessed him with riches'. He was saying that God earned our love because He blesses us, and that if the blessings were not there we wouldn't love Him. The truth is that God can never stop blessing His children, His goodness is His nature that cannot change, but He wouldn't want us to hang our love based on possession. Thank God Bro Job didn't fail, but I can't say if this is the case for us today.
Take the whole world and give me Jesus, is not a popular phrase anymore, we have been deceived to receive the whole world and add Jesus. We have come to trust in riches, and this cannot be healthy for the church. No one wants you to remain poor but you can't be a captive of wealth at the same time. The riches of His grace should be the value we see, not possession.
Let it be known to you today, that wealth is given to all children of God, if we can apply kingdom principles. Wealth is not even a big deal, but wealth should not be the deal of our salvation. God wants to bless us and He is blessing us - but don't value Him based on possession. You need a revelation of Him, a communion in His presence and a letting go of the old man, this is the major reason we love Him.
GIVING IT ALL UP
"Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.'" - Luke 19:8
Jesus did not preach the sermon of giving all to Zacchaeus and He really didn't need to, Zacchaeus discovered true salvation first hand from the Saviour Himself, He met Jesus in truth, so it was not hard. What is our possession to what we have received and have become by His grace. Our reputation becomes nothing, we can easily give it all up.
One of the very important things we discover when we encounter salvation is that we begin to consider others, this life doesn't become a competition amongst peers anymore, it becomes a matter of genuine care for the poor and those who are less privilege. This was also the gospel of John the Baptist. The rich man would give without requiring service, he sees the other person as his or her responsibility.
It may be difficult, because most of us do a transport of our cultures and traditions into the house of God. The rich must stop classing even amongst brethren, remember it was pointed out that our wealth has no place in regard to our fellowship. We must come into the service as members who seek God in truth, and this will make us all equal to approach the throne of grace.
"So He said, 'Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God, but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.'" - Luke 21:3-4
Riches in human perspective can be really relative, a man can be wealthy to me, and to another the man could just be a pauper, but all these may not count at all if we are not possessed by our possessions. The rich and the poor will be required to give up that which they have, it will cost some sort of sacrifice or something of divinity to allow such happen.
The ability to give up to the poor or for the gospel sake as the case is, may just be a conquering of our greed. The man who cannot take instructions from God on sacrifice of his wealth just got bigger in size amd of course the eye of the needle becomes smaller. Let us not be afraid of the unknown, our riches cannot be quantified to the fellowship we have in Him, just give it all up for him. Let us also know that it is not out of a coercion that the Lord will require us to give...it is most times, joyful and willingly.
What is your most prized asset? What is it that you cannot give up, God may not ask you to give it all up now, but let's just say - He ask you to. Paul said everything he has, he counts as dung for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ.
DON'T TRUST IN UNCERTAIN RICHES
"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy." - 1Tim 6:17
Some may say it takes a richer man to command a rich man, - but if that is what we are asked to do. I find grace to do a little 'commanding', please, I may not know the value of your wealth, but I command you not to trust in uncertain riches. It is more scary to know that even the scriptures call it uncertain - don't start to trust money in the place of God, that is too much of a risk without insurance.
We live in a world where every one thinks money is everything, we think money gives power and all, and we have started to worship money, we live vain lives just because of monetary value - purpose become lost, yet because the account is full we trust we may not be too far - nothing can be more deceptive. I command you; don't trust in your riches.
It is necessary to also point out this moment that God is not an insurance for wealth; He is bigger than that, He gives lasting wealth - but He is not our insurance, but it will be good for the Christian to know that, trust in God who is everlasting, is riches in itself.
"And He said to them, 'Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.'" - Luke 12:15
That rich man had plans, he wanted a guaranteed life of bliss, but doesn't even understand that there is really no insurance for life - what they call life insurance you don't get benefit from in any way. God showed him his foolishness when he didn't wake up the next day, the riches counted for nothing, he was helpless - he couldn't save himself - why do we then, become so proud.
Don't trust in riches in place of God, it is too uncertain - it is more than risky because it only has failure as its outcome, you can't serve God and mammon. Please, don't get trapped in the cycle of the devil, don't lose your peace just yet - God is saying you can be rich and go to heaven, but it is only possible with Him.
Many have lost their wealth and thereby taken their lives, they lose on all sides and are just a shadow of themselves - the grave doesn't respect class, everyone who is down there has the same thing in common - they know nothing, they are dead! Why do you think money should define you before God does.
CONCLUSION:
God wants you to be rich and also to make heaven - but you need Him to make you, so that this seemingly impossible task of making heaven is possible. Don't place money above God, don't rate God by the riches you have - just value your salvation more than anything in the world.
God bless you and I love you.
Akinsuroju Femi
© The Fundamentals
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