Can you recall the account of the young man who came to Jesus with a sense of urgency? He wanted to ask this very important question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17)
Listen carefully to how Jesus responded to this question and pay attention to the young man’s reaction.
“Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21)
The young man did not like the answer.
“At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.” (Mark 10:22)
This response tells us all we need to know about the relationship between the young man and his wealth. In spite of the urgency of his request, he could not accept Jesus’ answer. His attachment to his wealth made it impossible for him to conceive inheriting eternal life at such a cost.
Can you remember what Jesus had earlier asked the crowd?
“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:36)
It is perhaps a scenario like this that Jesus had in mind as he spoke to the crowd that day.
This episode does not teach us that wealth is bad or forbidden. In the scriptures many of God’s people were wealthy (Job, Abraham, Solomon, Hezekiah, Joseph of Arimathea, Dorcus, to mention a few), and this was correctly seen as a divine blessing.
This episode teaches us the correct relationship that should exist between us, our wealth, and the Kingdom of God. The man in the account “went away sad because he had great wealth.” Maybe it was his unhealthy relationship with his riches that caused him to opt out of eternal life, to keep his wealth and ultimately forfeit his soul.
What do you think?
Junior Sponer is the pastor of Kinnaird Church of God.