Mark 10:21-22 (NKJV)Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
To the Jews, financial prosperity is a sign of God’s blessings that they are walking obediently in the Mosaic covenant. The rich young ruler was of Jewish descent and had been well taught on the laws of God. He knew where his wealth and blessings originated. For us too, even though we may know that God is the source of our provision, money can still slowly creep into our lives and cause us to idolise it, especially when it comes with power too. This rich young ruler has tasted power and wealth, and it had become a stronghold and idol in his life. The problem with him is that he had developed an identity around his rich lifestyle and it was too much for him to give up.
Mark 10:23, 26-27 (NKJV) Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”… And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
Many Christians ask if it is possible to be rich, successful, and godly? There is no conflict between loving God and being successful at the same time. In fact, our success can be used to glorify God. Some people believe that one has to separate themselves from the world by living in a monastery in order to be holy; they believe that by living a life without the attraction or possession of worldly goods will help them to be holy. However, we can be in this world, but are not of the world. Neither riches nor poverty should be a measurement of spiritual maturity. Spiritual maturity is measured by whether we are loving God and people, and whether we have chosen to live a consecrated life.
God is not against money, people being rich or well-provided for in life, but He is against money becoming god to us. There are many pitfalls that come if we only focus on financial prosperity and neglect the most important factor—God. However, if we don’t let money become our god or build our security around it, and if we ensure that God is first in our lives, we will be able to withstand the temptations to neglect God, and we will do well if we become a rich, influential and successful Christian.
Sermon Series: Seriously?
我可以既富有又敬虔吗?
马可福音10:21-22 耶稣看着他，就爱他，对他说:“你还缺少一件:去变卖你所有的，分给穷人，就必有财宝在天上;来背起十字架来跟从我。他听见这话，就忧忧愁愁地走了，因为他的产业很多
对犹太人来说，财务上的繁荣是上帝祝福他们遵守摩西之约的标志。这位富有的少年官是犹太人的后裔，他在神的律法方面受过扎实的教导。他知道他的财富和祝福来自哪里。我们也是一样，虽然我们可能知道神是供应我们的源头，但金钱依然能够慢悄悄地渗入我们的生命，并令我们崇拜它，尤其是当它与权利结伴而来的时候。这位富有的少年官尝过了权力和财富的滋味。权力和财富已经成为了他生命中的营垒和偶像。他的问题在于他已经围绕着他奢华的生活方式形成了一种身份，他无法承受自己放弃这种身份。
马可福音10:23,26-27耶稣周围一看，对门徒说:“有钱财的人进神的国是何等的难哪!他们就大大的希奇，彼此说，这样谁能得救呢?耶稣看着他们说、在人是不能、在神却不然。因为在神凡事都能。”
许多基督徒问，成为既富有、成功同时又敬虔的人这是否有可能?在爱神的同时也获得成功，这二者之间没有冲突。事实上，我们的成功可以用来荣耀神。有些人认为，一个人必须通过住在修道院中来与世界隔离，才能成为圣洁;他们相信过一种不受世俗事物吸引或占有的生活将有助于他们成为圣洁。然而，我们可以生活在这个世界上，但不属于这个世界。富裕和贫穷都不应该成为灵命成熟的衡量标准。属灵成熟的衡量标准是我们是否爱神和爱人，是否选择过分别为圣的生活。
神不反对金钱，不反对人们生活富足，但他反对金钱成为我们的上帝。如果我们只关注财务上的繁荣，而忽略了最重要的因素——上帝，就会出现很多陷阱。
然而，如果我们不让金钱成为我们的上帝，也不把我们的安全感建立在金钱之上，如果我们确保上帝是我们生命中的第一，我们就能抵挡住那些会使我们无视上帝的诱惑，那么如果我们成为富裕、有影响力和成功的基督徒，我们就会游刃有余。
讲章系列：认真的吗？
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