Prosperity
Can a rich man enter the Kingdom of God?
Relying Only On God
Some warn against prosperity and say, in poverty there is virtue. They quote. "the love of money is the root of all evil. Beware of the deceitfulness of riches." But you must understand the whole picture. The lack of knowledge can cause you to perish. It can keep you in the grip of poverty and lack.
Can a rich man enter the Kingdom of God? Scripture says. "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." ...So what does that mean?
The incident was recorded in Matt 19:16, Mark 10:17-22; and Luke 18:18-23 and begins with a young man asking Jesus a question. 'Now behold, one came and said to Him(Jesus), "Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?"
So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.' This statement Jesus answered sounds a little out of place but it really is the key to what is going on here.
The conversation continues as Jesus says, “But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments." The young man said to Him, "All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "One thing you lack: If you want to be perfect, go, 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."
The rich young ruler couldn't do it. But was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions, he was very prosperous. Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!"
Astonished At His words
Sell All that you have... And the disciples were greatly astonished at His words saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" (who can sell every thing that you have?) But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."
It's natural to feel secure in yourself if you have money in the bank or have prosperity in any area. It is very hard even impossible to give up what you consider your security what ever that may be. What are your riches? Maybe it's your talent in some area. It could even be your good looks or likable personality that is your security. How can anyone give up 'everything'???
It's hard for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of God. It's about a condition of the heart, a method of doing something. You cannot ENTER the Kingdom of God through works. There is only one way, through faith in God. Faith in His Finished works, Faith in what Jesus did for us on the Cross, not on anything that we can do.
The richer you are in prosperity, talent, good works, anything, the Harder it is for you to give all that away and rely only on Jesus. The method of entering the Kingdom of God is to rely totally on God through faith and not on absolutely anything else. Not your natural wealth or goodness or good works, not your natural abilities or any kind of security or prosperity what so ever.
If you are Born of the Spirit you can see the Kingdom of Heaven. But in John 3:5 'Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 17:21 For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."
If you rely on yourself, in any way, you can not enter into the Kingdom ways of doing things. For to enter in requires perfection. Jesus said, "If you what to be perfect sell all that you have and come follow Me" Rely on Him alone.
It's a spiritual principle to see yourself poor in spirit and totally dependent on God. That's why.... Blessed are the poor in spirit for they shall see God.
Jesus and the Rich young Ruler:
Christ and the...
Heinrich Hofmann
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Take up The Cross
Jesus as always was teaching the gospel. Jesus said, "take up the Cross and follow me." The Cross is what Jesus DID. You cannot save yourself by what you do, you are saved by what HE DID. You must deny yourself, your own abilities. Sell all of self and Believe in Jesus to save you from all things.
The Cross of Christ is all that Jesus has provided for you. All the victories are in Christ Jesus. He was teaching us how to die to self and live unto God. That's how your cross, that is your flesh, must be crucified with Christ, and you can not do it on your own. "With men it is impossible, but not with God;"
If you try you will fail or worse, become prideful of some deceptive success which is in itself to fail. We must give up all reliance on self and who can give up everything?
That's why the apostles were astonished and said, “who than can be saved?” Jesus said, it is impossible with men but all things are possible with God.
There is nothing that man can Do that he may have eternal life, God must do it.
Again you are pointed to the cross. It can only be accomplished in you by God. Just cooperate with Him, allow Him it do it, surrender to Him. Rely on Him. Lean all your weight on Him and let Him carry you. Rest in Him as Jesus rested in His Father in His humanity.
Why do you call Me good?
The key Jesus gave was how He answered the young man as He replied, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.
He said follow me. How did Jesus walk that we can follow Him? Jesus who not only kept all the commandments but who NEVER failed, ever. He NEVER sinned yet He said, “why do you call me good, no one is good but one, that is God.” Jesus who was in the flesh did not walk according to the flesh.
Jesus who is God in the flesh had to completely rely on His Father in Heaven to live that perfect life in the flesh. How much more must this be true for you and me?
"Follow Me", if you want to be perfect, sell whatever you have - do not rely on anything of self. Deny yourself and take up the cross and follow me.
Jesus denied Himself and only did what He saw His Father do. He only spoke what the Father spoke. Jesus was in the Father as we are to be in Him. Not relying on anything but God to do in us whatsoever He will. We must rest in Him alone.
Jesus said,"Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done." Luke 22:40 NKJV
Believe that HE Has Done it
And will do it in you
Believe that He will do it. He called you and He will finish the work He has begun in you. The ability to live perfect is not in you separate from God, but it is possible with God. That's how you fulfill the command, Be ye perfect even as I am perfect.
Jesus loved the rich young ruler and said to him, One thing you lack; If you want to be perfect sell all that you have, all of your self reliance...give it away and you will have treasure in Heaven. Rely only on God entering His rest through faith.
Pick up the cross.. It's not the good works you force yourself to do in the flesh. Flesh produces only wood, hay and stubble works. Walk in the Spirit for victory that comes through the cross of Jesus.
Coming to the place where you choose to rely only on God is like giving away all of your riches or natural abilities and trusting Him alone. Ask God to cause you to have confidence, reliance and trust only in the cross of Christ for every thing. All the work is DONE, for Jesus said from the cross,... It Is Finished!
It is the Good News, We are saved by Grace and not of works. For the Perfect One has come and made us perfect In Him!
It is not our
being “good” that saves us, we could never be perfect in our own
abilities. It is the cross alone that saves, keeps you secure, causes
you to do the works of God and walk after the Spirit. Everything depends
on what Jesus did on the Cross.
The Good works will come as a result of being saved by Grace. They will come effortlessly and not out of human sweat.
This will happen from glory to glory it is a growing process.
The 'LOVE' of Money
The 'LOVE' of money
is what is the root of all evil, not money itself or prosperity. Your prosperity can vanish over night.
If you loose everything and find yourself broken and sobbing at the feet of your Savior, then you are actually in a far better place than before. It may not feel like it but you are actually in a much safer place totally dependent on God then dependent on your prosperity.
Prov 28:25-26 But he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered. NKJV
Many Ways to Prosperity
You can has prosperity in many ways. Financial prosperity is just one way. But if you are naturally talented in any area ask God to guard you that you don't become dependent on anything but Him. Without realizing it you can lean on your natural abilities instead of giving control to God.
Poverty is part of the curse that Jesus came and redeemed us from by the Blood of His cross. He became poor that you might become rich. God wants you to prosper. Poverty is not Gods will for you. God wants to bless you that you can be a blessing to others.
God's will for you is prosperity for it it written, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth."
3 John 2 KJV
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