“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” – Mark 10:21

Mark 10:21 is not the type of scripture you walk in and see displayed on pictures, journals, and coffee mugs in people’s homes.  And sadly, when we turn on the TV, we often hear the opposite of this scripture preached and taught.  Leaders will frequently reference Old Testament people to establish God’s will for a life of wealth (Genesis 13:2; Genesis 30:43; 1 Kings 10:23-25).  However, the promise for material wealth is not part of salvation, and yet it is often preached and taught in the Church.  Why?

I believe prosperity is regularly a favored topic of leaders because it attracts people to their churches, conferences, or even to purchasing their books.  After all, people often flock to worldly get-rich-quick meetings and schemes.  This breaks my heart because I believe leaders who truly love God can get off track and begin teaching on topics that people want to hear and are more likely to grow their congregations or popularity (2 Timothy 4:3).  Another reason seeking wealth may be taught is that giving away our wealth is simply not welcomed, and it is not easy to teach being generous in a self-centered, accumulate-all-I-can-get culture.  Let’s face it…Mark 10 is very hard to think about applying to our own lives.  Lastly and tragically, I believe there are some (hopefully very few) leaders who teach what is referred to as “prosperity theology” because they seek and believe in opulent lifestyles.

In regards to the wealthy man in Mark 10 who asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, I love how it says “Jesus looked at him and loved him.”  No condemnation or shaming…He loved him regardless.  And in this love, He shared truth and what was beneficial.  I find it amusing how Jesus first quoted various commandments that the man knew and said he had kept, but then Jesus did what He often did with people…He got to the heart of the matter.  Jesus’ request for the man to sell his possessions dealt with his heart, and we see that the man went away sad.

Jesus goes on to tell the disciples in this passage that it is hard (but not impossible) for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.  And yet, we have men and women teaching that God’s will is for His believers to be materially rich.  He wants you to have that multi-million dollar home and opulent vehicle…only the best for His children, right?  Why not throw in that private Learjet for good measure!?  It is sad how we have gotten off track (myself included) with understanding and demonstrating the generosity God desires.  James 4:3 says “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

The idea that God’s will is for all believers to be wealthy is dispelled by the fact that Paul collected offerings for the poor BELIEVERS (Romans 15:25).  Paul didn’t tell them to have more faith or speak their wealth into existence.  Believers in the Church consistently took care of each other.  Acts 2:44-45 says “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.”  Notice how this is the second passage in this blog that speaks of selling possessions.  So often, we give what we have “left over” or what we can spare to those in need.  These passages refer to selling what we have obtained for ourselves.  It is hard to give what we have unless we are replacing it with something new.  Even to those we love.  Material case in point…I recently gave up a gift I wanted in our family “secret Santa” game to obtain something I knew my husband really liked.  To be honest, it stung a little…I had wanted my $25 Kohl’s gift card!

1 John 3:17-18 says “If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”  My hope through this blog is to place a spotlight on an area of teaching that I believe needs to be talked about.  Maybe you will be encouraged to read and study more about God’s will for our hearts towards money.  I am so thankful for the men and women who teach and preach about generosity and wealth in its proper Biblical context.  I’m sure it is sometimes difficult and unpopular.  In summary, I will end with this scripture from 1 Timothy 6:17-19 (ESV) “As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.”