WEALTH A DANGEROUS TRAP?

Some say wealth is a dangerous trap.  Yet, it is something that most are in pursuit of and need. If it is a dangerous trap, how can we avoid getting caught in it?

We are continuing our look at God’s love for us and his plan (his mission) to bridge the gap between us and him. His mission is to bring us back into a loving relationship with him. He wants us to become His disciples and members of his family.

Thus, He calls for us to respond to His love. But our relationship with Him does not end with His call, for a call without action from the one being called has no value.

His call includes the wealthy. How, then, do we reach and warn them of the dangers of wealth?

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Sabbath School Daily by Dr. Brenda Ware Davis

Let Us Inviting God’s Presence:

Holy Father, all can agree that we do need wealth, but the question is how much. Help us find a balance so that it does not cause our salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God’s Mission, My Mission

(Lesson 9)

Mission to the Powerful

Part 5

Did you read the story about the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16–22?

What’s the difference between his encounters with Jesus and Nicodemus’ encounter with Jesus?

Nicodemus accepts Jesus. However, the rich young ruler refuses.

This story about Jesus and the rich young ruler shows us that wealth can be a dangerous “trap.” We must avoid falling into this trap. Look again at Matthew 19:24 and see what Jesus says about the dangers of riches:

“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” (Matthew 19:24, NKJV).

Is Jesus saying that the rich cannot be saved?

Of course not! Jesus isn’t saying that the rich can’t be saved. But what he is saying is that they must be careful not to love their riches more than they love God.

In other words, riches can be a dangerous trap that hinders our salvation if not careful, the rich can prevent a person from entering the Kingdom of God. 

In the end, the rich and the poor share the same outcome – the grave! Both will die, that is, if Jesus doesn’t come first.

So this means that both the rich and the poor and all in between need to be saved. The one thing money can’t buy is freedom from death. Our freedom from eternal death is a gift that Jesus offers to all.

Only Jesus can free us from death when we have faith in His gift of eternal life. Thus, to obtain eternal life, we must claim the gift. Notice what Jesus says in John 11:25

 “‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live’ ” (John 11:25).

Now, Read about Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1–10. How is Zacchaeus’s story different from the rich young ruler?

Zacchaeus accepts the gift. He accepts Jesus, whereas the rich young man turned away from Him. He refuses the gift.

Notice that in Zacchaeus’s case, Jesus doesn’t tell Zacchaeus to sell everything he owns and give the money to the poor like the rich young ruler.

Why? Because in the rich young ruler’s case, Jesus knew just how this young man loved his riches. He loved them more than anyone else, including God.  So, this was a test; Jesus says to the young man in Mathew 19:21

21 Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be complete, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. (Mathew 19:21)

This young man failed the test! For it says in Mathew 19:22

22 But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving; for he was one who owned much property. (Mathew 19:22)

The [rich young ruler] looked upon Christ with admiration. His heart was drawn toward the Saviour. But he was not ready to accept the Saviour’s principle of self-sacrifice. He chose his riches before Jesus. He wanted eternal life but would not receive into the soul that unselfish love which alone is life, and with a sorrowful heart, he turned away from Christ.

As the young man turned away, Jesus said to His disciples, . . . “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure.” Now they realized that they themselves were included in the solemn warning. In the light of the Saviour’s words, their own secret longing for power and riches was revealed. (Christ’s Object Lessons, pp. 393, 394)

Now, we don’t know everything that Jesus says to Zacchaeus when He visits him in his house. However, it is evident that Zacchaeus felt that He needed to make some changes in his life, especially as it related to his wealth.

It says in Luke 19:8

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)

Luke 19:9-10 says that Jesus, in response, tells Zacchaeus:

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;

10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:9-10)

Matthew 16:26 is a question we all must consider:

26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26) (Split)

The Bible condemns no man for being rich if he has acquired his riches honestly. Not money, but the love of money, is the root of all evil. It is God who gives men the power to get wealth, and in the hands of him who acts as God’s steward, using his means unselfishly, wealth is a blessing, both to its possessor and to the world. But many, absorbed in their interest in worldly treasures, become insensible to the claims of God and the needs of their fellow men. They regard their wealth as a means of glorifying themselves. 

 They add house to house and land to land; they fill their homes with luxuries, while all about them are human beings in misery and crime, in disease and death. Those who thus give their lives to self-serving are developing in themselves not the attributes of God but the attributes of the wicked one.

These men are in need of the gospel. They need to have their eyes turned from the vanity of material things to behold the preciousness of the enduring riches. They need to learn the joy of giving, the blessedness of being co-workers with God.—The Ministry of Healing, pp. 212, 213.

This is the work that God has called us to do. To discover more regarding this work, view the next segment of this video, Part 6: Mission to the Powerful.

God’s Mission, My Mission

(Lesson 9)

Mission to the Powerful

Part 6: Mission to the Powerful

Jesus knew how to make friends with the powerful. Many powerful people liked and had great respect for Jesus. At the same time, there also were many powerful people who despised Him.

Yet, sensing that Jesus really cared for them,  there were many Powerful people in the Bible who came to Jesus for help. Also, there were many rich and powerful people who did not come to Jesus right away. (Split)

They were somewhat reluctant, so they waited until they were sure that Jesus was really the Son of God.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea are examples of this.

Read Matthew 27:57–60, Mark 15:43–47; Luke 23:50–53; and John 19:38–42 to see how the Lord used a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, who had had a life-changing encounter with Jesus.

Luke 23:50 -53 that

50 Now behold, there was a man named Joseph, a council member, a good and just man.

51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.

52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.

53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. (Luke 23:50 -53)

Now, the Bible doesn’t say anything about Joseph of Arimathea before this time in Jesus’ life. It seems as though out of the blue, this man Joseph of Arimathea shows up from nowhere, and God uses Him to keep His promises, the prophesy made about Jesus during Old Testament times.

The point is that God has used and will continue to use the rich to fulfill his purpose of saving humanity. Therefore, as believers, God expects us to share the Good News about Jesus with the wealthy as well.

How do you make friends with powerful people? It is suggested that, in general, you not be pushy in pursuing them; but instead, let them be in control of the friendship.

This was Jesus’ practice when he interacted with rich and powerful people.

By observing Jesus, listening to his teaching, watching his interaction with others, and observing his miracles, these rich and powerful people came to believe that Jesus was the Son of God.

You see, rich and powerful people touched by the Spirit of God will want to be a part of something good that has the potential to change the lives of others.

And unbeknownst to them, it changes their lives in the process. Our success for God shows them that Jesus can change their lives.

 Opening the door for them to help a cause is a clever way for the rich and powerful to get the help they need without publicly broadcasting their needs.

Therefore, to influence the rich and powerful, establish ministries as an avenue in which they can freely join in and be a part.

To begin, here is your challenge.

Challenge #1: Add to your daily prayer list the name of someone who is a powerful person. This person shouldn’t be a member of your church. Also, this person should be someone you may get the chance to meet from time to time.

For those up to a greater challenge:

Challenge #2: Send a letter or an email to a powerful leader. Don’t worry if you’ve never met. Tell this person, “I am praying for you.” Then be sure to send it! (Split)

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