Why is it difficult for the wealthy to inherit God's Kingdom ?

Question

"Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” (Mark 10:23)

Answer 1

Because most people who are money centered or wealth centered are flesh centered or wordly centered and are not spiritually centered...MOST not all mind you...

Answer 2

The word you read "riches" in the Bible is actually "ill gotten gain" in the original texts, it was just translated "riches".
If you are rich with the blessings of God, then you should enjoy those gifts, and not be one bit guilty about them.
However, a person who aquires wealth from questionable means, is a person who
is greedy, and who puts alot of effort and the chance for prison into attaining it.
It would be hard to get into the Kingdom of God, because all you are thinking about is getting more of your ill gotten gain; there won't be any time or desire to follow the Word of God; in fact, the Word would shine a light on your sin, so a person like that would want to avoid being confronted with the truth. No time for God, anyway. One of the top ten idols available for worship in our modern world is money. When you read of idol worship in Scripture, many people say "Im sure glad I'm not involved in any of that idol worship: God hates that". Ha!
Money, cars, career, dope, alcohol, obsession with a person; there are lots and lots of idols today - even religion. People worship their church or their pastor instead of God; they practice their church traditions instead of practicing what God wants them to in His Word. Anything you put before God is an idol to you. Good idea to clean house.

Answer 3

They make their wealth their God. Their lives are consumed with getting more and protecting it.

1 Timothy 6:10 - For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.


Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 - But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Answer 4

I wonder if he really said that. It sounds like something a self serving church would add in, to get people to give up their riches to the church. It might be true if a rich person were rich by not sharing the wealth with those who worked hard to help make them rich, or if they ignored the suffering of those less fortunate and didn't use their wealth to take care of suffering. If you value wealth above people, then you will be filled with fear of loss instead of being filled with gratitude and compassion for your neighbor. Until you see you really have nothing, you cannot be rich, in the true sense of the word. It's kind of like being beautiful. It can cripple you.

Answer 5

probably. The bible says the Lbf5c1d5c27ebae23954367aff15bf344VE of money is the inspiration of injurious issues. a million Tim 6:10 yet is going directly to declare "Sbf5c1d5c27ebae23954367aff15bf344ME" have been led off course. additionally Heb 13:5 - enable [bf5c1d5c27ebae23954367aff15bf344bf5c1d5c27ebae23954367aff15bf344bf5c1d5c27ebae23954367aff15bf344bf5c1d5c27ebae23954367aff15bf344] way of existence be freed from the affection of money although the Bible additionally shows that the appropriate use of money is commendable at Luke sixteen:a million-9 we ought to continuously have a balanced non grasping view of money

Answer 6

Because they don't want to let go of their money. Remember this where the short rich guy climbs a tree to see Jesus and Jesus calls him down and the little rich guy asks, "What must I do to go to heaven?"(or something similar to that) and Jesus replies, "Obey the commandments" and the rich guy says he's already doing that so Jesus says, "Give all your money and belongings to the poor and follow me."

The rich guy walks away sadly because he couldn't do it. He would rather keep his riches then follow Jesus and God.

So that's why it's hard for them to inherit God's Kingdom

Answer 7

Because the wealthy usually 'like' their wealth too much. On the other hand, one might have $10.00 and make an idol of it. Remember the woman that gave only one coin and Jesus said that she had given more than all the others (who had given larger amounts)? If we are willing to share what we have, no matter how much or what it is, then we are following what Jesus taught us to do.

Answer 8

Because you cannot serve to masters.

If you love the "things" of this world, it's very easy for them to become too important to you.

Money and wealth is a danger. It's not to say that one cannot keep the perspective, but it will certainly tempt you to follow the ways of the world. The pleasures money can buy are not what people of God are to be seeking. We are to seek God...money can get in the way.

Answer 9

He was saying this because people sometimes put their trust in money rather than God. God doesn't have a problem with people having money, He just doesn't want them to trust in it over Him.
Sorry to shock most of my fellow Christians, but you can be wealthy and love God. If you are broke, how can you give anything to help anyone else?..Funny, when it's time to take up an offering, etc..I don't see anyone berating my husband and I for having money..the hand is usually wide open..

Answer 10

If you are concerned with your material goods, it takes your consideration away from serving God's purpose. If you are wealthy, then you are held to a higher standard, and still must be willing to put God first.

When you acquire 'things of wealth', it takes a good bit of your energy to clean them, pay for them, use them, etc... Then most people get really attached to their 'things' and let them become more important than their relationship with God.

Answer 11

Because you are supposed to be charitable and help the less fortunate (e.g., the poor). If you are rich, it should be quite obvious that you're not doing this (at least not enough, or you wouldn't be rich anymore), so, therefore, you cannot enter Heaven.

This is Biblical proof that the Protestant Work Ethic (or "God is rewarding you with money") is a crock.