I am specifically talking about Mark 10:17-29. In this historical event, Jesus is approached by a young man who asks him how to gain eternal life. Jesus tells him to follow the 10 commandments, the man says he does.
Jesus then tells him "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
These verses are very clear about what it takes to enter heaven. Was Jesus not serious? It appears as if he was because he tells the disciples later that their reward will be great in heaven for doing just that.
If you are a Christian, have you sold everything you have and given it to the poor? If not, is it possible that you aren't following the commands of God? If so, who's computer are you typing on?
2007-04-04 08:24:29 · 15 answers · asked by ɹɐǝɟsuɐs Blessed Cheese Maker 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I'm not a Christian, but I do have a little bit of Biblical knowledge.
I don't think that Jesus intended for his followers to have nothing. I do think that he understood that its very easy to let material possessions and wealth rule your life. People can easily become a slave to greed. Having a great number of possessions also can lead to pride.
I think that Jesus meant that his followers should worry about the neccessities, and use the rest of their resources to help those who are in need. That's one problem that I have with driving by churches on Sunday mornings and seeing the members getting out of a brand new Benz.
2007-04-04 08:32:36 · answer #1 · answered by Marissa: Worker of Iniquity 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
First, Jesus was telling The rich young man that, to be one of the deciples who were with Him in that time, and who followed Him wherever He went, The man would have to give up his life to come Jesus.... this is not an instruction to us today to sell all we own and live in poverty.
There is a specific way that God prescribes for all to come to Him... That dose not include reducing ones self to poverty.
It dose include the commandment to "love thy neighbor as thyself"
All who come to God in The Way He prescribes will receive His free gift of Salvation. Those become part of The Body of The Church of which Jesus The Christ is The Head. those are the ones of The True Christian Faith. Only those of The Church will enter Heaven.
2007-04-04 08:35:00 · answer #2 · answered by idahomike2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm, perhaps a Democratic Socialist.........? individuals worship wealth. even nonetheless there is not any longer a darn difficulty incorrect with wealth, we are admonished by technique of Christ to guard the poor and infirm. Jesus did say that it really is difficult for a wealthy guy to enter the dominion of heaven, yet human beings have a tendency to ignore that no longer some thing isn't available with God. it really is the worship of wealth peculiarly else it extremely is the issue. Greed and selfishness have extra about lots of our cutting-edge complications. The "Am I my brother's keeper?" mentality is preserving sway in the mean time. I genuinely have a feeling the recent generations will see the mistakes of their predecessors methods and adjust lots of the more advantageous blatant inequities the greed mentality has fostered.
2016-12-03 06:57:12 · answer #3 · answered by naranjo 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus was not saying everyone has to get rid of everything. Jesus saw that the rich man's wealth was what he truly cared about. He had it all wrong. It's like the Bible says, the love of money is the root of all evil. The man loved his money more than Jesus. That is why he simply turned and walked away. Money in itself is not bad, but we have to remember where our real treasure lies. That way, if we ever are called to lay down our possessions and follow Him, our priorities will not be confused as they unfortunately were for the rich man.
2007-04-04 08:29:17 · answer #4 · answered by The GMC 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, look at it this way; Jesus knew full well that it was impossible for anyone to keep the commandments. When the young man suggested to Jesus that he has kept them Jesus in turn reveals to him that he has in fact not fulfilled all the commandments. This man might have observed all of the outward signs required but he failed to observe the inward commands; that is to love your God with all your mind, soul and strength.
This young man didn't love God in this manner. Otherwise it would've been easy for him to sell all his possessions. Instead scripture tells us that the young man got upset because he loved his possessions more then he loved God.
2007-04-04 08:31:41 · answer #5 · answered by stpolycarp77 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jesus knew the heart of this man. This man's false idol was money. That is why this man had no problem keeping all the comandments - he had a form of self righteousness.
We all have forms of self righteousness. "A form of Godliness, but deny the power thereof". We all have false idols that we hold up before God.
God says that in order for us to enter into the kingdom of heaven, we must put him first, and get rid of any falso idols.
Think about the false idols in your life. It could be family, money, friends, self, materialism.
If you can not give this up to follow Jesus, then you can not enter into the kingdom of God.
The great thing about this is that if we ask God to help us and to forgive us, he will. I wonder if that man would have said to the Lord "Lord, I don't feel I can give this up, but if you help me, I know I can."
2007-04-04 08:39:05 · answer #6 · answered by B 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These are some other things that were said concerning salvation:
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:6
and
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16
and
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."
John 3:36
2007-04-04 08:41:11 · answer #7 · answered by artist_soul_auslaut 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What do you think we have? Have you seen dead people taking anything with them?
So to follow Jesus is to sacrifice our ego and practice the commandments of GOD so that we can prepare ourselves for the Kingdom of Heaven!
2007-04-04 08:34:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The command was specifically directed to a man caught up in wordly materialism to show that it was easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than for a person caught up in wealth to enter the kingdom. Besides, people in the US don't have to give to the poor like that because the government already forcibly takes it from them to enable the entitlement class. I can just see the poor now running around with their hands out quoting that verse, "c'mon, c'mon, give it to us, more , more..."
2007-04-04 08:31:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Lol on the last question.
Jesus was not implying to literally give away your belongings. This is to say that one should not be materially inclined but spiritually. To put the interests of God's kingdom first than material stuff because these can hinder one's spiritual growth...
2007-04-04 08:36:38 · answer #10 · answered by Tomoyo K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋