Luke 18 The Rich Ruler

[kat.wan001]

After having read this I feel somewhat 'challenged', which of course is a good thing but I also feel rather troubled. I am questioning whether in order to be a true follower of Christ, I need to give up all my possessions and lead a life of poverty. While I admire anyone who can do this, I am not sure if God asks it of everyone. I am due to be a new parent in the next month and while I always want to put God first, I don't want to shirk my responsibilities and I'm unsure if that is what God wants too. Is it okay to save for my child's future and for my retirement or should I give all this away? My husband and I are both teachers so not 'rich' as it were but richer than others and we feel very blessed to have been able to put away savings for the future and hope to continue to do so. I know the eternal future is what is most important but we still need to plan for the responsibilities of the next 60 years do we not? Or should we just trust in God to provide us with all we need? Or is that exactly what He has been doing, thus we have savings? I'm very confused!
What has worried me more than anything is that you have to be a follower of Christ to be saved.....I was baptised a month ago and believe in Christ but if I do not do what he asked of the Rich Man and 'follow him' in this way, am I truly following Him and if not, am I truly saved? I know we are saved by faith and grace alone but this is a question that's really bothering me and I need to deal with it. I have been praying on this and the Holy Spirit is allowing my husband and I to give much more now than what we would have done previously ( although I admit, it has been painful at times ). However, is it enough? Help would be appreciated to my millions of questions on this thread!
Thanks everyone and God Bless!

 

[SharonL]

The object of the rich ruler was to show that there cannot be anything that you put above God - the rich ruler worshiped all his material possessions to the point that he would put that above saving his soul.

The Bible says that God has a future for us and it is good and not bad - if we were to give everything away and be in poverty that would not be a good future.

The Bible also says that God loves a cheerful giver - if we give because we have to - that is not cheerful. Giving can mean many things - you don't have to just write a check for 10% - giving means time, helping others, give where it is needed - make it a cheerful act.

If you gave it all away and your child would suffer - that is not right either - you must take care of your family.

Your walk with Jesus should be cheerful - He is by your side every moment of the day. Just let the Holy Spirit guide you in your giving. Don't make it a chore and do it because you feel you have to - that is not the way to give.

Be a cheerful giver - let the Joy of the Lord shine through and be a witness to others of the Love of God.

In my giving I help others who need it, help neighbors that need it - cook for those that are unable, help with Battered wives shelter, volunteer at the hospital. To me this is much more of a blessing than just writing a check out to the church and dropping it in the offering plate.

Just enjoy your walk and don't let it be something you do because you have to - just enjoy the Blessings of our Lord.

 

[kat.wan001]

Thanks Sharon. I'm currently getting involved in a charity program at my Church. I actually prefer to get involved rather than just give money. I'm hoping to do some sort of voluntary work abroad with some of my savings in the future - God willing and bring my child up to do likewise.
The passage just made me feel a little uncomfortable so I wanted to get some clarification about its context to keep the Devil from making me question my salvation and my Discipleship. Thanks again

 

[Peripatetic]

SharonL is right. This parable is more about what a person idolizes than it is about money itself. Money is probably the most idolized of all earthly things, but even a noble pursuit can become an obsession. We might find ourselves idolizing a career, another person, or even an important cause or charity. We should be willing to give up or downplay anything in our lives, but it doesn't mean that we need to or should.

 

[SharonL]

Just remember that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life and written in the blood of Jesus - the Bible tells us that no one can snatch you out of the hand of Jesus - don't give the devil that much credit - just know that Jesus walks by your side daily and the Holy Spirit guides you and will not guide you in the wrong direction - any thought of the devil, just say get behind me I am a child of God and do not fear what the devil can do to you - what is in you (Jesus) is greater than what is in the world.

God knows your heart and smiles down on you because He knows you are trying to do the right thing.

 

[tturt]

It's good that you're asking questions. Some say the Bible has more about money than just about any secular subject. WE would have to look at all the Scriptures concerning money to have a complete picture and that certainly isn't the intent of this post. Guess what I'm saying is - we can't take just one Scripture or one section and take that as the "answer." To me we also have to consider Scriptures such as Prov 13:20 "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed. 22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children: ..."

Personally, I think inheritance includes more than money. A Biblical perspective of money would certainly at the top of the list.

Teaching them such as
Prov 21:20 "There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up." OR
Prov 6:6 "Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: 7 Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, 8 Provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest." OR
Luke 14:28-30 "For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish."

My grandparents and parents also taught us Prov 22:7 "The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender." Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law."

Keep asking questions. Sometimes it causes us to take the time to gather our thoughts, experiences, and most importantly Scriptures. Also, I may well need your help another day.

 

[tturt]

Also, this was a test - to see if the rich young ruler loved his stuff more - and he did. This is supported by the verse comparing a rich person entering heaven compared to a camel through the eye of the needle. (The camel's goods had to be unloaded, they had to lower themselves to get through the opening of the gate to get to the other side).

 

[kat.wan001]

Okay, this makes sense. Should we therefore not lower ourselves and give away everything? Or just be willing to serve the Lord and give to the needy (money, time etc)? This is obviously a lesson in humility towards the Lord and towards each other that I think we lose sight of in the more privileged West......I can't help but draw comparisons with our lifestyles and that of the Rich Young Man. He had servants, I have a cleaner; he had land, I own a house; he had money to spend and share (but didn't), I have savings..... the Lord's teachings are so relevant today - maybe more so to the general population than they ever have been! I'm just not sure what it is God wants me personally to do with the dosh (I hesitate to say 'my' dosh as it's not really 'mine' is it?)

 

[tturt]

Scriptures such as Prov 13:22 A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children..." and others shows that we're not expected to give it all away.

We're all to study all the verses that pertain to money to get a comprehensive picture.

 

[heron]

I was just reading this passage last night/this morning, so I'm glad you brought it up! Isn't it so different from the teachings we've been getting on the media lately?

Great responses above.

Congratulations on motherhood! Get some rest. (-;

 

[Phaedron777]

Back in those days a Christian would give up all their worldly wealth and sell their things to travel from land to land preaching the gospel.

In those days a stranger was a welcome face. In these days we don't trust anyone, and many are evil. Even back in the 1950s people didn't lock their doors at night. That's how quickly it has gotten so bad.

In these days, I wouldn't suggest you take it that far, but understand that your money is the power to make a difference with what cause you donate to.

Lastly, understand what a society of pure born again Christians would be like. We wouldn't need any government. We would share everything. There's no point in having 1000 toys, 999 of them are collecting dust at any given time. Why not share?

You'll notice the apostles pooled all their resources. Sapphira and Annanias were even killed for holding out and lying to the holy spirit.

Just a land full of responsible freedom with a people who love and give onto one another whose only king is Christ taking up his throne within their hearts.

America was supposed to be this, but really it's the kingdom of the freemasons, big difference there. Here the freedom goes toward sanctioning the satanists and sodomites, but that freedom will be gone soon anyway.