Can Rich People Go to Heaven?

For the last several years I’ve struggled with this very question, “Can rich people go to Heaven?” This is a valid question and one that deserves a response. This question is an offensive question that makes people squirm and feel uncomfortable. Nevertheless, it’s still a good question that needs to be addressed. In Scripture, Jesus has plenty to say about Heaven and eternity, but even more about the subject of money. In fact, Jesus talks more about money than almost any other subject except the overarching themes in the bible like salvation, abiding in Christ and loving God with a pure heart.

Our world is filled with misinformed and misguided people who take a theological position in the name of convenience. For many, poverty is inconvenient so we avoid it and for the sake of convenience and comfort, we bask in the material things that this world offers. Let’s face it, it’s convenient to drop by a fast food restaurant and grab a “large heart attack to go” and it’s convenient to keep our house warm in the winter and cool in the summer. It’s convenient to drive in a car that has heated seats and makes us feel good. Living in America, the consumer is targeted on a daily basis to live their lives in convenience and comfort. Commercials, billboards, our schools, churches and our government screams in our ears to be comfortable, even at the expense of others living uncomfortably.

Enough of my personal rant, let’s get back to this pivotal question: “Can rich people go to Heaven?” The often quoted words of Jesus in Matthew 19:24 says, “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”. WOW! Did you hear what Jesus said? He said it’s hard for a wealthy man to enter the kingdom of God (Heaven). I don’t know if you have ever seen a camel go through the eye of a needle, but for me, it’s hard to believe that this is attainable. Jesus is saying, “how much harder it is for the rich man to spend eternity with God”. Why did Jesus say this? Did He really mean what He said? Does Jesus dislike personal wealth?

As I study this passage, it’s clear that Jesus is saying that since the man (rich young ruler) was trusting in his personal wealth rather than the Lord to save him, he could no more enter the kingdom (Heaven) than a camel to go through the “eye of a needle”. Jesus is essentially saying that to be “perfect” or attain eternal life, one must come to a crisis or a moment in ones life where wealth and materialism are crucified.

Did Jesus have a Self-Esteem Problem?

Did Jesus feel threatened by one’s personal wealth? Was He jealous? Did he ask his potential followers to lives of poverty and self examination because He was jealous of something that He didn’t have? No doubt about it, Jesus wasn’t rich. Although many prosperity preachers say that Jesus lived a lavish lifestyle, it’s clear in the pages of scripture that Jesus lived a life of simplicity where he placed more value on the eternal than the temporal and emphasized the discipline of giving more than he taught about receiving and personal gain.
So, why was Jesus so concerned about the personal wealth of some of his potential followers? Jesus unequivocally asked his disciples to be fully devoted to Him and His cause…anything less than this would not be tolerated. He wanted “all” of his followers. Anything less than being “fully devoted to Christ” is lukewarm and Jesus Himself said that He “would spit the lukewarm” out of His mouth (Revelation 3). Jesus wants our “heart, soul, mind and strength”. Jesus wants our affections. He wants our allegiance. He wants us to be completely dependent on Him for life, breath, health and the eternal things. Jesus wants any obstacle or interference to our intimacy with Him to be thrown off or cast aside. It’s not a self-esteem issue, but it’s jealousy for your heart and my heart. He loves us more than we can ever know. He made us for relationship…to be fully connected with Him and immersed into His flawless character. Jesus is jealous when we love “stuff” more than Himself. Jesus becomes jealous when our eye is constantly on what we wear, what we drive and who we are instead of living out the mission that He has called us to live…a mission that is complete dependency on Jesus himself and seeking to be hope and justice in the world that we live (this is the way Jesus lived).

17 Ways You Can Invest $25.00 or Less and Impact a Life

Purchase flowers for nursing home residents (and then visit them)

Purchase and then plant some flowers for an elderly person

Make a one time donation (or ongoing commitment) to Compassion or World Vision to sponsor a hungry child (http://www.compassion.com/)

Make food and then serve food at the Warren Family Mission (arrange with Mission ahead of time)

Bless a Principal or a Favorite Teacher with a gift.

Buy Shoes for Children in Warren City Elementary Schools (and deliver them)

Purchase and give out bottled water at a local school’s basketball game (in the name of Jesus)

Buy Pizzas, deliver them and then spend time at Fairhaven School.

Do a spring cleaning at someone’s house.

Cut someone’s grass who is unable (or shovel their driveway).

Visit and give a gift to children staying in Trumbull Hospital.

Send a care package to one of our missionary families (http://www.northmarchurch.com/)

Donate $25.00 to Opportunity International (http://www.opportunityinternational.org/) to provide a micro-loan for an impoverished person.

Give away clothes that you no longer wear to the Warren Family Mission (and then go sort them at the mission)

Tutor Warren City School children with “Mind, Body and Soul” (a non-profit organization in Warren)

Make a donation to the Great Commission Fund (the fund that pays for Alliance missionaries)

Cook, deliver and eat a meal with a widow that lives on your street (this is true religion)

FOR PARENTS ONLY (the most important connection)

Let’s face it. Probably the most important connection you can make on behalf of your teenager is to introduce them to God, His plan and His incredible love for their lives. Parents often try so hard to ensure that their student is successful in the social arena by launching them into school functions and activities and keeping them “occupied”. Students think that success is defined by their involvement in “activities” instead of being defined by what they stand for, or better yet, “who they are”.
Teenagers are busier today more than ever, and they thrive on a busy schedule. Many students that I interact with have very little margin in their lives and have commitments from dawn to dusk. Although these students are busy, are they necessarily connected to God? Is their time in their schedule to learn what it means to be a Christ-follower and to become better acquainted with the “ways of God”?
Here are five action steps that I feel every family needs to incorporate into their family (including my own) if we truly want to see the connection made between God and our children:

#1. EAT WITH YOUR FAMILY regularly. Make this a priority, and you’ll be thankful. Eating together for 30-45 minutes will allow your family to talk with each other, listen to each other and ultimately learn more about each other. If you don’t have time to eat together, either you or your family is way too busy.

#2. MAKE CHURCH LIFE APART OF THEIR ACTIVITIES. Get your student involved at North-Mar Church (or any church that preaches the Bible). We have an active student ministry (www.northmarchurch.com) that is ready to compliment and reinforce what you are already trying to teach your student. Make room in the spring and fall for a retreat or a mission’s trip…and get them there on Wednesday or Thursday nights. The truth is this: Students who are not actively involved in a church youth group are “less likely” to follow God.

#3. SAY THE WORDS, “I LOVE YOU” OFTEN. In your marriage and in your parenting, these three words should be flowing out of our mouths constantly. Teenagers need to hear these words from both parents (every single day). Hug your family often, and verbally tell them that you’re absolutely crazy about them. This type of language will create a security in teenagers, knowing that they have a mom and a dad who loves them. More than anything else in life, teenagers want someone to love them.

#4. MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS KNOW WHAT YOUR FAMILY VALUES ARE. Make sure you let your family know what you’re all about. Have “family convictions” and hold fast to them. Teenagers today WANT convictions and rules. Just remember this: “Rules without relationship leads to rebellion” (#3 and #4 go hand in hand). Use the Bible and the character of Jesus to determine what your values should look like.

#5. STAY IN AUTHENTIC COMMUNITY with other Christ-followers. Develop meaningful friendships with other parents and people who can provide support for you and mentoring for your children. Intentionally surround your teenager with friends (their own age) who love God. Be open with people. Don’t be afraid to admit failure to friends. Small groups are the best way to incorporate authentic community into your life.

Go love God, and passionately love your kids…this is our #1 calling!!!