JESUS, Looking Upon Him, Loved Him

YAHSHUA presented him the Law’s requirements for one to follow through obeying its commandments, but his reply was that he had carefully observed all the commandments, being careful not to violate them since he was a young boy was his reply. But YAHSHUA said, You lack one thing; go and sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come and follow Me. Hearing the words of YAHSHUA, the man’s countenance fell and was gloomy, and he went away grieved and sorrowing, for he was holding great possessions (Mark 10: 17-22). YAHSHUA had touched the heart of the matter with him. That one thing was the stone block to his entrance to heaven. Sadly, he left the presence of YAHSHUA hopelessly lost. That’s when YAHSHUA, looking upon him, loved him. That was the love He came to save him, had he accepted YAHSHUA’S words. He had the right approach, the right question directed to the right person. He knew the Law’s commandments, and had obeyed them, according to his answer to YAHSHUA. He was humble enough to knell before YAHSHUA in the midst of a crowd, for he was a man of great wealth and influence; his desire to be saved was greater than his pride. But he lacked the most important thing; the thing that would open the door of heaven for him to enter: he loved money more than he loved God. At that, YAHSHUA, looking around said to His disciples: “With what difficulty will those who possess wealth and keep on holding it enter 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 the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:23). YAHSHUA was not condemning wealth, but the love of wealth. Paul said that the love of money (wealth) is the root of all evil, for it is idolatry. When we worship wealth, we put it above God. It becomes our god, for it controls and compels behavior contrary to God’s commandments. One cannot do what YAHSHUA taught: forget self, take up his cross and follow Him, as it is necessary for a successful Christian life that pleases God. In the words of YAHSHUA, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, implies that it is impossible for man to save himself, but not with God; for all things are possible with Him (Mark23-27). YAHSHUA’S love penetrated the heart of that man, but he did not perceive it to turn around and take the road YAHSHUA showed him. Peter then said, Behold, we have yielded up  and abandoned everything and accompanied You; YAHSHUA then said Truly, I tell you, there is no one who has given up and left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for My sake and for the Gospel’s who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this time- houses, and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions- and in the age to come, eternal life (Mark 28-30).

Following God’s word, our future is secure. We might not get rich, as many are falling into the prosperity hoax preaching, for our home is in heaven, where our treasures are. Nothing in this world is worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed to us. The riches of this world are nothing but transitory pleasures which circumstances can easily destroy. YHASHUA warned us not to make money our god. He said, No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon (deceitful riches, money, possessions, or whatever is trusted in) and Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal (Matt. 6:24, 19). The word greed is a broad word with meanings that embrace idolatry, covetousness, love of self, discontentment; worries, anxieties, consuming one’s time and mental health.

It is idolatry, the same as love of money.  “The love of money is virtually the same as faith in money -belief that money will meet your needs and make you happy.” (Wikipedia). The love of money deviates one from the faith, for it is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute pangs (I Tim. 6:10). The love of money is the epidemy of greed, a form of idolatry leading to self-worship.

The rich man, seeking the way to enter heaven, was left out of it, because of his love of money. His ultimate goal was to enter heaven with all his riches attached to himself. However, the way to heaven is narrow, very narrow; with only room enough for us to go through it. Heavy-weighted with riches of this world, we will not be fit and trim for heaven. It is a matter of submission to God and having been crucified with Christ; a matter of the heart, for our heart will be where our treasure is, according to our Lord’s words. To love God and others more than money is an act of faith pleasing to God, for it shares the joy of having with those who do not have; it lifts one out of his misery to be part of the society with what he has to share. Occupying the mind and energy to run after money is a life voided of God and without heavenly reward. Too tired to pray, too tired to read the Word of God, too tired to help others. Where will it leave you? Outside God’s love, of course. As this man left the presence of YAHSHUA sad and depressed, so will be the life of the one who chooses to serve Mammon instead of God. Life’s true meaning is to live for others, for naked we came into the world, naked we will leave the world. All we have will be left for someone else, so, why not start sharing while we are alive? Then, of what eternal value are the riches we accumulate in this lifespan for us to prioritize them, when we cannot take them with us into eternity?

THINK ABOUT IT!