A Heavenly State of Mind
Behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions,” (Matthew 19:16-17, 20-22).
Man has always sought to discover what brings him the highest pleasure. He seeks out the most beautiful woman to be his bride or the fastest car to be his ride, yet ultimately finds them unfulfilling. Why? Because man was not made for mere fleeting happiness, but to seek true, lasting joy. Material possessions may temporarily keep depression and dissatisfaction at bay, yet once the initial excitement of a new delight wears off, we are left chasing the next thrill.
In this passage, Jesus is met by a wealthy man who desires to attain eternal life. He believes it can be earned through his own works, but quickly realizes that even if he keeps the whole of the law, his life must be devoted to Jesus to receive salvation. He has placed his identity in worldly things, and while the idea of eternal life is enticing, he is unwilling to abandon his earthly treasure for the far greater treasure of heaven. This is why Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). The love of money is sinful, and while the pursuit of financial stability is noble, if it comes at the expense of a relationship with God, it must be abandoned, for it pales in comparison to the wealth of knowing Christ.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). We need money to survive, yet the accumulation of it can cause an abundance of sin to surface in one’s life. Therefore, put your pursuit of Christ before all things, and He will bless you as He sees fit. We are not guaranteed an easy life as Christians, but we are promised that Jesus will be with us always (Matthew 28:20). God may not gift you money, but He will give you joy and peace, which are worth more than any amount of wealth.
Boethius once wrote: “That which is higher than the sky on earth below they seek.” Do not follow the pattern of the world, which fiddles with the temporary things of this world. Instead, look to our Creator for life and joy, for only He can bring lasting pleasure. The ways of the Lord are pure and righteous: “More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold” (Psalm 19:10). Chase after the ways of God, and you will find wealth unimaginable.
