1482. The Attitude of Christ Toward the Rich

The Attitude of Christ Toward the Rich

"Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said onto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven" (Mar_10:21).

Perhaps the most neglected people, speaking religiously, upon the face of the earth, are the ultra-rich.

A story is told of Wilbur Chapman's visit to a very wealthy man of Philadelphia. He was kindly received because Dr. Chapman had met him before. When they were seated alone, the preacher pressed home immediately the question of salvation. The rich man arose, walked over to the window, and peered out, as though hiding his face. After several moments, with his face covered with tears, and his heart throbbing, he turned around and said to Dr. Chapman: "You are the first man who ever mentioned Jesus Christ to me. I thought no man cared for my soul. I long, oh, I long to be a Christian, but I supposed I was an outcast from the religious world." Some such words were spoken. Do they not voice the feeling of many a rich man?

The Word of God would by no means condone the sins of the rich, yet the Lord Jesus loves the rich, as well as the poor; He died for all sinners. We will note two examples in Christ's attitude to the rich.

1. Nicodemus.

This man came to Jesus by night, he was a ruler of the Jews, a man, prominent in the Sanhedrin, doubtless a man of means.

The Lord Jesus received him kindly, opened up the plan of salvation to him in a positive and striking way. The result was that Nicodemus became a disciple of Christ. We do not know much about his profession, but we do know that when Christ was dead, Nicodemus joined Joseph of Arimathea, and they laid Christ's body in the rich man's tomb.

2. The rich young ruler. The ruler came running to Jesus. When Christ saw him He loved him, and though he was a man of great possession, yet he was a man of highest integrity.

Concerning the Lord's question as to his keeping the Ten Commandments, the young ruler said: "All these have I kept from my youth up." The Lord Jesus, however, would not lower His standard to get a disciple. He gave command to the rich youth, "Sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven" (Luk_18:22).

Christ was willing that this rich man should be His follower, but He wanted him to come true.

May the Lord help us to reach out our hands toward the rich, and seek to point them in the way of life. Not many who are rich or mighty, or noble, are called, and yet even among the rich God has His chosen ones and they can be saved the same as any other if they will.

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR