Mister, can I help you?

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Matthew 19:23-25, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?”

The disciples' question appears to imply that most people were rich back then, therefore, no one could be saved.

My question would be, “Who then is a rich man in Jesus' sense of the word? Is it a person who has a barn full of $100.00 dollar bills, or someone who has more than they need for their personal use, and uses their extra money for unnecessary luxury items such as jewelry, clothes, expensive makeup, or hairdos, knowing an elderly neighbor of theirs is going without food, or having a difficult time paying their rent, or electric bill?

The other day I was out shopping when I noticed an elderly man with a walker walk over to where the eggs were in a refrigerated area. He opened the door, took out a one-dozen egg cartoon, closed the door, and then noticed the price, $5.00 a dozen. He reopened the door and placed the eggs back on the shelf. Was it time for someone with a shopping cart filled with steaks and roasts, cookies, dips, and chips to step forward and offer to buy the eggs the man needed to feed himself? Is this what the Lord meant?

Your thoughts:

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Matthew 19:23-25, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?”

The disciples' question appears to imply that most people were rich back then, therefore, no one could be saved.

My question would be, “Who then is a rich man in Jesus' sense of the word? Is it a person who has a barn full of $100.00 dollar bills, or someone who has more than they need for their personal use, and uses their extra money for unnecessary luxury items such as jewelry, clothes, expensive makeup, or hairdos, knowing an elderly neighbor of theirs is going without food, or having a difficult time paying their rent, or electric bill?

The other day I was out shopping when I noticed an elderly man with a walker walk over to where the eggs were in a refrigerated area. He opened the door, took out a one-dozen egg cartoon, closed the door, and then noticed the price, $5.00 a dozen. He reopened the door and placed the eggs back on the shelf. Was it time for someone with a shopping cart filled with steaks and roasts, cookies, dips, and chips to step forward and offer to buy the eggs the man needed to feed himself? Is this what the Lord meant?

Your thoughts:

I don't think the Matthew 19:23-25 necessary means one must have bought the eggs for the elderly man. But, I think other things Jesus said means that it could have been good to ask does he have enough money for food. Maybe look first does he have a cart full of food already. That he didn't take the eggs doesn't necessary mean he can't have any food. And in any case, if person has lot of food and sees someone without food, it would be right thing to help the poor person.

It is also an interesting question, who is really poor or rich. It could be said that person is rich, if he has food and clothes, and poor, if he doesn't have them. And for a greedy person nothing will ever be enough and so in a way he is always poor. In a way, person is rich, if he doesn't need anything. But, as the following shows, person can be poor in some sense, if he would have all earthly thing he needs.

Because you say, I am rich, and I am made rich, and I have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold having been fired by fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, and your shame and nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Rev. 3:17-18

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Matthew 19:23-25, Jesus said, “Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, who then can be saved?”

The disciples' question appears to imply that most people were rich back then, therefore, no one could be saved.

My question would be, “Who then is a rich man in Jesus' sense of the word? Is it a person who has a barn full of $100.00 dollar bills, or someone who has more than they need for their personal use, and uses their extra money for unnecessary luxury items such as jewelry, clothes, expensive makeup, or hairdos, knowing an elderly neighbor of theirs is going without food, or having a difficult time paying their rent, or electric bill?

The other day I was out shopping when I noticed an elderly man with a walker walk over to where the eggs were in a refrigerated area. He opened the door, took out a one-dozen egg cartoon, closed the door, and then noticed the price, $5.00 a dozen. He reopened the door and placed the eggs back on the shelf. Was it time for someone with a shopping cart filled with steaks and roasts, cookies, dips, and chips to step forward and offer to buy the eggs the man needed to feed himself? Is this what the Lord meant?

Your thoughts:

I don't think the Matthew 19:23-25 necessary means one must have bought the eggs for the elderly man. But, I think other things Jesus said means that it could have been good to ask does he have enough money for food. Maybe look first does he have a cart full of food already. That he didn't take the eggs doesn't necessary mean he can't have any food. And in any case, if person has lot of food and sees someone without food, it would be right thing to help the poor person.

It is also an interesting question, who is really poor or rich. It could be said that person is rich, if he has food and clothes, and poor, if he doesn't have them. And for a greedy person nothing will ever be enough and so in a way he is always poor. In a way, person is rich, if he doesn't need anything. But, as the following shows, person can be poor in some sense, if he would have all earthly thing he needs.

Because you say, I am rich, and I am made rich, and I have need of nothing, and do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you to buy from Me gold having been fired by fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, and your shame and nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Rev. 3:17-18

Following is what the Lord considers to be a rich man: Matthew 19:29, "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."

Revelation 3:17, Jesus said, "Because you say, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;" then Jesus goes on and tells them to “repent,” more or less saying, “You’re not rich, but wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.”

"I (Jesus) counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, and you may be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear;"

Jesus had spoken: Riches, fame, power, authority, and good intentions here on earth are not qualifications for eternal life.