Money

For the last few days, we have been considering an interaction between Jesus and the rich young man who desired to know how to have eternal life.

The rich young ruler had an urgent question. He asked Jesus how he could somehow grasp eternal life.

Wouldn’t you like to have a fresh start with your finances? A clean slate on your debt? A full folder of generous giving? Less anxiety about the whole issue of money? Check out today’s passage.

The world promises freedom but delivers slavery. Here’s what Peter tells believers as his life is coming to an end.

A bribe is defined as “money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person.” A bribe is anything we give to persuade or induce a certain action. And money in exchange for prestige, power, and position to gain college admission or to change the outcome of a sports game (remember the Black Sox Scandal) is always tempting for some.

Solomon didn’t take a survey, but as he observed wealthy people, he noticed that some held tight to their money, sharing it with no one. Others squandered their money on risky business schemes. Both left shallow legacies.

This passage drives home two truths about money: The Rockefeller Principle and the Heart Principle. One addresses amounts, and the other addresses our attitude. Let’s look at them one at a time. 

Hedonism, mentioned earlier in our study through Ecclesiastes, is a philosophy of life motivated by the desire for pleasure. Hedonism believes that satisfying one’s desires is the highest good and aim of humanity. Hedonism is a life that sprints toward self-gratification. As the old beer commercial said, “You only go around once in life, so grab for all the gusto you can get.”

Can you believe in the promise of God to satisfy you without all the other stuff? Is there anything in your life you need to relent?