I was talking with a friend some time ago and the following came up: In Matt 19:16-24, a rich man came to Jesus and asked what he should do to get eternal life. After some discussion about obeying the law Jesus told him to sell all of his possessions and give to the poor. I used this to make the point that as Christians we should not be concerned about making a lot of money or gaining a lot of earthly possessions, but rather we should be more concerned with helping our fellow man, evangelism, etc. My Christian friend responded, that I couldn't possibly mean that because Jesus only told that to one person, and that wasn't meant for everyone, and that he made a lot of money to help the poor, (basically every weak argument against what I was saying. I countered with, Jesus only told one person that he needed to be born again (Nicodemus, John 3:3) and yet we make that the cornerstone of Christianity.
What say ye? Should we only consider (or obey) things that Jesus told to many and disregard the private conversations?
Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
Mat 19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Mat 19:19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Mat 19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
Mat 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
Mat 19:22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness(money, material things for their wants): from such withdraw thyself.
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Love is the fulfilling of the law, which includes helping the poor and needy if you can, for if you love people perfectly then you can only do that by the Spirit then you have to be right with God, and God's kingdom is true love, where the world is motivated by self exaltation, which selfishness, and arrogance, is a product of that.
That is the faith, and God only blesses us with our needs, not our wants for He loves people, not blessing the saints with their wants according to the flesh, which God said some people pray amiss to heap it upon their lusts.
The love of money is the root of all evil for it neglects the poor and needy, and love is the fulfilling of the law, and the way God created the earth to operate among people.
Jesus pointed out to the rich man that in order to inherit eternal life he had to obey the 6 commandments that have to do with loving people, which he said he did that from his youth, and then Jesus said he lacked caring about the poor and needy by heaping riches, and material things to himself, but then the rich man went away as he did not want to believe he had to do that to inherit eternal life.
Sound familiar with the prosperity Gospel, and many people believing that God blesses them with their wants above their needs, for there are many of them, and God said at this time they will say they are rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, but God said they are not right with Him.
This applies to everybody what Jesus said to the rich man that goes by their wants, and not only their needs, for love is the fulfilling of the law.
Paul said we do not void out the law, but we establish the law, and the law is spiritual, holy, just, and good, and pointed out that if a person does not keep the commandments that have to do with loving people then they shall not inherit eternal life, the same as Jesus told the rich man to keep the commandments that have to do with loving people.
And Paul, James, and John, all say the same thing as Jesus about only going by your needs, and not your wants.
So concerning obeying the commandments, and only going by your needs, and to help the poor and needy, Paul says the same thing as Jesus.
Now it is alright to make a lot of money at your job, but it does not matter how much money we take in we can only go by our needs, and not our wants, so our money situation, and lifestyle is the same no matter how much money we make.
I pray that television evangelists would understand that.
The early Church in Acts sold all they had that was not a necessity, and gave the money to the saints that lacked, and had all things in common, which means they shared everything, and were on a equal level, which God said He wants equality among the saints.
I pray the saints would understand that, but at this time many love money, and material things, and lack love, then their faith lacks, and is void.
Co 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Charity, love in action, is greater than faith, and faith works by love, and it is not faith alone, but love alone, and everything stems from love.
1Co 13:2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
Paul said without charity they are nothing.
Jas 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Jas 2:15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
Jas 2:16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Jas 2:24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
James said without charity their faith is dead.
1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
John said without charity the love of God does not dwell in them.
Which Paul, James, and John, say the same thing, but many people argue over Paul and James, but they say the same thing.
So the message to the rich man is for everybody, and He told the rich man to obey the commandments that have to do with loving people, which Paul says the same thing, and to sell all he had that was not a necessity and help the poor and needy, which Paul says the same thing along with James, and John.
Charity is greater than faith, and without love there is no faith, and charity is love in action, works, for we do not love in tongue, or in word, but we love is deed, and truth.
But there will be some people that will go against it, and why do they go against it, because they love money, and material things for their wants, so they do not want to believe it according to the truth.
They want to enjoy sin, and worldliness, and vacations, and cruises, and worldly entertainment, and believe they can do so without any penalty against them, but Jesus, and Paul says different, and so do James, and John.
Luk 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luk 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Will Jesus find faith when He comes back, for the majority of people that claim Christ violate that faith by going by their wants.