Rich Young Man
165
Here was his lack. He failed to keep the first four commandments,
also the last six. He failed to love his neighbor as himself. Said Jesus:
“Give to the poor.” Jesus touched his possessions. “Sell that thou hast,
and give to the poor.” In this direct reference He pointed out his idol.
His love of riches was supreme; therefore it was impossible for him
to love God with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his mind.
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And this supreme love for his riches shut his eyes to the wants of
his fellow men. He did not love his neighbor as himself, therefore
he failed to keep the last six commandments. His heart was on his
treasure. It was swallowed up in his earthly possessions. He loved
his possessions better than God, better than the heavenly treasure. He
heard the conditions from the mouth of Jesus. If he would sell and
give to the poor, he should have treasure in heaven. Here was a test of
how much higher he prized eternal life than riches. Did he eagerly lay
hold of the prospect of eternal life? Did he earnestly strive to remove
the obstacle that was in his way of having a treasure in heaven? Oh,
no; “he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
I was pointed to these words: “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.” Said Jesus: “With men this is impossible; but with God all
things are possible.” Said the angel: “Will God permit the rich men
to keep their riches, and yet enter into the kingdom of God?” Another
angel answered: “No, never.”
I saw that it is God’s plan that these riches should be used properly,
distributed to bless the needy, and to advance the work of God. If men
love their riches better than they love their fellow men, better than they
love God or the truths of His word, if their hearts are on their riches,
they cannot have eternal life. They would rather yield the truth than
sell and give to the poor. Here they are proved to see how much they
love God, how much they love the truth; and, like the young man in
the Bible, many go away sorrowful because they cannot have their
riches and a treasure in heaven, too. They cannot have both; and they
venture to risk their chance of eternal life for a worldly possession.
“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.” With God all things are
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possible. Truth, set home to the heart by the Spirit of God, will crowd
out the love of riches. The love of Jesus and of riches cannot dwell in
the same heart. The love of God so far surpasses the love of riches that