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How Does A Rich Man Enter Kingdom of Heaven?

OttoM

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Matthew 19:23

And Jesus said to His disciples, “Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven.

— Then we have the parable about the rich man and Lazarus. We know the rich man ended up paying his debts in hades, therefore, he was not washed clean by Jesus’ precious blood.

— But then we have other examples of rich man that did enter the kingdom of heaven. Do you know what these men have in common? They used their wealth to take care of multiple women and children through marriage. They also helped their neighbors and acted righteously. They relied on the LORD and put him first. So they didn’t cling on their wealth, but used it to help neighbors and women/children. The wealth did not corrupt them. For example, Abraham and David.

Gideon is another example of someone that didn’t seem he had very much at the start, but was blessed by the LORD with wealth:


Judged 8:30

He (Gideon) had seventy sons of his own, for he had many wives. 31 His concubine, who lived in Shechem, also bore him a son, whom he named Abimelek. 32 Gideon son of Joash died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of his father Joash in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.

33 No sooner had Gideon died than the Israelites again prostituted themselves to the Baals. They set up Baal-Berith as their god 34 and did not remember the Lord their God, who had rescued them from the hands of all their enemies on every side.35 They also failed to show any loyalty to the family of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) in spite of all the good things he had done for them.

— David as well had a lot of wealth. And we know one way he used it was to take care of women and children - through marriage, which guaranteed they’d be provided for life.

So rich men that were in good terms with Jesus used wealth to help their neighbors and women/children. They didn’t cling on to it. Waste it on prostitutes or wild parties. The one story of a son that accumulated a lot of wealth from his inheritance blew it on drinking and prostitutes. He repented and his father welcomed him back with wide arms. In proverbs it warns about too much inheritance so quickly for one child:

Proverbs 20:21

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

But if a rich man that has many children - this would not be a problem due to the wealth being distributed among many children.
 
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It is not a riches itself that a problem. It is that riches makes man particulary suscetible to delusion they don't need LORD.
Correct - they relied on the LORD and put him first. The wealth didn’t make them proud, because they knew it came from the LORD and everything is his. But it’s also interesting to note most men that followed the LORD also added additional wives after they accumulated wealth. Which resulted in more children whom follow in the LORD.

If the man has millions and millions of dollars - but only a couple of sons and daughters - would it be right to hoard all that wealth for his own very small family while there are millions of Christians living paycheck by paycheck? Is that loving your neighbor like yourself? It’s an interesting question, I believe. Many churches preach a prosperity gospel. But if all that wealth accumulated isn’t doing anything to help expand and assist God’s Kingdom in our short time on earth - then what’s the point?
 
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Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
There is a lot written in the Bible about money and material wealth, and the pursuit of it. Having material wealth is not condemned but it's the love of it and reliance upon that wealth which is warned against.
Your question: How Does A Rich Man Enter Kingdom of Heaven?
The answer: the same as any other person; by grace through faith. There is only one who is the Way and the Truth and the Life and no one will come to the Father except through Him. Money won't help but the pursuit of it may hinder. Shalom
 
Ysss
Proverbs 23:4-5 Do not overwork to be rich; Because of your own understanding, cease! Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; They fly away like an eagle toward heaven.
Mark 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
There is a lot written in the Bible about money and material wealth, and the pursuit of it. Having material wealth is not condemned but it's the love of it and reliance upon that wealth which is warned against.
Your question: How Does A Rich Man Enter Kingdom of Heaven?
The answer: the same as any other person; by grace through faith. There is only one who is the Way and the Truth and the Life and no one will come to the Father except through Him. Money won't help but the pursuit of it may hinder. Shalom
By faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - 100% agree. But I will say this. True faith in Lord Jesus produces with it a new heart and being reborn by the Spirit. Paul says we were created to do good works:

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The difference with our works is they are to glorify Lord Jesus. We boast not in our own works - because all of us are sinners and fall short - we all need Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation is through grace, faith, and gift of God through Lord Jesus Christ. Nonetheless - a true believer is sanctified by the Holy Spirit and produces good works - but they don’t do those works to be exalted among men, or for justification into heaven - but to glorify the King + out of love for his King - whom shed his precious blood for us. If you see someone in trouble and can help them; and they thank you, give the glory back to Lord Jesus. If you see a homeless man and have some spare change, and he thanks you - tell him you’re just an instrument used by Lord Jesus. Thank the Lord instead. Simple things like that are just examples how we can glorify our Savior.
 
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Having material wealth is not condemned but it's the love of it and reliance upon that wealth which is warned against.

And what you do with it.

Proverbs 20:21

An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning will not be blessed at the end.

In a way here wealth is the problem, but it's a problem due to the temptations of youth. We have a modern term for this proverb: trust fund babies. The wealth, it corrupts. People who earn wealth and those who just have it given to them have very different approaches to it often.
 
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