Session 8: The Treasure

Session Overview

Creedal Statement

Pray then like this:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

Key Elements

• Key Passage - Matthew 19:16–30
• Scripture Memory - Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. Luke 12:15
• Catechism - Q: What practice helps us to live a life of simplicity? A: Stewardship.

Introduction

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Willingly should we surrender earthly, in order to acquire heavenly goods. The Kingdom of Heaven is well worth all that you are possessed of. Nothing is bought more cheaply, nothing is more precious to keep when once acquired. Two things we must renounce for God’s sake: the right to possess and the wish to acquire. Hugh of St.

When people place their faith in Christ, there is a radical transformation of the heart. The things that they used to value now decrease in importance. The treasures so deeply loved become dispensable. What was once considered necessary is no longer essential. In surrendering to Jesus, believers now depend upon Jesus for their eternal destiny and daily provision. Radical transformation in Christ brings with it a sweeping reorientation toward material possessions. Living in God’s created world, we will never be able to eliminate material things. Could it even be the case that this is still not God’s design since God created the world in both physical and spiritual dimensions? In this world, we will never abolish the need for basic necessities such as food, clothing, and shelter. God has made humans an integrated body and spirit. In his saving work, Jesus redeems physical and spiritual creation. In eternity, God promises the restoration of all of creation. Despite God’s concern for physical and spiritual reality, faith in Christ requires all disciples to recalibrate their relationship to the material world.

Material wealth has a possessive power. Temptations abound when one’s aim is to acquire wealth and material abundance. While God’s good gifts of his created world are not inherently evil, our wicked hearts deceive us into innumerable sins in the pursuit of wealth. To cherish our possessions is to obstruct faith in Christ. Inordinate and all-consuming love of possessions is a deadly and damning precipice for both the wealthy and the poor. On the other hand, when believers use the possessions God has given them for his glory and the good of the needy, they express genuine faith in Christ. Modeled by Jesus, his disciples, and believers throughout the ages, a life of simplicity and the practice of stewardship remain core elements of the Christian life. Simplicity is a life unencumbered by material possessions. Stewardship is the faithful use of our possessions, recognizing that all we have is a gift from God. A simple life shaped by the practice of stewardship results in the responsible, generous, and sacrificial use of God-given resources. God’s word is a sure guide for this most important topic relevant to faith and spiritual formation.

In Matthew 19:16–30, Jesus explains how the spiritual practice of stewardship is an outgrowth of faithful devotion to Christ. A rich man seeking eternal life approached Jesus with a question. He wanted to know how to achieve enough moral goodness to give him eternal life. Promptly, Jesus redirected the man’s attention from his own conduct to God’s character. After asserting God’s goodness, Jesus told the man to obey God’s commandments. The commandments were expressions of God’s own character. When the man affirmed that he had obeyed those commandments, Jesus told the man to sell his possessions and give charitably to the poor. This command exposed the man’s heart. Tragically, he refused Jesus’ command and went away in great sadness. After this, Jesus taught his disciples about the dangers of wealth, the need for salvation, the cost of discipleship, and the promise of future reward.

In this narrative, Jesus calls disciples to simple living, faithful stewardship, and sacrificial generosity. The rich man is presented with a grave warning, as much as the disciples are upheld as godly examples. The underlying faith that compels one to follow Jesus requires renouncing dependence on material possessions. In addition to such a faith-based renunciation is a resignation of ownership. Disciples of Christ acknowledge that all of their possessions—in fact, their very lives—are owned by God. We are stewards and caretakers of our lives and earthly belongings. Such unreserved surrender to Jesus liberates disciples to give their resources in open-handed liberality. These acts of generosity are expressions of genuine faith and also represent eternal investments in heavenly treasure. To cling to Jesus requires that we loosen our grip on our possessions. In reality, faith in Christ loosens the grip of our possessions on us. Jesus’ summons to follow him is an open invitation to receive eternal life and experience the joyful practice of selfless giving. As we explore this short biblical text, let us evaluate our attachment to material wealth, examine the sincerity of our faith, and consider how to integrate simplicity and stewardship in our spiritual life.

Biblical Interpretation: Hearing the Word

Study the Text: The Bible is God’s inspired word to his people. Christian disciples mature in the faith when they are grounded in God’s word. In this movement, you will study the basic details of the biblical text.

Observation Questions

Read (or listen to) the whole passage of Scripture. Discuss the questions below for each section of the story. Pay attention to the details of the text to recall what the passage is saying. Use the focus verses to guide your conversation.

Storycraft

Retell the story in your own words, recounting the overall flow of the narrative, the main segments of the story, and the major developments that take place.

Narrative Elements

Story Retell

Theological Dialogue: Discussing the Plot

Explore the Text: God’s word is his trustworthy and sufficient revelation to his people. We grow as Christ’s disciples by rooting our lives in God’s unchanging truth. In this movement, you will explore vital teachings of this biblical passage.

Discussion Questions

Summarize the biblical story. As a community, discuss the following questions. Be attentive to the truths taught in this text. Use the commentary on the next pages to uncover core principles this passage teaches about the Christian faith.

Biblical Commentary

Use this commentary to help you understand the meaning of the text. Refer to the infographic on the next page to think through how narratives work.

Passage Introduction

Key Idea

God is inviting us into a life of simplicity through the spiritual practice of stewardship.

Passage Overview

Our belongings do not define our lives. Wealth cannot provide ultimate freedom or enduring security. Material resources are temporary and transitory; they cannot fill us with lasting joy or abiding contentment. No possession can build a firm foundation for eternal life—we will not carry our earthly resources into the life to come. The substance of our life will be ultimately defined by what kind of investment we make for eternity. In this story, the rich man longed for eternal life but valued his material wealth more. Although they were not perfect, the disciples relinquished their rights to an earthly life of ease and comfort. Following Christ, they renounced the world’s treasures and put their hope in heavenly future reward. When we detach our hearts from worldly possessions, we are free to use them for Christ’s sake. Therefore, discipleship is a countercultural call to simple living, faithful stewardship, and sacrificial generosity. Use the following commentary to help you understand this biblical text and its teaching about stewardship, simplicity, and genuine Christian faith.

Passage Outline

Stewarding Our Possessions as Citizens of Heaven

One gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds what is right, only to become poor.

But that many of us are called poor, this is not our disgrace, but our glory; for as our mind is relaxed by luxury, so it is strengthened by frugality. And yet who can be poor if he does not want, if he does not crave for the possessions of others, if he is rich towards God? He rather is poor, who, although he has much, desires more.

Introduction

The sum total of life does not consist in what we own. Material provisions that sustain us in life are gracious gifts from the hand of a good God. God wants us to enjoy and appreciate these gifts in a way that stirs our love and affection for God himself. For God to provide for the basic needs of his people reveals him as kind, generous, and benevolent. Despite these realities, it is easy for human hearts to develop unhealthy attachments to material possessions. For many people, much time, effort, and imagination are spent thinking of ways to increase financial foundations and expand material wealth for their profit and satisfaction. People can easily become preoccupied with obtaining more and more, such that they are never content with what they own. Ever available are affluent lifestyles, costly novelties, or creature comforts that seem just beyond our grasp. Before we know it, we are driven to build a kingdom of this world that neglects the imperishable kingdom in the world to come. Whether we are rich or poor, material possessions can remain an obstacle to authentic faith in Christ, especially when one harbors an inordinate love toward wealth. For this reason, God invites us to a kind of simple living in which we steward our possessions to help those in need. Such a mode of living is the byproduct of mature faith in Christ and a guard against the deceptive appeal of earthly riches. How we handle our possessions reveals a great deal about the substance (or lack thereof) of our faith. So important is this issue that it has become a major topic of many portions of Scripture, including Jesus’ earthly ministry.

The biblical narrative of Matthew 19:16–30 recounts Jesus’ encounter with a rich man and a subsequent discussion with his disciples about the nature of discipleship. As a whole, the brief narrative combines teaching about Christian faith and stewardship. At the beginning of the narrative, a rich man’s desire for eternal life prompted him to discuss the goodness of God and a life of obedience with Jesus. Although the man was generally confident about his morality, he recognized that he lacked something fundamental to his spiritual life. When Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give to the poor, the man left Jesus in sorrow. His desire for his possessions surpassed his desire to follow Christ. He had kept his possessions but forfeited eternal life. After this unhappy encounter, Jesus taught his disciples about the dangers of wealth, the means of salvation, the cost of discipleship, and the promise of future reward.

For all his prior devotion to God’s law, the rich man’s material possessions were a treacherous obstacle to his attainment of eternal life. His inordinate affection for earthly wealth revealed his lack of faith. The temporary pleasures and transitory happiness that his wealth afforded eventually left the man dejected and despairing. His tragic life is a warning to us. Certainly, a life of simplicity and the spiritual practice of stewardship are the fruit of genuine faith. These are also means by which disciples deepen their faith in Christ. Additionally, simplicity and stewardship forgo immediate comforts in exchange for an enduring future reward. Jesus’ disciples had embraced the kind of life that the rich man refused. Their faith in Christ involved a renunciation of earthly treasures in order to make a heavenly investment in God’s eternal kingdom. As we read this important biblical text, may we allow it to read our own hearts and lead us in the paths of everlasting life and abundant joy.

There Is Only One Who Is Good: Finding Fulfillment in God Alone

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 19:16–19)

One day, a man came to Jesus with an important personal and theological question. The question revolved around his conduct and the gift of eternal life. Specifically, the man asked Jesus, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to obtain eternal life?” (19:16). Jesus responded to his initial question with a probing question, “Why do you ask Me about what is good?” (19:17). Jesus asked this question to challenge the man’s thinking about God, knowing it would necessarily adjust his perspective of himself. Making a clear reference to God, Jesus told the man, “There is only One who is good” (19:17; cf. Mark 10:18;  Luke 18:19). In his question and statement, Jesus did not deny his own goodness or his deity. Instead, Jesus asserted God’s exclusive and unparalleled goodness. God is the highest standard and paradigmatic essence of what counts as good, moral, and benevolent. Compared to God, no human measures up to God’s character. Jesus eventually addressed the man’s conduct. He told him, “If you want to enter life, keep the commandments” (19:17).

Biblical Principles

Embracing God as the True Good. The Christian life and the spiritual practice of stewardship are rooted in God’s good character. The rich man was eagerly searching for a “good thing” to do in order “to obtain eternal life” (19:16). The man connected his moral conduct with the reward of everlasting bliss. Jesus responded to the man by affirming God as the singular standard of all goodness: “There is only One who is good” (19:17). The man’s consideration of his own ethical behavior to the neglect of God’s essential character was his spiritual oversight. Fundamentally, God’s excellence and superiority inform everything about the life of faith. In this way, Christian goodness is both a moral quality and a social virtue. God’s goodness is both a truth about his righteous character and the benevolent way he deals with his creation. This is the same for Christian disciples. Christians embody goodness in life to the extent their character resembles God’s character and their interactions with others are charitable, kind, and generous.

The list of commandments affirms the social dimension of Christian goodness as an expression of godly living (19:18–19). To live rightly before God is to demonstrate genuine concern for others. To refrain from murder is to esteem human life with dignity. In honoring human life as created in the image of God, believers are honoring God himself. Abstinence from sexual sin entails a life of godliness and purity, along with demonstrating respect toward the sacred boundaries of the marital covenant. To not steal is to practice contentment with one’s lot in life and to prioritize the well-being of others. Believers honor God and care for fellow humanity when they speak the truth. To honor God-appointed authorities like parents is to demonstrate reverence to God and an interest in the well-being of family and society. To live in a way that reflects God’s good character, believers are to love others as they love themselves. Even Jesus’ command for the man to sell his possessions and give them to the poor highlights this dynamic (19:21). To live a good and godly life is to put one’s trust in God such that one is freed to give generously to the poor.

Genuine virtue is established upon the character of God, the only standard for moral perfection. Christians can only live a godly life when they give up trying to measure up to God’s holy character by their works and have a sincere faith in Christ. To wholeheartedly trust in God’s goodness is also to divest ourselves of all other objects of trust and receive his loving care and gracious concern for people as empty-handed vessels. Confidence in self-referential moral goodness is also problematic to a life of blessing. God’s goodness is the foundation of the life of faith. To live as a follower of Christ is to come under the conviction that God is unrivaled and paramount in his goodness. His moral perfection reveals our sinful shortcomings. When this conviction collapses, we wander into sin and temptation. We can easily idolize material possessions, thinking they are the means to life, joy, and meaning. When we succumb to temptation in any form, we neglect the ultimate goodness of God for the perceived goodness in some other object. To neglect God’s superlative goodness is to develop misguided confidence in our morality based upon personal performance or comparison to others. On the other hand, to grow in faith is to increasingly live under the conviction that God is the source and standard of all that is truly good. God’s goodness is expressed in the moral perfection of his character and his benevolent care for humanity.

Godly Living as the Fruit of Genuine Faith. In so many ways, belief in the goodness of God is an underlying motivation for Christian stewardship precisely because it is at the foundation of gospel truth. God’s goodness is the reason the gift of eternal life is even available to sinful humans. But God’s good character is also the qualitative standard by which believers live toward others. To be a recipient of divine benevolence with humble faith is to pattern our lives after God’s example. We love others as God has loved us. Had the rich man truly received God’s gracious gift of eternal life, he would have known what it was like to be spiritually poor. Although he had material wealth, the rich man was a beggar before God. Those who freely receive God’s loving gift of eternal life are mobilized and energized to use their material possessions to care for those in need, to treat others as God has treated us. In this way, Christian stewardship is a natural outgrowth of genuine faith in Jesus.

The Christian life involves faith that translates into action. We must always be vigilant to keep the right ordering of faith and works: faith (trust in God’s grace, mercy, and favor) always precedes works (a life pleasing to God). No person can behave their way into God’s favor. The rich man himself proves that his moral conduct was insufficient to gain eternal life. Even a long list of excellent conduct (19:18–19) will eventually encounter some moral lack (19:19–20). That being said, genuine faith in Christ will bear fruit in godly living. Our actions reveal our beliefs, values, and convictions. In this biblical text, the list of commandments represents kinds of conduct that characterize the lifestyle of a Christ follower. The life of faith is described in this narrative with the vivid word picture of following Christ (19:19, 27–28). This depiction of faith is instructive and illuminating. To follow Christ requires an underlying trust in which a person resigns their autonomy and independence by surrendering their well-being to Christ. To follow Christ also entails orienting one’s entire life toward Christ’s leading. This not only means to go where Jesus goes but also to live how Jesus lives. Christian stewardship is one of the many ways believers put their faith into action. In this way, it is both clear evidence of faith and a practical means to grow in faith.

What Do I Still Lack: Using Possessions for an Eternal Investment

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 19:20–22)

Soon into his conversation with Jesus, the rich man’s confident and earnest probing devolved into sudden sorrow and fateful gloom. Jesus listed representative commandments of the Old Testament Law to demonstrate that humans are accountable to God. Self-assured and optimistic, the man replied to Jesus that he had obeyed all the commandments Jesus listed: “All these I have kept” (19:20). The man recognized that something was outstanding in his spiritual life. Consequently, he inquired of Jesus with a vulnerable and pointed question: “What do I still lack?” (19:20). Although he was persuaded by his moral excellence, the man did not possess the security and assurance that he so desired. The man desired to know the path to eternal life. He also knew that somehow his pious deference to the law was fundamentally insufficient.

Jesus intensified the conversation. Rather than emphasizing the earlier standard of “good,” Jesus established the means by which the man could “be perfect” (19:21). Jesus’ instruction was specific and focused: “go, sell your possessions and give to the poor” (19:21). We learn that this man “had great wealth” (19:22), highlighting his great personal cost of obeying this commandment. Had the man acted upon Jesus’ command, he would not have been the loser. Jesus explained that sacrificial and charitable stewardship would cause him to “have treasure in heaven” (19:21). If the man heeded Jesus’ words, it would have simultaneously released him from the shackles of his wealth and expressed a deep-seated allegiance to Christ. In essence, to sell possessions and provide for the poor would have been evidence of a sincere faith in Christ. It would have been an act of a loyal disciple: relinquishing all in service of Christ. Therefore, Jesus’ invitation to the man, “Follow Me” (19:21), was a fitting summons. Unfortunately, the man did not accept Jesus’ invitation, and he rejected both of his commands. Upon hearing Jesus’ words, the man “went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth” (19:21). The man’s unwillingness to divest himself of his material possessions obstructed his ability to faithfully follow Jesus. In turn, this excluded him from the promise of eternal life.

Biblical Principles

Poverty of Wealth. There is much to consider in the rich man’s question, “What do I still lack?” (19:20). A man of many possessions, he experienced a glaring lack in his life. His material wealth could not secure his spiritual well-being. Familiar with profit, gain, and earthly dividends, the man was unable to obtain the enduring riches of eternal life. Somehow, the man felt his scarcity such that he sought Jesus’ help on the topic. Because the man relied upon his wealth, his financial riches resulted in spiritual poverty. His approach to financial plenty likely informed his approach to spiritual matters. Like a checklist of tasks, the rich man viewed God’s commandments like he viewed a checklist of tasks: a series of directives through which he would prove his merit. But the Christian life is no business venture. The man possessed great wealth, and he obeyed many of God’s laws, but he still lacked the security of eternal life. He had not yet obtained Imperishable life and unfading reward (19:16). Tragically, this man’s “great wealth” (19:22) was a cause of his deep sorrow. His plentiful purse was a stark contrast to his spiritual lack. As the narrative shows, the man knew that his material prosperity did not translate into eternal life. He learned that he could not convert his material means to remedy his spiritual poverty because the economy of faith did not function like worldly enterprises. Jesus’ admonition to the rich man was direct and demanding: self-divestiture. By proactively reducing his wealth through sale and benevolence, the man would have been able to become spiritually complete—“to be perfect” (19:21). The sale of his possessions and charity with the poor would have constituted an act of genuine faith and obedience. He would have discovered that all genuine disciples live in faith of and obedience to Christ, becoming blessed beneficiaries of real, heavenly treasure.

Faith, Simplicity, and Stewardship. Jesus commanded the man to practice stewardship as an expression of faith. The call to immediate, sacrificial, and generous stewardship (19:21) was radical by human metrics. To the world’s eyes, selling one’s possessions would be perceived as foolish and imprudent. It represented a renunciation of worldly security and temporal comforts. Had the man obeyed Jesus’ command, common people might have interpreted his atypical act as the irresponsible squandering of hard-earned money or an unfortunate misuse of inherited wealth. This misperception reveals the seriousness of the human condition. Too easily, the human heart can attach itself to earthly possessions. Unwittingly, we can depend upon financial resources for our well-being. Faith in Christ is a full and unreserved abandonment of oneself into Jesus’ safekeeping. To entrust oneself to Christ is to forsake all else as a source of life and livelihood. Obviously, Christians will use resources in this world, but they will not depend upon them.

In this way, faith in Christ is an act of renunciation as much as a spirit of adherence. This is true for the inception of the disciple’s life and his ongoing walk of faith. The call to faith in Christ is an invitation to simple living, abstinence, and frugality. At times, the difficulty of one’s life circumstances will require one to embrace simplicity. In such cases, the integrity of one’s faith is put to the test. For those who are surrounded by plenty, they will need to take intentional and proactive measures to embrace a life of moderation and self-restraint. In a different way, this is no less a test of faith. Ostentation, luxury, and excess can inhibit trust in Christ. This being the case, wealth and overabundance can also impede care for those in need. Consequently, Jesus’ command to “sell your possessions” (19:21) represents an invitation to us to renounce material wealth as a mainstay of life and faith.

Importantly, Jesus did not call the man only to sell his possessions. He also followed this initial directive with a command of charity: “give to the poor” (19:21). Through a life of simplicity and the practice of stewardship, genuine faith in Jesus reshapes our treatment of the needy. While focusing only on simple living reorients our hearts toward earthly possessions, giving to the poor recalibrates our concern for people. In turn, our treatment of those in need does reflect our hearts toward God. By embracing a simple life of faithfulness to Christ, we confess that all our possessions ultimately belong to God. Being temporary caretakers of divine goods, we lessen our grip on material possessions and more freely give to those in need. Once we establish the fact that our good God is the ultimate source of our joy and the substance of our well-being, we do not lack anything of significance when we give away our resources to those in need. In fact, the opposite effect usually occurs. The more we give to others from a heart that is fully entrusted to Christ’s care, joy abounds. The practice of Christian stewardship strengthens faith in Christ, increases concern for others, deepens joy in God, and allows God to provide for his people’s needs in timely and gracious ways. Truly, the believer who lives in faith, simplicity, and stewardship lacks no good thing.

With God All Things Are Possible: Being Saved from Wealth’s Wiles

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 19:23–26)

In rejecting Jesus’ command of stewardship, the man declined Jesus’ offer of eternal life. When the rich man departed, sad and dejected, Jesus directed his attention to his disciples. This became a fruitful teaching moment. In fact, the rich man’s choice of earthly wealth over heavenly treasure has become an instructive moment for believers in all generations and cultures. This unfortunate encounter holds important lessons about discipleship and faith formation. Jesus explained to his disciples in proverbial form: “Truly I tell you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (19:23). The fact that the rich man turned down Jesus’ open invitation “because he had great wealth” (19:22) proves Jesus’ wisdom saying. Although it is not inherently evil, wealth is a common obstruction that keeps people from entering into the life of faith. So great is this obstacle that Jesus used an extreme analogy: “it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (19:24).

The image of a camel going through the eye of a needle was so outlandish and unusual that the disciples were “greatly astonished” (19:25). Their shock over this imagery created a doctrinal crisis. If wealth were such an impediment to eternal life, the disciples feared that salvation was impossible for anyone. They voiced their question to Jesus, “Who then can be saved?” (19:25). Jesus responded to their inquiry with a theological truism: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible (19:26). Jesus acknowledged that overcoming the obstacle of wealth, inheriting eternal life, and possession earnest faith in Christ are all impossible by human means. Left to ourselves, we will always lack something in an effort to gain eternal life (cf. 19:20). On the contrary, God’s power is so great that he overcomes human inabilities and achieves apparent impossibilities. The difficulty of a wealthy man receiving eternal life is both a warning about the danger of riches and a commentary on the power of God.

Biblical Principles

Wiles of Wealth. Jesus warned his disciples about the spiritual dangers of material wealth. Sadly, the rich man’s “great wealth” (19:22) was an obstacle to faith in Christ. Quite dramatically, this man of earthly means chose his riches over Jesus. Jesus took the singular instance of the rich man and expanded it as a warning for general humanity. Broadly speaking, “it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven” (19:23). Wealth promises immediate security but cannot procure eternal well-being. Consequently, the choice of material possessions over Jesus is a clear decision to value temporary things over eternal reality. So magnetic is wealth’s alluring power that it becomes a formidable impediment to faith. The impossibility of a camel passing through a needle’s eye (19:24) captures how hard it is for the wealthy to suspend their confidence in material wealth and relocate their faith in Christ. Many would be glad to affix Jesus to their wealth as an additional layer of security. But Jesus demands exclusive devotion.

Importantly, Jesus did not say possessions, money, or physical belongings are intrinsically evil. Many other biblical texts talk about the goodness of God’s creation, the sufficiency of God’s provision, and the bounty of God’s blessing. A faithful and benevolent God meets the daily physical needs of his people. As such, the spirituality of the Christian life is not antithetical to its physicality. Nevertheless, earthly wealth and material possessions can obstruct faith in Christ as much as they can express God’s care for his people. Inordinate affection or unhealthy attachment to physical possessions can derail a person’s faith in Christ. Too easily, people can misplace their trust in God’s provisions rather than in God’s Son. Therefore, so much does God care for his people that he simultaneously provides for their needs and cautions them against reliance upon these divinely provided gifts. God’s gracious gifts are meant to increase our trust in God, not to replace our trust in God. Material provision is meant to increase the depth of our faith, not become the object of our faith.

Wealth’s wiles deceive the human heart. Material possessions promise earthly security but can easily obscure our vision of heavenly rewards. In offering temporary sustenance, wealth can cause us to overlook our eternal destiny. Earthly riches can certainly elevate us in human esteem, but those same riches make us most vulnerable under divine judgment. Worldly treasures can lead to a myriad of sinful indulgences, which only leave us in a sunken emptiness. On the contrary, investment in heavenly treasures requires simple living, self-denying frugality, Christlike contentment, and sacrificial generosity. This approach to life is an expression of Christian virtue. To make eternal investments in the name of Christ is to rest in divine riches regardless of any material lack. This kind of life enables us to find joy, substance, and meaning in any and all circumstances. Christian disciples must have a proper relationship with their possessions in order to follow Christ and faithfully steward their possessions. Moreover, the regular practice of stewardship and simple living while trusting God enables us to preemptively expose the underhanded schemes, entangled deceptions, and vice-filled temptations of wealth.

Power of God in Salvation. The difficulty of a rich man receiving eternal life and the absurdity of a camel passing through the eye of a needle vividly highlight the gravity of the human predicament and the danger of material wealth (19:23–24). Neither of these challenges is insurmountable for the all-powerful God. Without realizing the immense difficulty of salvation, humans tend to rely upon their own efforts or resources to gain temporal security and eternal life. Those with financial means are particularly accustomed to using their wealth to secure self-advancement. They might think their resources or status give them some advantage in obtaining life beyond the grave. To the contrary, the wealthy are actually in greater danger of forfeiting eternal life because of the temptation to depend upon their material possessions.

The disciples took Jesus’ statement about the rich and applied it to general humanity: “Who then can be saved?” (19:25). Something like genuine conviction must have taken place when they were “greatly astonished” (19:25). They had taken Jesus’ warning about the wealthy and applied it to all people, including themselves. All humans, wealthy or poor, can become entangled with earthly existence to the neglect of their eternal destiny. So easy is this entanglement that salvation seems impossible. On the contrary, salvation is made possible because of God’s power (19:26). Only those who honestly acknowledge their inability can come to discover God’s saving power.

Wealth’s obstruction to faith in Christ is also an impediment to eternal life. This is a terrifying reality. Certainly, Christian stewardship is not a means of securing one’s salvation. Instead, it is an expression that one has already gained salvation in Christ. Disciples who have the full stock of their life invested in eternal life find it possible to divest themselves of their earthly possessions. Earthly wealth possesses no additional benefit for those who already possess heavenly treasure. To have eternal life in Jesus is to possess all one would ever need (and more). To have received such a heavenly inheritance liberates Christian disciples to unstinting and selfless generosity. Crossing the impassable threshold into eternal life—“to enter the kingdom of God” (19:24; cf. 19:23)—is to become such a beneficiary of divine blessing and an eternal inheritance that earthly resources become a means of Christian ministry rather than a source of personal security.

In the Renewal of All Things: Sacrificing Now for a Future Reward

Biblical Narrative (Matthew 19:27–30)

Jesus’ words to his disciples were probing and profound. The grave warning that wealth was an obstacle to eternal life caused the disciples concern (19:23–25). By telling his disciples that all things are possible for God, Jesus followed his candid caution with theological comfort (19:26). Certainly, this teaching would move the disciples to self-reflection and self-evaluation. This was at least the case for Peter. Eager to speak, Peter himself expressed confidence that the cadre of disciples had already overcome the spiritual obstacle of wealth. He told Jesus, “We have left everything to follow You” (19:27). In this statement, Peter asserted the disciples’ devotion and faith in Christ in a way that emphasized their sacrificial commitment. Following Christ involved forsaking their dependence upon material possessions.

Peter wanted to know how their devotion to Christ would be rewarded (19:27). Jesus told his disciples that their recompense would come in the future kingdom. Foundational to Christian discipleship is the enduring principle that present sacrifice in the name of Christ reaps eternal reward. The fleeting and transitory possessions of this earthly existence are relinquished for an eternal inheritance of meaningful and lasting substance. For Christians, the time of reward is “in the renewal of all things,” a reference to a future time “when the Son of Man sits on His glorious throne” (19:28). Clearly, this is a reference to the grand finale of human history, when God restores all things and fully establishes his kingdom. At that time, the disciples would reign with Christ: “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (19:28). Then, Jesus broadened his glorious promise to faithful followers who demonstrated their faith with sacrificial intensity. He described these followers as “everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for the sake of My name” (19:29). Those who made such sacrifices to follow Jesus would “receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (19:29).

This kind of life is contrary to the common wisdom of general humanity. Many people are fixated on present existence. They assume the well-being of their lives is measured in earthly possessions and comforts. They orient their lives, utilize their time, employ their abilities, and tend to their relationships in order to maximize the experience of the present life. For many people, a life of means and material plenty is the best kind of life. The call of discipleship is hard to accept because it cuts against the grain of this way of thinking. People know following Christ requires them to relinquish many of the treasures and amenities of life. In light of this reality, Jesus concluded his teaching by telling his followers about the countercultural and counterintuitive reality of his kingdom. He captured this kingdom ethos in the proverbial saying: “many who are first will be last, and the last will be first” (19:30). Although many will enjoy life now by maximizing earthly pleasures, their present preoccupation with this life will cause them to forfeit reward in the future. Those who heed the call of discipleship and forego present comforts in the service of Christ may appear “last” in the world’s order but will become “first” in God’s future kingdom.

Biblical Principles

Following Christ in Sacrificial Commitment. This narrative describes the Christian life as a life of following Christ. This is a theologically vivid and practically helpful way of describing faithfulness to Christ. Calling the rich man to eternal life, Jesus invited the rich man follow him (19:21). Peter reported that the disciples followed Christ with wholehearted commitment (19:27). Jesus promised future reward for all who followed him (19:28). To follow Christ meant to resign from an old way of living and to align one’s entire life under Jesus’ authority, to make Jesus Lord of one’s life. What Jesus commands, loyal disciples do. Where Jesus leads, faithful followers go. How Jesus lived is the paradigmatic example for believers to emulate. Jesus himself becomes the all-consuming orientation for every area of life. To describe the Christian life as following Jesus helps to explain the relationship of faith and obedience. Genuine faith in Christ enables people to obediently follow Christ in conduct. Consequently, single-minded and exclusive trust in Christ lies at the foundation of a disciple’s life. Because believers entrust their eternal well-being to Jesus’ safekeeping, they surrender their daily life to his loving authority.

In each of these instances, following Christ involved abandoning something. The rich man was told to “sell [his] possessions and give to the poor” (19:21). Peter told Jesus that the disciples had “left everything” to become Jesus’ followers (19:27). Jesus characterized faithful followers as those who “left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields” (19:29). The narrative focuses on relinquishing one’s wealth, possessions, and relationships to follow Christ. In case a person may want to reserve rights in some other category of life, the disciples’ claim to leave “everything” is a catchall to emphasize that complete and total surrender is the only mode of Christian discipleship. To leave all in order to follow Christ is to place all confidence in Christ for one’s security, provision, companionship, and well-being. To be poor is not a virtue in and of itself. Many have fallen into poverty as victims of injustice or due to their own foolish decisions. Jesus explained the right motivation behind leaving one’s possessions: “for the sake of My name” (19:29). Christians who relinquish their possessions in submission, in surrender, and in service of Christ do so as a genuine expression of faith. Forfeiture of earthly possessions to follow Jesus does not indefinitely impoverish God’s people. It forgoes present comforts for a greater future reward.

Glorious Promises and Future Reward. Jesus’ call of wholehearted commitment is rooted in a promise of future reward. The rich man’s question about “eternal life” (19:16) underscored a main theme of the narrative as a foundational element of the Christian life. In following Christ, disciples are willing to forgo the pleasures of this world in order “to enter life” (19:17). Those who enter eternal life also “enter the kingdom of heaven” (19:23), which is also called “the kingdom of God” (19:24). The promise of everlasting life is only for those who are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom. In fact, Jesus also described this future reward as having “treasure in heaven” (19:21). This focus on a heavenly inheritance set the context for Peter’s inquiry about what kind of recompense was in store for Jesus’ disciples: “What then will there be for us?” (19:27). The disciple’s reward would be given in the future. This future time would be marked by transformative renewal and Jesus’ glorious reign (19:28). The disciples were promised co-regency with Christ (19:28). Sacrifices that believers made in following Christ would be rewarded “a hundredfold” (19:29). Such would be the inheritance of “eternal life” (19:29). This is what it would mean for those who embrace being “last” in this world and becoming “first” in the world to come (19:30).

In this narrative, Jesus clearly oriented his disciples to the future and calls us to do the same. The call to follow Christ in the present world is based upon a glorious inheritance in a coming kingdom. Said more firmly: belief or unbelief in Christ determines a person’s eternal destiny. Alongside the call to follow Christ are glorious promises of a heavenly inheritance. Genuine discipleship is based upon the premise of delayed reward. Christians willingly forfeit in the present what will be securely and abundantly given at the full coming of Christ’s kingdom. Comfort, luxury, and ease should not be expected in this life. Suffering, sacrifice, and self-denial more truly define the Christian life. Willingness to follow Jesus in poverty and want is motivated by eventual bounty and unending plenty when the world (and humanity) is renewed. Ultimately, the life of faithful surrender to Christ gives way to unspeakable heavenly blessing. To resign oneself to Jesus is to entrust one’s eternal well-being to his safekeeping.

Since glorious promises of future reward form the foundation of the disciple’s life, they also move God’s people to generosity, charity, and benevolence. Certainly, believers steward their possessions because they believe God is the owner of all good things. All that they possess are God’s good gifts to his children. But, believers are magnanimous and liberal with their resources because they view their giving as an eternal investment. While the disciples are described as leaving their possessions (19:27, 29), the rich man is instructed to sell his possessions and give to the poor (19:21). We relinquish our possessions in order to follow Christ with exclusive devotion, knowing our future is secure. When our hearts are detached from our possessions, we are more ready, willing, and eager to share our possessions with open-handed generosity. That this passage describes future reward in terms of possession (19:16, 21, 27), investment (19:29), and inheritance (19:29) highlights the character of Christian stewardship. Christians divest themselves of their transitory, earthly possessions in order to invest in something that will last forever. In this way, the glorious promises of future reward undergird the Christian life in general and specifically inform the motivation behind the Christian practice of stewardship.

Conclusion

While the rich man sought to establish his moral goodness, Jesus refocused his attention on the exclusive goodness of God. Certainly, the man had followed many of God’s commands. Despite his ethical performance and full purse, the man still faced a glaring lack. Neither of these achievements could secure eternal life. Gracious and merciful, Jesus offered the man the eternal life he sought. Jesus’ invitation came in the form of a sacrificial and life-altering command to the rich man: sell his possessions and give to the poor. The man was so dependent upon his possessions that he left Jesus in sorrow, forfeiting his offer of everlasting life. Jesus’ subsequent teaching with his disciples unfolded the essence of the Christian life and the spiritual practice of stewardship. One way disciples demonstrate their faith in Christ is by relinquishing their rights to material wealth. Such faithfulness to Jesus manifests itself in simple living, faithful stewardship, and sacrificial generosity.

Countercultural and counterintuitive, simplicity and stewardship are invaluable for our Christian faith. As a spiritual discipline, stewardship keeps us focused on God as our ultimate good. It helps us to remove all obstacles that keep us from experiencing eternal life through faith in Christ. Through simplicity and stewardship, we are able to invest in the well-being of others and contribute to the needs of the less fortunate. This practice gives us the opportunity to participate in God’s global mission in the world. Amazingly, renouncing dependence on our possessions can result in deeper fullness in life. We practice stewardship with our possessions so we can begin to see our entire life as a faithful stewardship to God. Our possessions are at God’s full disposal because we have completely entrusted ourselves—past, present, and future—into God’s strong and kind hands. And, the Christ-centered faith that generates this kind of lifestyle makes us beneficiaries of eternal life, kingdom citizenship, and future reward unparalleled in this earthly existence.

Session Synopsis

SESSION 8 SYNOPSIS
Christian Stewardship	In this passage, Jesus commends the practice of stewardship. A rich young man came to Jesus to find out what good deed he needed to perform to gain eternal life. Jesus told the man of God’s goodness and pointed him to God’s commands. When the man said he obeyed these commands, Jesus told him to sell his possessions and give them to the poor. The man left in sorrow because he was wealthy. This event prompted Jesus to talk with his disciples about the nature of salvation, faith, and kingdom living. These teachings undergird the Christian practice of stewardship, simple living, and discipleship. A summary of this story’s principles is outlined below.
God’s Goodness	God’s commands reflect his good, righteous, and benevolent character. God is the essence of all that is good (19:17). He is the standard of a good life and the source of eternal life (19:16–21). God’s commands instruct people to honor God above all in their care for others (19:16, 18–19, 21). No one can earn salvation by obeying God’s commands. It is impossible for people to save themselves (19:25–26). God, in his goodness, knows this.
God’s Work in Salvation	All humans are sinners. Sinners need to be saved (19:25) from their sin in order to receive eternal life (19:16, 19) and live forever with God in his kingdom (19:23–24). Salvation is impossible for humans to accomplish; only God can save sinners (19:25–26).
Dangers of Wealth	Great wealth can be an obstacle to eternal life (19:22–24). No amount of material wealth can bring substance, meaning, or joy in this life or in the life to come (19:16, 20, 22). In this story and applicable to all humanity, the man’s spiritual lack (19:20), spiritual incompleteness (19:21), and spiritual inability (19:23–26) are in stark contrast to his material wealth (19:22–24).
Genuine Devotion to Christ	Following Christ is basic to the life of discipleship (19:21, 27–28). The life of a disciple of Christ involves sacrifice and commitment (19:21, 27, 29). Disciples of Christ do all for the sake of Christ (19:29). Genuine devotion to Christ is expressed in what we do with our possessions.
Christian Stewardship	Christian stewardship is an expression of genuine faith in Christ. All of our possessions are gifts from God. To steward God’s possessions is an act of sacrifice and benevolence (19:21). Christian stewards call people to renounce their dependence upon material possessions (19:21, 27, 29–30) and practice generosity by giving to those in need (19:21). The goodness of God,
Motivations for Stewardship	Christians should practice stewardship because of their devotion to Christ (19:21, 27–28). Disciples are generous with their resources because they are citizens of God’s kingdom (19:23–24), they have inherited eternal life (19:16–17), they are promised future reward that will not perish (19:21, 27, 29), and they will one day rule with Christ (19:28–30). Christian stewardship is a present investment in temporal life that bears fruit—a possession (19:16, 21, 27), investment (19:29), and inheritance (19:29)—in eternal life.

Personal Reflection: Entering the Story

Apply the Text: The word of God is binding and authoritative, the only reliable guide for faith and godliness. True disciples submit themselves to God’s word. In this movement, you will apply God’s word to your lives.

Reflection Questions

Encourage one person to share a testimony about how this story has impacted them so far. Use the reflection questions to examine your life in light of this biblical passage.

Spiritual Practice

Investing in Others

In the upcoming week, take an inventory of your possessions. Reflect on which possessions are obstacles in your life that simply need to be removed. Think about possessions in your life that God has given you to use for his purposes. Envision how he would be calling you this week to dispossess yourself of a possession in order to invest it in the life of someone else. Last, reflect on how practicing a life of simplicity would change your life.

Inventory of Possessions

Giving Away Possessions

Embracing the Simple Life

Ministry Practice: Rehearsing the Script

Minister the Text: God’s word is living and active. Through God’s word, the Christian community is edified. In this movement, you will utilize the biblical passage to minister to other believers and build them up in their faith.

Application Questions

Look at the infographic below. Use the questions to think about how to minister this text to other believers.

Missional Outreach: Publicizing the Truth

Witness the Text: The Bible is a message of God’s gracious salvation to the world. In word and deed, God’s people proclaim the good news of the gospel. In this movement, you will use this biblical passage to reach out to unbelievers.

Strategy Questions

Reflect on the infographic below. Consider how you can use this passage to witness to the surrounding world. Use the suggested ideas to prime your imagination. Then, put together a plan to share this passage with unbelievers, Afterward, reflect on this mission experience.