The Godly Rich Man

Matthew 27:57, “When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph, and who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus.”

Walk out this thing called Christianity long enough and you will find that God will continuously allow you to have experiences and circumstances that seem to be for your breaking. Troubles, ill health, wicked people will appear having approached with such stealth it will leave you thinking they are directly from Satan himself. All the while Christ is there allowing you to see your weakness so that He might show Himself strong. Strong in calming the storm, strong in making the demon run away, or strong with snores coming from His sleep while He ignores the nuisances life can throw our way.

                           

No one is immune. This is life, and in it we have tribulation. I often say that it comes either in finances, health, or relationship.

Health is probably the most obvious of challenges to our soul and our faith, so I won’t tarry here. Finances seem pretty simple too. Jesus said the poor will always be with us, and that it’s harder for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God than it is for a camel to go through the eye of the needle, so middle class seems pretty safe. But is a rich man’s challenge to his soul and character the abundance?

“There came a rich man… a disciple of Jesus.”

Here is a rich man that has entered the kingdom of God. What challenges to his character did God allow? The apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh that God said his grace would be sufficient dealing with it.

I meet many rich people. Some are very godly, giving, generous, caring people. Some are completely godless void of compassion. Others are in the middle, almost mindless in their pursuits… good people but spiritually somewhere between Atheist and in love with Jesus. But what are their storms of life that will force them to focus on Christ. Where will they find the limits of themselves with seemingly limitless resources to pleasure their self and money to buy their physical health?

Do they share a common storm in their relationships?

Jim Spivey told me the story of a billionaire. In short he trusted no one. Not even his wife and kids because everyone around him, included his family, wanted something related to money from him. So my heart today is on the godly rich men (and women) who live a life surrounded by ravenous wolves all looking to take a bite of their flesh. My heart is on the ungodly rich men who have become so calloused by men’s pursuit of them and the emptiness of only material riches that they have also lost… or never gained… sight of Christ.

Think of those people around you that have become successful financially. Are you a wolf clawing at them for your bite of meat? If you are rich, have you become calloused by the men pursuing you with selfish motives? Have you isolated yourself from the masses in ungodly self-defense or self-preservation?

Do you not know what I am talking about? Go to a large successful church and watch people pull on the Pastor. Watch the Pastor pull away. Oh it happens at small churches too, however in the small churches there is usually not enough honey (money, things, positions) to attract enough flies to make it a nuisance. 

Rich or not, Christ calls us to keep giving our lives away. If you are not rich, then purpose to not be part of the wolf pack. If you are rich, then purpose in your heart to find the end of yourself so that God can come through. Lay aside the mistrust, forgiveness, and cynicism. Embrace your community and like Joseph of Aramathea use your wealth and position to benefit the body of Christ. Let Him use those relationship challenges to shape your soul, and to reveal Himself more fully today.