It's Hard for the Rich

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 19:23)

Thoughts:  There is a curse on the gold.  We may be tempted to think there is only blessing on being rich.  But it is hard for the rich to say they need God.  But it is not impossible.  It is hard for the rich to not seek their riches first or to claim the need to relax from making riches when it is time to worship.
     Riches by themselves keep no one out.  It is the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10).  The curse on the gold is that it can become our God.  It is hard to combine riches with humility- but it happens.  Nicodemus, a rich man,  came to Jesus at night out of embarrassment, but ended up with faith.  Barnabas was wealthy and sold land for the church to prosper.
      Interestingly, all the statistics on American giving have shown for decades that the more money you have the less percentage you give to charity.  The pull on our hearts is real.  The rich may think that they give more dollars than anyone; or even that they are pulling a larger load than others; or even that it is not healthy for them to give too much because that makes the others not give.  Yet all these things are not their responsibility.  The rich know of ways to give (like to endowments) that can keep others from losing a sense of responsibility.  Because the rich are often leaders, it can be hard to be creative in the ways they give.  Yet when the rich give (like Nicodemus or Barnabas), it is a huge witness.  

Prayer:  Lord, help me to use the gifts you give me to help others.