Mark 10:24
And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
The verse teaches that the barrier to the kingdom is trusting in riches rather than merely possessing wealth, for wealth itself gives no title to heaven. Such trust makes riches a cherished idol set where Christ should be, worshiping at the shrine of Mammon and serving the world as though perishing earthly things were superior to heavenly things, for no one can serve both God and Mammon. This trust grips the mind with growing desire for more and fear of future need, leading to hoarding and selfishness that deafens the heart to human need, blinds it to spiritual danger, and leaves it poor toward God, and the astonishment of the disciples shows how serious this danger is. What is impossible by human power is possible with God, whose unmerited grace can melt selfishness and change the heart when trust in riches is given up for dependence on the Redeemer and sanctification of heart, soul, property, and purse. Those whose hearts are changed regard all means as God's trust to be used as wise stewards for the lost and suffering and the advance of His cause, seeking first the kingdom of God and laying up treasure in heaven rather than on earth.
Meaning and Setting
The barrier Jesus names is not possessing wealth by itself but trusting in riches, for wealth itself gives no title to heaven. The rich young man's grief after being told to give to the poor and follow Christ shows how attachment to possessions can keep a person from answering God's call. A heart bound to earthly treasure becomes deaf to human need.
To trust in riches is to make wealth a cherished idol put where Christ should be, worshiping at the shrine of Mammon and serving the world. It is to treat perishing earthly things as superior to heavenly things and to subordinate eternal interests to business cares, and since no one can serve both God and Mammon, such trust keeps the heart from God. Jesus looked with pity on enthusiasm for things that perish, and He spoke with the certainty of one who knew.
This trust grips the mind, increases the desire for more, and deepens fear of future need, leading people to hoard and act selfishly rather than trust God and His promises. Those who put their trust in wealth become poor toward God. Wealth can become a temptation that blinds people to their spiritual danger and draws them into sinful indulgence, and its deceitfulness can ruin people by leading them to forget that they are stewards accountable to God.
The disciples were astonished at these words, which shows how serious the danger is. Their reaction exposed their own hopes for worldly power and riches. They were not wholly free from the grasping belief that God's favor and the righteous reward must be earned by human works. This event opened the way for Jesus to teach the right principles of reward and grace.
Grace and Faithful Stewardship
What is impossible by human power is possible with God, and through unmerited grace even a rich person can enter the kingdom. That grace can melt selfishness and change the heart, opening the way for those bound by trust in riches to be saved. The remedy is to give up that trust and follow Christ. It comes through dependence on God the Redeemer instead of independence, through sanctification of heart and soul and property and purse by the truth, and through the power of Christ's grace to overcome avarice and covetousness.
Those whose hearts are changed regard their possessions as God's trust rather than their own. They recognize His image and ownership stamped on every dollar, know that the ability to acquire means comes by His blessing, and hold means as His and not their own. They live as wise, faithful stewards who use what is entrusted to them to help the lost and suffering, to serve others, to reach other souls, and to advance God's cause. A businessperson's responsibility to work for that cause through personal effort and means is no less than a minister's responsibility to use talents in ministry. Riches prove a curse and bring the greatest danger when a person is ever gathering and never scattering abroad, while treasure is safe only when laid up in heaven.
The verse lifts eternal things above present things, calling for beholding the nobler world and the claims and duration of eternity. It calls for seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, for subordinating every earthly consideration and business care to eternal interests and God's service, and for living every moment with reference to eternal results. Treasure is to be laid up in heaven where moth and rust do not corrupt and thieves do not steal rather than on earth. God's right to that service is measured by the infinite sacrifice He made for salvation, in which Christ lived a life of sorrow and privation, bore the iniquity of all, healed the sick, cast out demons, raised the dead, and suffered a horrible death.
The warning therefore applies to the wealthy, who need the gospel and attention to temperance principles lest wealth become a temptation that blinds them to spiritual danger and draws them into sinful indulgence. It applies also to everyone entrusted with gifts, who must use them wisely for Christ. It applies as well to people who invest in God's cause but insist on following their own ideas and doing things their own way, who wrongly expect to secure eternal life and will be disappointed; means used for good are a blessing when invested where God directs.