The Rich Young Ruler

Where was the rich young ruler from Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18?  Was he from Jerusalem?  From Rome?  From Joppa by the Sea?  Where would he be from today?

The rich man reminds us that as long as we spend our money quick enough and do not keep enough back to put two quarters together we can bypass anything Jesus says to this man because he is rich and we are not.  One great reason we have for not having money is because we can complain that other people have money, not us.  We are in the lower middle class, or maybe the upper middle class, as long as we are not rich.  If we were rich we may have to listen more closely to what Jesus is saying.

The Federal Poverty Level for 2016 in the USA for a family of four is $24,300.

That is America's definition of poverty.

What about globally?

http://www.globalrichlist.com/

That $24,300 annual income would make me in the top 2.16% of the richest people in the world.

So let's assume that I was a big enough moron to make that much money and now I realize that for the other 97.84% of the world, I am that rich man.

I need to be wiser to hear what Jesus says to me.

He can't be saying to literally sell all my possessions and give to the poor.

Jesus, first off, selling all my possessions, even if I wanted to, is not a quick and easy thing to do.  I can't craigslist all that stuff.  Even if I did ebay or craigslist it, I would need to sell winter stuff in the fall and summer stuff in the spring or I won't get a good deal for those poor people I need to give to.

Second, Jesus, the poor of the world are not in my neighborhood, not on my side of the tracks, not on my side of the river, not in my suburb, not in my country.  What do you expect me to do, go to the other side of the world?!?!?!?!?

Jesus:  "Do you want to be rich or what?  Then why don't you let me show you riches you have not yet seen?  Will you not follow me to the other side of the world?  Just because you are hanging on to a house, a motorcycle, clothes, a good job?"

Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."NLT Matthew 19:21