People say, money makes the world go around. In many ways it’s true.
Jesus, God in the flesh, spoke a lot about money, to help us navigate our worship of him and living in a world where money talks.
However, Jesus never said as some religions portray, that we are not to possess any or anything to be holy. So, he never advocated any kind of self-atonement by living a life of poverty.
He did however, caution believers in possessing wealth and at times was confrontational. He said to one rich man, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Mark Chapter 10, verse 25.
To this, the disciples responded, in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, chapters 19 and 18 respectively, appearing to feel distressed, saying, “who then can be saved?”
In other words, they themselves as fishermen in their former business, were conscious of being reasonably well off and made a plea and advocacy for many about eternal salvation.
Jesus responded by bringing them to the end of themselves, a death to their self righteousness, by giving this hope, “With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Incidentally, this means that wealth is powerless to help people receive eternal life and immortality in God. Salvation cannot be bought. Wealth enables no merit before God as it is a gift and grace to have it. Leaving property for the church in your will does not mean we can pay for our sins and have our guilt atoned for.
There must be true repentance and faith in Jesus and what he has done by dying for us.
Interestingly, when they heard it is possible for rich people to be saved, they spoke of their works to be saved. Again, self-righteousness was their default. They said, “We left everything to follow you, what’s in it for us?”
How pious does that response sound? These were his close followers. Have you ever said to God, I go to church, why don’t you give me a partner or meet my needs? We can all be like these disciples.
Jesus finished this discourse with his disciples by saying, by clarifying what ‘God making all things possible’ means.
He said, “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke Chapter 18, verse 29.
In other words, he acknowledged that in obeying him in sincere faith, they would be incredibly wealthy, in another place stating it as a one-hundred-fold increase of their initial possessions.
However, to clarify we see in Acts how that wealthy status plays out.
For example, Barnabas sold some land and gave the monies to the apostles. Peter who Jesus spoke to about his leaving all for the gospel’s sake, stewarded large donor funds for God’s church, especially poor and needy in their immediate community.
So, its geared around being a channel of blessings, but I feel this promise stands for us today. I sense someone reading this has plans and projects in mind for your nation, step out!
If you will follow his leading, forsaking things for him, some will not understand, but later may, God will prepare you to be a steward of his wealth.
Jesus promised we would be recipients in this age
In other words, while we may be working hard and making money, Jesus is saying God’s wealth is primarily received. In other words, God sends clients and brings the work.
Hence, godly business is accompanied by a knowing that God did it all. We seek his kingdom and see supernatural increase and give him praise.
I like that. It’s not about striving but trusting. Striving leads to stress and ulcers.
Jesus promised radical increase for this age. He distinguished it from the age to come. So, expect God to provide for your business as you move in faith.
Most importantly, in this context of faithful stewardship, Jesus also promised his people would experience eternal life in the age to come!
There is no greater meaning to this life than to know that there is life after this one. How we serve God in this age essentially positions us for the next.
In other words, this life is totally meaningful. Our roles and responsibilities are all determined by our faithfulness with our talents before God in this age. This age plays out into the next.
Jesus promised thrones to his disciples as they understood this. That’s a meaningful life. I pray you can see this, and it moves you deeply.
And to clarify, be moved, not by money or stature or even the desire to release your dream, but God himself and his presence as our greatest joy and prize.
How good is our God! Praise be to him.
Jesus once again shows zero tolerance for self-righteous people to enter heaven.
When finishing his promise of one hundred-fold for faithful followers, he had another admonition:
But many who are first shall be last and the last shall be first.
He once again pruned off self-righteousness, self-atonement and salvation by works. Peter had said we left all, and subtly demanded a reward based on what he did. He was humbled for this, Jesus was implying if you think you are first, you can do it, you will be last.
In other words, best to simply serve and be last and let God move you up the queue, amen!
Friends, God is raising up wealthy people in this season to move his great commission froward powerfully, are you called as a billionaire for Jesus?
Much given much expected. Go, and in his righteousness, it saves. We are saved for good works not by them. Be faithful in little.
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He became a missionary to many, suffering hardship and poverty on Madura Island in Indonesia, in 1990 for about four years. He worked as a pastor-life coach with Hope International Ministries from 2002 to May 2023, playing a key role in raising up leaders and elders for the local Melbourne Hope church, which lead today. Mark has also been active in conducting yearly trips to remote Indigenous communities, bringing teams for training and outreach, which he initiated from 2015. He also established a salt and light ministry to empower saints of influence in the marketplace from 2017.
Mark is also an artist and an author and has written two books which are both a collection of his own paintings, photography, and poetry. These include ‘Iconic Melbourne of Australia’ and ‘Iconic Animals of Australia- With a voice to release your giant potential within,’ which are available now on booktopia.com.au and at leading book retailers. He has been counted among some of Australia’s best authors on several occasions through Dymocks since 2014 and continues to be a motivational speaker in various community groups, organisations, and churches.
He is currently pioneering his itinerant ministry to bless Indigenous people and empower the body of Christ, while working as an artist, author and speaker.