In my daily bible reading I received a simple yet important revelation from reading the following verse:

2Co 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich.

I was pondering the majesty and riches that Jesus left for my sake.  He didn’t have to, but He did.  He trapped himself in the human experience, which I suppose would be like coming to work in a sewage treatment plant compared to living in the luxury of the most elegant castle ever.  I am sure that even fails miserably in comparison, but you get my point.  

Then I realized that if we love the lost as Jesus loved us, then we should not hold worldly riches in such high esteem.  I think that people are missing the main thing, which is relationship with Jesus and loving our neighbor.  How can we do that if we are constantly trying to attain worldly riches?  Sadly the way of the world is to get as many toys and property as we can before we die.  This is contrary to Christ’s teachings.  

One could make the argument that the ability to get wealth is for the sake of the gospel according to Deuteronomy 8:18.  Yes, I believe wealth is for the gospel as well, but is that really everyone’s primary motivation?  I think not!  Plus if it is God’s will for us to make a bunch of money, then why didn’t Jesus and the apostles do it?  Why did Jesus leave carpentry? Why did the apostles leave absolutely everything to follow Jesus (Matt 19:27)?

I leave you to ponder my revelation with a couple more verses to chew on:

Luk 14:33  So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

Mat 19:29  And every one that hath left houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and shall inherit eternal life.