In The Scripture a man with great possessions approached Jeshua:
Mar 10:17
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
Mar 10:18
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God.
Mar 10:19
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
Mar 10:20
And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
Mar 10:21
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
Mar 10:22
And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
Most of us are taught to work hard and save our money that we may acquire those possessions that we “deserve”. We are taught to be “law abiding” citizens and practice the Ten Commandments. However when approached by a man who had been successful by the world’s standards, Jesus revealed what true wealth is all about. Providing aid to the poor creates a treasure in heaven. Hoarding your worldly treasures ultimately produces lack. This reality challenges our logical mind. LOVE supercedes the mind’s understanding. Jesus summed up the law (all 613 commandments and statutes) with just two commandments:
MATT 22:37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
These commandments centered around Love. The Law reflects the character of The Heavenly Father. GOD IS LOVE. Thus the Law is centered around Love.
A rich man can eliminate his dilemma if he chooses to forsake the control, manipulation, and exploitation which is taught by the world’s economic system. Instead, let every word, action, and response be love based.
Edwin Louis Cole provided a comparative definition of Love & lust: “Love is the sacrifice of self for the benefit of others, lust is the sacrifice of others for the benefit of self.”