Wealth is not evil, but the love of it is the root of all evil (1 Tim. 6:10). The rich man was not evil -- he has been observing at least five of the Ten Commandments since childhood. He was not like most pious men -- he had depth. Coming to Jesus with the question about eternal life showed him to be earnest about his life and the direction it should take. He failed however in one thing: he could not leave his wealth for the One who could have taken him into eternal life. When his wealth and his desire for a fuller life were put into a balance, it was revealed that he didn't really want eternal life. Read the relevant articles here and use the following for your reflection guide.
1. The episode involving the rich man began with a question about salvation: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" The man was already wealthy but he knew wealth was not enough. He knew that however rich he may get, death will in the end render him without any possessions. He wanted something that death cannot take away.
Reflect: Is the man's question also your own? Is "eternal life" also your concern?
2. The rich man was probably aware that there was some relationship between his wealth and the way he has lived according to the Law. It was believed that the man who is just -- one whose commitment is the Law of God -- prospers in all his ways (see Psalm 1:3).
Reflect: How do you conceive of the Christian life? What is your motive for "being good" for living "so as to please God"? Is it so that you can get ahead in life? Do you regard the Christian life as a means to earthly prosperity as is taught by some preachers?
3. "You lack one thing", Jesus said to the man. And the one thing lacking was personal adhesion to Jesus, an adhesion that is incompatible with the wealth that he has. "Go sell all you have and give it to the poor. Then come follow me." The man went away, Mark tells us, because he was wealthy.
Reflect: Our baptism obliges us to deny ourselves, take up the cross and follow Jesus with the freedom of those who have become children of God. It can happen however that after we have begun to walk behind the Lord, we also begin to be concerned about things like greatness or even wealth. What do you think is the lesson that Jesus wanted the rich man to learn? What lesson does the story give you?
