Should Christians Really Give Up All Their Possessions?
- Michelle Treacy Contributing Writer
- Published Jan 11, 2024
Mark is a fascinating account of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection because it was the first of the four gospels written. It was likely penned between AD 60-70 by John Mark after the failure of the first Jewish revolt and the destruction of the temple by the Romans.
When it was written, the audience was intended to be Gentile converts or Roman believers, and the whole purpose of this gospel was to confirm the identity of Jesus — it has an evangelical theme.
We see the word immediately 41 times in this one gospel. From that, we can sense the urgency upon which it was written. Mark’s gospel is a clean and crisp retelling of the narrative.
Above all else, the Gospel of Mark ensures that we know Jesus is the Messiah, the son of God, and he calls us to action in response to our faith.
What Is the Context of Mark 10:21-22?
Nestled in Mark’s gospel, we read the words of Mark 10, which say:
Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
For some, this passage means that we, as believers, should not be wealthy and so they live in the reverse of the prosperity gospel.
Selling all they have and living just above the poverty line. They would even go as far as to see wealth as a bad thing. I do not believe Jesus would want us to preach a prosperity gospel or this thinking that poverty is the only way to get into heaven.
If we go back to the start of Mark 10, we see Jesus is in the region of Judea; he has just had a conversation about divorce with some Pharisees.
Then Jesus talks to little children and rebukes his disciples for attempting to send them away. It is here that a young man, or rich young ruler as Matthew 19 tells us, falls down before Jesus and asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
The reality is, whether he realized it or not, this man was asking, “What is the bare minimum I can do to get to heaven?” Jesus is gracious in His response, and he responds by quoting the commandments from number 5.
Having responded that he has been following these commands since he was a boy, Jesus takes this conversation a step further and he says: “One thing you lack,” he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’” The man, Scripture tells us, goes away sorrowfully.
The question we must ask is, did the man go away sad because he was expected to be poor? Of course not. He went away sad because he had already broken the first commandment and didn’t even realize that was the case.
No longer was God the first in his life, but his possessions had taken that place. This man did not want to get rid of his idol but wanted to hold fast to it.
The issue here was not what the man had in his wallet but rather what he had in his heart.
This young man had become wealthy, and he loved that he had come to a position on earth where he was happy.
What Does the Bible Say about Possessions?
But the Bible tells us clearly that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Luke 12). His heart was no longer pursuing the things of God because his heart had wandered into possessions and wealth.
I am not suggesting that wealth or happiness can only come when we are looking for pennies or that we are to be unhappy people.
I believe when we have God in His place as first in our lives, we can have all of these nice things and be blessed by God, but without pushing God from his pedestal and adding things like our phones, cars, houses, bank balances or finances to that stool instead.
It is not a case of what I can own or what I should not; even the original question by the rich man is defective. We cannot look at our lives and say, “What is the minimum I can do and still obtain a reward?”
The Bible tells us in Proverbs, “My sons and daughters, do not forget my teaching but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”
These laws that God has given to us are to help us and to bring us prosperity, but not prosperity as the world knows it, but blessings from God, blessings for us to share with others, an inheritance in a heavenly home, a place with Jesus. Favor, for us, is being called chosen by God, loved, and a royal priesthood.
So again, we ask, should Christians give up their possessions? The answer is no.
Some of us may need to reprioritize our possessions and ensure that they do not take the first space in our lives, giving Jesus back his place in our world and in our lives. Some of us may need to take a minute and refocus on what we are doing and where our treasure lies.
But, friend, if you are wealthy, this is not wrong, so long as you are serving your community like Jesus would and so long as you are still focused on following Jesus wherever you go.
Some of us need to lay down the idea that being poor is the only way to be a Christian because that attitude has the potential to also become an idol.
Verse 28 of Mark 10 tells us that Peter peeps up hearing their conversation and says to Jesus, but I already left everything… still Peter didn’t get it either. The rich man wanted his possessions, and Peter wanted his reward, which meant neither had a focus on Jesus.
How Does This Apply to Us Today?
I love that Jesus cares enough to have these conversations, that He stops on His way to help these men examine their hearts and see what really rests and abides in their souls. Friend, the same Jesus is available today.
Through the Holy Spirit, He can help us to assess where our hearts are. What our treasure is, and who sits in first place in our lives. You just need to carve out some time to ask Him and listen to hear His response.
If you do not know Jesus and you are wondering what all the fuss is, please get in touch with someone who can tell you all about Jesus, a local church, a blog website, or even pick up a bible and start reading through the Book of Mark who will reveal to you who Jesus is and why we Christians love Him as much as we are able. God loves you, friend. I hope you know that love.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean ‘Where Your Treasure Is There Your Heart Is Also’?
3 Things Christians Should Know about Faithful Wealth
Why Does a Foolish Man Devour Treasure?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/AntonioGuillem
