How To Be Rich and Reach Heaven?

“If you wish to be perfect, go and sell all that you possess and give the money to the poor and you will become the owner of a treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” Mt. 19:21 

What more can I say?! Jesus is very clear.

He invited the young man and He’s now inviting us.

“Go, sell, give, come, and follow.”

GO - This is an invitation for us to go back to ourselves and assess what we really possess.

SELL– Once we have taken an inventory and “hold” of our possessions, we should be willing to sell them. To whom?  God! Yes, not to anyone but to God. Meaning, we should be able to “TRADE OFF” our momentarily “POSSESSIONS” for the Infinite “POSSESSOR”. In other words, we need to give up the “gifts” for us to receive the “Giver”.  This is what Jesus wants us to do when he told us that parable:

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Mt. 13:46

GIVE – Now that we have received the “Giver” – GOD; we are now set to become rich. Believe me, you possess God; you will possess all!  Jesus assured us when he said:

"Seek first His kingdom and is righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Mt. 6:33
 

But how can we know that we’re truly rich? Listen, being rich is not only about money, it’s more about generosity! Meaning, you are truly rich when you become TRULY GENEROUS.  Come to think about this for a while. If somebody considered himself rich or wealthy, he should not be afraid of giving because in the first place he’s convinced that he’s rich. Meaning, he believes that no amount of giving can exhaust his wealth. What do you think? I’m telling you, if a rich man is afraid of giving, he’s not truly rich!

So, it’s only when we become generous that we can be sure that we are truly rich. And we’re generous when we know how to receive and give not only the “gift” but also the “Giver” Himself. That we know how to receive and give not only within our family and friends but even to strangers especially the poor and the sinners.  This is what Jesus wants us to do when he told us “The Parable of Sheep and Goats”:

“When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Mt 25: 38-40

Again, only through this generosity that we can give to God. And only through this we can store riches (and reach) in heaven:

“…where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal.” Mt. 6:20

 

COME – “COME” depicts an “invitation to journey” and so generosity is. Generosity (receiving God and giving God) is a journey and so it should become our “way” of life. In other words, it should become our lifestyle and priority and not just a momentarily activity. Yes, this is possible when we learn to always give from the heart.  Jesus fully understands this when he said:

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Mt. 6:21

 

FOLLOW - Lastly, generosity as a way of life is not primarily a task, first it’s a relationship. It’s a relationship “with” Christ- the perfect expression of God’s generosity. So, we are all invited to love Him or better say allow ourselves to be loved by Him- meaning, He should be our inspiration, He should be our model, and He should be our way. “With” Him we will never get lost, we will surely reach heaven. Remember what he said?  

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.” Jn. 14:6

Indeed, when we give generously, we receive what the “Great Theft” received on the cross: 

“Today, you will be with me in paradise.” Lk. 23:43  

  

Now; go, sell, give, come and follow Jesus.

What more can I say?!

The Parable of Two Seeds*

“Sir, was it not good seed that you sowed in your field? Where did the weeds come from? He answered them, ‘This is the work of the enemy.” Mt. 13: 27-28

An old farmer was teaching his grandchildren about life, saying: ‘There are two seeds competing to grow inside me. The competition and conflict is very, very strong.

One seed is bad and selfish- its fruits are anger, fear, envy,
Despair, lust, greed, lies, false pride, corruption and guilt.
The other seed is good and generous- its fruits are love, faith, hope,
Joy, peace, humility, kindness, friendship, compassion and truthfulness.”

The thing is; you too have the same seeds and conflict inside you.
In fact, the fight goes inside every person here on earth.”
The kids thought about it for a while and then one of them asked,
“Which seed will win, grandpa?”

The old farmer replied, “The one you water.”

*Inspired by a Native American story.