WHAT WILL YOU DO

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September 6, 2026

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Matthew 19:24, Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

 

If we read the Gospels properly, we see that Jesus had a great deal to say about wealth. Not so much about wealth itself, but about what it does to a person when it is obtained. It is like a thirst that can never be quenched or a hunger that cannot be satisfied; we can never get enough. If you take an honest look at the world we live in, it is obvious that “wealth,” or the lust after it, is paramount in almost everyone’s focus. How can we expect to live in “godliness,” which is the “Kingdom of God,” if our focus in life is an endless quest for more and more of that which will never be enough? Indeed, Jesus was correct: it is easier to do the impossible than for us to stop the pursuit of wealth. The lust for wealth and power is the fastest-growing obsession among humankind today. All you have to do is look at what is driving our lives to smell the stench of greed, selfishness, wantonness, and disdain for all who stand in the way, whether actually or unjustly perceived. Do you see yourself in this dilemma?

 

We complain about the cost of everything going up, the runaway inflation that seems to have no end. But we continue to buy, continue to want, continue to spend beyond our means, and still want more. Those who profit from your spending will continue to feed their lust as long as you feed them. When will enough be enough? When the national and perhaps the global economy crashes and fails, and we all must start over. The super wealthy will not suffer; they will take their profits and laugh at your suffering, as they have throughout history. Jesus warned you. He repeatedly taught that we should seek first to live in godliness, in God’s Kingdom. That means we are not to lust after our personal wealth; we are to look at the good of all and see how we can meet that need. We too often fail to see the importance of what it takes to provide for us because we are too lost in the pursuit of ever more wealth and take for granted those who keep everything going. Perhaps it's time for a new way, an attitude adjustment within each of our lives. Maybe we should look at ourselves as Jesus would if he were standing in our place. What would he see in you?

 

“You say, ‘If I had a little more, I should be very satisfied.’ You make a mistake. If you are not content with what you have, you would not be satisfied if it were doubled.” Charles Spurgeon, Baptist Preacher (1834-1892)

 

I share this quote from the famous preacher because it speaks to our lives today. It says we will never have “enough.” Lust doesn’t work that way. It has no point of satisfaction, only an endless cycle of want. Once you reach your goal, a new one is set, and you keep reaching for more and more of whatever you desire; that is like a thirst or hunger without end. If we achieve that goal, we only set another; if we get one million, we lust after two, and the cycle continues. We see this in all walks of life at every social level. The poor want to be wealthy, the wealthy want more wealth, and the richest of all want even more. This isn’t God’s Plan for humankind, but it's our rejection of God’s Plan because it interferes with our ability to feed our lusts. We either put the love of God first in our lives, or we don’t; there is almost no in-between, no maybe. How are you doing with this?

 

“Make no mistake, my friend, it takes more than money to make men rich.”

Dr. A. P. Gauthey, Minister, Author, Philosopher (1892-1963)

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This quote relates to the Scripture quote at the beginning of this message. We aren’t truly “rich” when we have an abundance of wealth. Richness isn’t measured by wealth alone but by the countenance of one's heart, as manifest in the witness of their life. True wealth is found in what our heart produces that serves not only ourselves but all humankind, especially those less fortunate. A “rich person” is one who looks upon life as an opportunity to take the abundance of love that God has placed within you and share it with others. You will never be “rich” until you feel in your heart the need to share the blessings God has given you for the well-being of others who aren’t as fortunate. We are not “God’s Family” until we accept that fact and act like a “family.” Do you?

 

“A person's true wealth is the good he or she does in the world.”

Mohammed, Islamic Prophet (570-632 CE)

 

To many who call themselves “Christian” or “A Follower of Jesus,” and to others who adopt misguided titles, this quote might seem strange. But truth is found within the teachings of all religions if one is willing to seek it. In a short sentence, these words express what Jesus and most other religious teachers tell their followers. It is a truth we should take to heart today, for it speaks loudly to the world we live in. Few are concerned with the needs or well-being of others; they are too focused on themselves. We too often get lost in thoughts of personal wealth and forget that we are all part of the “whole.” Without the success of us all, the success of the few will soon fail, as history repeatedly shows. How much good are you doing for the world? Is your focus on yourself or on what is more important? Will you serve God or money? What will you do?

 

Rev. Dr. Shannon Rogers, DDiv

Sr. Pastor and President, Unitarian Christian Church of America (UCCA)