Picture by Dan Taylor / Heisenberg Media CC 2.0
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest man, said he respects and agrees with “the principles that Jesus advocated.” However, Jesus had strong words for the rich and their commitment to God. Here’s how the Bible looks at wealthy persons.
Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, ended 2021 with a net worth of $277 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, the Statesman reported at the start of 2022.
Musk, CEO of Tesla Motors and SpaceX, spoke with the Christian satire site The Babylon Bee, and, naturally, Jesus Christ became the subject of conversation, TrendingGist reported.
Musk was asked if he would accept Jesus Christ as his ‘personal Lord and Savior.’ The billionaire dodged the question, replying with a joke about doing the show on Sunday, implying the hosts violated the commandments.
Once again, the host tried to get Musk to commit to Christ.
“To make this Church, we’re wondering if you could do us a quick solid and accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior?” the host asked.
Musk replied that he respected and agreed with “the principles that Jesus advocated,” such as “treating people as you wish to be treated” and forgiveness.
“Things like turn the other cheek are very important, as opposed to an eye for an eye,” Musk stated. “An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind.”
“But hey, if Jesus is saving people, I mean, I won’t stand in His way,” Musk added. “Sure, I’ll be saved. Why not?”
“Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”
–Luke 12:33
The above piece of advice Jesus had for the wealthy is probably the most difficult – if not impossible – to heed.
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
– Mark 10:25
Jesus gave hyperbolic solid words in the above passage. But his point is, the love of riches is hard to give up. The trust in wealth makes it hard to trust in God.
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”
–Matthew 6:24
The wealthy love the world and possessing so much; they have no longing for a better (heavenly) home. Their wealth also makes them proud and covetous. Wealth also leads to vice and sin. They can also be consumed with trying to hold onto or increase their riches.
All of these reasons and more are why Jesus says it’s nearly impossible for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.”
–Matthew 6:19
Putting all your faith, time, work, and effort in building worldly wealth is a losing endeavor. You can’t take it with you. When you die, all you left behind will decay.
Instead, Jesus advocates that we love others and put them before ourselves. We should nourish the poor, aid the sick, take care of widows and orphans, promote peace, and do all we can to help others struggling human beings.
By far, King Solomon was the richest person in the Bible. Solomon asked God for wisdom and received it. However, the spoils of wealth eventually corrupted Solomon, and he fell away from God and lost much as a result.
The Bible is filled with tales of others who had wealth. Some went from rags to riches, and others lost fortunes they had obtained through their own corruption and turning from God. The list includes Abraham, Isaac, Job, and Joseph (of the Old Testament).
At the same time, there are a number of wealthy believers in the New Testament who gave generously to those in need. The list includes Joseph, called Barnabas (Acts 4:36-37), Dorcas (Acts 9:36), Cornelius (Acts 10:1), Sergius Paulus (Acts 13:6-12), Lydia (Acts 16:14-15), Jason (Acts 17:5-9), Aquila and Priscilla (Acts 18:2-3), Mnason of Cyprus (Acts 21:16), and Philemon (Philemon 1).
