Rich, Young, Ruler Generation
The Word of God is rich in insights. Single passages can reveal thousands of meanings. Nothing's confined or limited to one interpretation--although all its finality is on Jesus alone. In this sense, I see how the rich, young, ruler passage in Matthew 19 has a vital end-times principle to teach us.
Photo by Mathieu Stern on Unsplash.
When Peter asked the Master what was there for them since they had left everything to follow Jesus, he told them that at the "renewal" of things, when the Son of Man sits on His throne, the 12 would judge all Israel, and those who had left (this is where we come in) fields, homes, families, etc., for Jesus' sake would get 100 times what was given up, plus eternal life as a major bonus. See? Definitely, this talks about last days scenarios.
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You've read about the rich, young, ruler, I'm sure, and the characteristics are obviously of today's church generation. Well, at least to my mind it is. The church generation in the end times would have these qualities--rich, young (immature), and possessed with a ruling spirit, being power-hungry or mad for power and prestige. Church would be "spiritual," biblical (like Pharisees were), and hungering for Jesus--not because they love him but because they need him to protect their wealth and possession.
You've read about the rich, young, ruler, I'm sure, and the characteristics are obviously of today's church generation. Well, at least to my mind it is. The church generation in the end times would have these qualities--rich, young (immature), and possessed with a ruling spirit, being power-hungry or mad for power and prestige. Church would be "spiritual," biblical (like Pharisees were), and hungering for Jesus--not because they love him but because they need him to protect their wealth and possession.
Never in the history of mankind have people (and the church) been richer, younger (impetuous), power-mad, and seemingly "fond" of Jesus than in this generation--in these last days. This is an amusing last days scenario. It's a young, rich ruler generation.
Rich
Never in history has the church been richer than today--in material possessions, I mean. And never has greed been worse than today. It's hopeless even in churches. The rich, young ruler in the bible wanted God because, among other things, he saw how God alone could protect his riches. Probably also why he wanted eternal life--a long, long life to enjoy his riches with.
Today's church is the same. Churches grab lands and properties in the name of church planting and compete with each other grabbing people to increase or up church membership. Because it's a numbers game, though most of them deny it. The more members, the more church income. You wonder why the prosperity gospel is more popular today than in previous generations?
Rich
Never in history has the church been richer than today--in material possessions, I mean. And never has greed been worse than today. It's hopeless even in churches. The rich, young ruler in the bible wanted God because, among other things, he saw how God alone could protect his riches. Probably also why he wanted eternal life--a long, long life to enjoy his riches with.
Today's church is the same. Churches grab lands and properties in the name of church planting and compete with each other grabbing people to increase or up church membership. Because it's a numbers game, though most of them deny it. The more members, the more church income. You wonder why the prosperity gospel is more popular today than in previous generations?
Even churches that hate prosperity gospel are crazy about being propertied and moneyed. You see them desperate to get more people in, not because they care for lost souls, but because they want everything for themselves. They want to possess territories and get the most number of churches planted everywhere. It's all for one reason: to get richer.
I know western "missionaries" who live in posh mansions, stay in air-conditioned offices, and have never tried doing dirty jobs in real mission works where persecution and the cross is the daily reality. Well, they may try exposing themselves to dirt and the grassroots for a while where locals find them cute and easy source of money (so they use each other), and everything's okay and safe. They even become popular there. But the "mission" is only for a season, like a short vacation in the tropics, with some hard works now and then. And then they feel they've become mission experts after that.
I know western "missionaries" who live in posh mansions, stay in air-conditioned offices, and have never tried doing dirty jobs in real mission works where persecution and the cross is the daily reality. Well, they may try exposing themselves to dirt and the grassroots for a while where locals find them cute and easy source of money (so they use each other), and everything's okay and safe. They even become popular there. But the "mission" is only for a season, like a short vacation in the tropics, with some hard works now and then. And then they feel they've become mission experts after that.
All very characteristic of the rich, young, ruler generation.
They stay in comfy offices or are employed in seminaries to teach, get paid handsomely, and cling on to that lifestyle. And pastors who envy them (and have the same greed) either protest or become willing subjects to somehow gain the missionary's favor and share in the booty. Not all missionaries are. Not all pastors are. But I've seen a great number of them.
Young
People today lie about their ages more than people did generations ago. Ever noticed that? And they want to stay young--the number one industry today is anti-aging wellness. Nothing wrong about that, unless it becomes an obsession. The church generation, on the other hand, is often manned by ministers or leaders inexperienced in a Jesus ministry, I mean unknowledgeable about doing ministry as Jesus did it--in God's supernatural wisdom and power. In this sense, the church is like an awkward teenager.
Young
People today lie about their ages more than people did generations ago. Ever noticed that? And they want to stay young--the number one industry today is anti-aging wellness. Nothing wrong about that, unless it becomes an obsession. The church generation, on the other hand, is often manned by ministers or leaders inexperienced in a Jesus ministry, I mean unknowledgeable about doing ministry as Jesus did it--in God's supernatural wisdom and power. In this sense, the church is like an awkward teenager.
It's too young and immature as far as God's supernatural work is concerned, ill-equipped about how the Kingdom of God works supernaturally, what actually goes on in the spiritual realms, how to deal hands-on with the spiritual forces of darkness, though church people may be titled, equipped and experienced in man's church ministries. In the earthly realms, they're seen as "qualified" and "experts."
Old as it is, the church is still an adolescent in its attitude and outlook, unfamiliar with the works of the apostles and the prophets, and like young novices and freshmen, are eager, careless and apt to try just anything that works. Anything that looks new to put them ahead of the race. They're led by their curiosity and procedures, not supernaturally by the Holy Spirit.
Just look at their "worship leaders" mostly imitating their favorite rock bands and stars and ambitioning to be their Christian version in church.
And most churches like it this way--they let young people take over because they feel good having a young-people church image, their young taking in charge. Nothing wrong about this, but the thing is, they do this out of a spirit of competition. Or be relevant to the trend and attract more people in to add more to the membership and finances. It's all greed.
I'm not saying church people should all be old people, or that the young should stay away from church leadership and just sit in pews. Young people must take a serious role in church, especially in its ministries, but they should be well grounded in the Word of God and knowledgeable in the supernatural moves of God. They must be fathered by spiritually mature men, not just do anything in church to make it more lively, making church worship like a rock concert "for Jesus" to attract more young people.
Ruler
Most people today are mad about power, and church is not far behind. This is the generation when politics--even church politics--is its worst. Church politics is even much worse than mundane politics. Just watch how people in church behave during conventions and assemblies where there's election. You see cheating, vote buying, dirty campaigning, under-the-table negotiations, church cartels, and even the top church leadership involved in them. This is not to mention church splits--which is power wielding and display, somebody power-mad throwing his weight around and showing everyone who's boss. And then they "pray" for everything they do to make things look spiritual.
There are even pastors today who want to run for public office, or willingly be used by politicians as "spiritual advisers" because they get included in the payroll or get special favors or get popular and respected in church circles. And there they compromise left and right. But they hang on because the pay and power is good.
Just like the rich, young, ruler, the church generation today seeks God and come to Jesus--not because they love Him and seek to do His will. They want God to bless and protect what they are doing and what they have gained for themselves and their denominations--their tiny, pathetic empires.
Losing Their Sense of Eternal Life
Once you stick to that low level of spiritual life--just wanting God for protection of earthly possessions, denominational properties and assets--you begin to be like the rich, young ruler--you begin to lose your sense of eternal life. This Rich, Young Ruler type of church is so biblical--they put in a lot of bible verses in their denominational doctrines and manuals. But this is merely to make people believe they are Christian, but they just use God to have him protect their interests. It's like a bribe--"God, we honor your Word, so you must protect our interests."
As they keep on doing this, God puts a spirit on them so that they lose their sense of assurance--they begin to doubt their spiritual lives so that they have revival services at least two times a year. In effect, they plan to die spiritually at least twice a year. They feel they lack something but are at a loss what it is. That's what happens when you belong to this generation. Thus, the rich, young ruler went to Jesus to ask how he could get eternal life--though he'd been religious in every way and obedient to the law, the law (the commandment) intended to bring life.
Oh yes, the law is designed to bring life eternal! The young man asked how he could have eternal life. Jesus told him that to enter life, he had to "obey the commandments." See? Today, we say it is by receiving Jesus by faith. That's correct, but that's not all. We should listen to what Jesus says in this passage, which is obey the commandments.
And most churches like it this way--they let young people take over because they feel good having a young-people church image, their young taking in charge. Nothing wrong about this, but the thing is, they do this out of a spirit of competition. Or be relevant to the trend and attract more people in to add more to the membership and finances. It's all greed.
I'm not saying church people should all be old people, or that the young should stay away from church leadership and just sit in pews. Young people must take a serious role in church, especially in its ministries, but they should be well grounded in the Word of God and knowledgeable in the supernatural moves of God. They must be fathered by spiritually mature men, not just do anything in church to make it more lively, making church worship like a rock concert "for Jesus" to attract more young people.
Ruler
Most people today are mad about power, and church is not far behind. This is the generation when politics--even church politics--is its worst. Church politics is even much worse than mundane politics. Just watch how people in church behave during conventions and assemblies where there's election. You see cheating, vote buying, dirty campaigning, under-the-table negotiations, church cartels, and even the top church leadership involved in them. This is not to mention church splits--which is power wielding and display, somebody power-mad throwing his weight around and showing everyone who's boss. And then they "pray" for everything they do to make things look spiritual.
There are even pastors today who want to run for public office, or willingly be used by politicians as "spiritual advisers" because they get included in the payroll or get special favors or get popular and respected in church circles. And there they compromise left and right. But they hang on because the pay and power is good.
Just like the rich, young, ruler, the church generation today seeks God and come to Jesus--not because they love Him and seek to do His will. They want God to bless and protect what they are doing and what they have gained for themselves and their denominations--their tiny, pathetic empires.
Losing Their Sense of Eternal Life
Once you stick to that low level of spiritual life--just wanting God for protection of earthly possessions, denominational properties and assets--you begin to be like the rich, young ruler--you begin to lose your sense of eternal life. This Rich, Young Ruler type of church is so biblical--they put in a lot of bible verses in their denominational doctrines and manuals. But this is merely to make people believe they are Christian, but they just use God to have him protect their interests. It's like a bribe--"God, we honor your Word, so you must protect our interests."
As they keep on doing this, God puts a spirit on them so that they lose their sense of assurance--they begin to doubt their spiritual lives so that they have revival services at least two times a year. In effect, they plan to die spiritually at least twice a year. They feel they lack something but are at a loss what it is. That's what happens when you belong to this generation. Thus, the rich, young ruler went to Jesus to ask how he could get eternal life--though he'd been religious in every way and obedient to the law, the law (the commandment) intended to bring life.
Oh yes, the law is designed to bring life eternal! The young man asked how he could have eternal life. Jesus told him that to enter life, he had to "obey the commandments." See? Today, we say it is by receiving Jesus by faith. That's correct, but that's not all. We should listen to what Jesus says in this passage, which is obey the commandments.
However, the rich, young ruler obeyed it in such a way that he lacked one thing vital--giving up everything he valued highly and giving it away to the poor. That was a total no-no to him. And Rich, Young Ruler churches today will also find this hard to give up and give away. So they accumulate as many properties and assets as they can.
This also why so many Christians still feel they lack something even after entering life or doing all sorts of ministries. The rich, young ruler said he had been doing the commandments since he was a kid. But he never gave up anything.
In the end times, the issue won't be assurance of salvation anymore. The salvation issue ought to be the concern of non-believers alone. In the end times, if this is still your issue, you're probably still a non-believer. If your church still has this as a problem among its members, you are left way, way behind the present move of God.
God intended the law to bring life. We catch this in what Paul said about the law.
I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. [Romans 7.10]You see that? The commandment (the law) was intended to bring life. So Jesus told the rich, young ruler about obeying the commandments. But when done in a wrong way and with wrong (selfish) motives, it will bring death--like when you keep what God has devoted for "destruction" (or what he wants you to lose). Man always twists God's law (and God's Word in general) to serve his worldly desires. The result is death, said Paul. This is the rich, young ruler character.
James said the law results to freedom! It is also key to God's blessings. If we use God's commands righteously, they have handsome rewards for us, foremost of which is to FREE us!
But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it--not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it--they will be blessed in what they do. [James 1.25]But religious people have been misusing and abusing God's Word to this day. Hence, like the rich, young ruler, they continue to get restless, dissatisfied and unsure about God because they stick to their worldly possessions and accomplishments. Their earthly trophies. They keep feeding their flesh and ego.
In the end times, the issue won't be assurance of salvation anymore. The salvation issue ought to be the concern of non-believers alone. In the end times, if this is still your issue, you're probably still a non-believer. If your church still has this as a problem among its members, you are left way, way behind the present move of God.
The issue now is--perfection. And perfection is not perfect church attendance or perfect church programs or activities or having read the bible many times or able to memorize verses or not doing any mistakes. Perfection is giving up EVERYTHING. That's what Jesus told the rich, young ruler.
"If you want to be perfect (or complete), give up everything--give to the poor--and follow me."
The end-times issue is, have you given up everything? If you still hold on to some things, no matter how small--like your church denomination--you will never have perfection in your spiritual life. Jesus should own you 100 percent.