Both rich men came to Jesus. One asked what he could do to be saved, but didn’t like Jesus’ response. He wasn’t willing to give all he had to the poor. The other rich man came to Jesus and gladly offered his riches to any had squandered. He went away a spiritually wealthy man. Matthew 6:24-34 reminds us that we cannot serve both God and money. If we seek His kingdom and His righteousness, God will meet all our needs.
Review and Respond
Day 1 — Read Luke 18:18-23 Did keeping the commandments save this rich man? Keeping the commandments is important. Doing so shows that we love the LORD and others. But, what did Jesus say the needed to do to be saved? The man trusted his riches to care for him instead of trusting Jesus. The Bible talks a lot about money, how we use it, and whether he can trust it to care for all our needs. Jesus wants to fulfill our spiritual needs so that we will have eternal life. He is our only Savior. Read: Matthew 6:19-21, Proverbs 13:11, Proverbs 10:22, Proverbs 3:9-10
Day 2 — Read Luke 19:1-10 Compare and contrast the story of Zacchaeus with the other rich man. Who showed that he had faith in Jesus? Do you have faith in Jesus? Zacchaeus knew he had wronged others, he made a promise to make those wrongs right and give his riches away to those he had wronged. Do you need to make some things right? How can you do that?
Day 3 — Read Matthew 6:24-34 How do our two stories of the rich men demonstrate that we can not serve both God and money. What does God promise that He will do, if we trust Him and seek His righteousness.
Day 4 — Read Luke 5:27-32 Here Jesus tells about another tax collector that chose to follow Jesus. How are their stories similar? At the end, Jesus says, “ I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Remember Jesus told Zacchaeus, “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Jesus came to save you and me and everyone in the world. Do you want Jesus to save you from your sins? Confess your sins and believe that Jesus has made you clean and has saved you! You are His child and he gives you eternal life!
