Late last year, while researching for an article, I discovered the Global Rich List calculator. At the time, it reported that a U.S. worker making the federally mandated minimum wage ($7.25/hour) earns more salary than 92.2% of workers in the rest of the world. The statistics do not lie: American Christians are rich.

That’s a good thing, right? Well, as with so many things in this world, that depends on your perspective. From a heavenly perspective, we all have reason to be concerned.

Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:23-27

Jesus’ warning raises two important questions: Why is it so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God? How do we mitigate the risk?

The first question is not hard to answer; the Bible has much to say on the subject. The answer to the second question is not so obvious (at least, for most of us). Here are nine reasons it is so hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God:

1. The rich tend to trust in their riches (v. 24).
2. Riches are deceitful, choking the word of God from our lives, resulting in unfruitfulness (Matthew 13:22).
3. The unfruitful are cut off from Jesus Christ and thrown into the fire (John 15:2,6).
4. The rich are tempted to bury their riches, instead of investing them into the kingdom of God (Matthew 25:24-27,30).
5. The poor have been chosen to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom (James 2:5).
6. Our heart is tied to our treasure (Matthew 6:21).
7. To whom much is given, much will be required – including our riches (Luke 12:48).
8. The world’s goods are given to meet the needs of others (1John 3:16-18). The rich are responsible to know how much to give away.
9. The rich are most at risk of two powerful and destructive deceptions: they do not need God (Revelation 3:17), and/or God needs them (Acts 17:25).

The first time I went on a mission trip, I came back to America feeling fortunate to have been born in a country with so much advantage (i.e., access to riches). Perhaps ten years later, my opinion had changed dramatically. From a heavenly perspective, our access to riches puts us at a great disadvantage – even at great risk.

Reading this list, I am not tempted to feel sorry for myself and my fellow American Christians. But this is the hand we have been dealt. We must do our best to make the best of it. There is no time for self-pity or self-loathing.

With God all things are possible (Mark 10:27). He has graciously identified the risk; now we must join Him in mitigating it.

For those who are rich – and by world standards, that includes the vast majority of American Christians – we should be asking God, somewhat desperately, how does a rich person mitigate these eternal risks and kingdom disadvantages? This is not a question God will refuse to answer. We must first be humble and brave enough to ask it. Please let me know what you hear.

God bless you with humility and courage to ask the hard questions.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob