The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ: Episode 52

Rev. Sun Myung Moon: The Life and Mission of Jesus Christ
Chapter 5: Ethics of the Kingdom, The Rich Young Man, Page 134-135

The Rich Young Man

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

“Which ones?” the man inquired. 

Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 19:16-25)

 

Everyone is seeking happiness. People do what they do in search of happiness, but we know painfully well that they do not find it. On the other hand, we are a group of people who are agonizing and suffering almost to the extent of misery. But we can find true love, lofty ideals, and all the positive things. Now we can reach a conclusion based on common sense. In the secular life of physical enjoyment, almost no enduring love can be found. As a general rule, you have more chance of finding love among those who lead a suffering life than among well-to-do people. That is exactly what Jesus pointed out when he said it is more difficult for a rich man to go to the kingdom of heaven than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.

Who is the most patriotic person in a country? Is it a person who has everything at his disposal and can do whatever he desires? Who has love? Is it this well-to-do person, or is it more likely someone who lives in miserable conditions but is ready to give whatever he has for the sake of the nation? Which of these people has a better chance of finding happiness? The sacrificial person. Nobody envies him, but he is in a better position.

Of course, there are two kinds of humble people. One is forced to live this kind of life simply because he is poor. That may be a different story. But the man who could lead a first-rate, rich life but gives it up to live in a more humble fashion is the one who has the chance of finding love and happiness. You know the rules of the Principle very clearly. By the same token, a citizen in the greatest and most affluent country of America, who gives everything up and chooses to go to Africa and suffer with the people there, helping them to improve and raising them up above misery and sickness, is a great man. If Americans chose to trade their affluence for that way of life, they would be respected all over the world and they would find happiness. They would find the love and respect of other people. Does this sound far-fetched or reasonable? This is reality.

The Realm of Heavenly Liberation
December 15, 1991

Would you prefer having true love or cheap love? Would you rather submit to the demands of true love from the very beginning, or only the last 20 percent of your life? A person who thinks he is clever might prefer taking the easy way. That is why Jesus said that it is more difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. In the Orient we say “the ear of the needle.” Jesus meant that it would be practically impossible, even if the rich man lost all his wealth and sank into poverty. If a poor man could easily enter heaven, why would a rich man never be likely to make it? Once a person becomes self-centered and arrogant, even though he may falter and become penniless he will usually remain self-centered. That quality will not quickly vanish. Poor people, however, have flexibility. Because they have nothing, they are more willing to go anywhere and do anything.

Crossroads of Life and Death
December 17, 1978