"Rich people can't truly love God or enter heaven, so I shouldn't want wealth."
How it sounds in your head: Jesus said it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter heaven. So if I have money, doesn't that mean I'm far from God? Maybe I need to stay broke to stay close to Him.
"But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 'With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'"
-- Matthew 19:26Religion misapplying Matthew 19:24 and ignoring the immediate context where Jesus says 'with God all things are possible' and that Abraham, Job, Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathea were all wealthy AND righteous.
The rich young ruler walked away sad, and pastors use that story to demonize wealth instead of addressing IDOLATRY. We've been taught that money and God are incompatible.
Joseph of Arimathea was a RICH man and a disciple of Jesus. His wealth allowed him to provide a tomb for Jesus' burial—his resources served the Kingdom without disqualifying his devotion.
I REFUSE the lie that wealth and godliness are incompatible. IT IS WRITTEN: With God all things are possible, including being both prosperous and devoted. Abraham, Job, Solomon, and Joseph of Arimathea were wealthy AND righteous. My provision doesn't threaten my relationship with God—it's a gift FROM Him. IT IS WRITTEN: Psalm 35:27 says God takes PLEASURE in my prosperity. The BARAK blessing isn't limited by religion's guilt. I am blessed to be a blessing, and my abundance glorifies the Giver.
Your Father isn't threatened by your bank account. He's the One who gives you power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18) and delights in seeing you flourish. You're not the rich young ruler—you're the prodigal running HOME to abundance.