Life’s God and Death’s Gain

The way of the kingdom is not paved by earthly success or status, riches or religion, money or morality. Here, Jesus turns popular belief on its head. The kingdom belongs to such as are—in this world—pitied, not envied (19:14; also 1 Corinthians 15:19). And this is ultimately linked with what one treasures. Personal hope and assurance of belonging to the kingdom has more to do with what one treasures in life and in death, now and then. It has to do with who or what one serves as God. One’s gain at death correlates with one’s God in life. So, what this passage exalts is the most stunning of all that it reveals.