If I were to ask you or anyone else in the world where they spend most of their lives, time, and energy, what do you think the answer would be? A lot of people would plainly say their job or career. People say if they could live off the grid or be self-sustained, they would and that they would leave their job too and just be happy.

What is interesting about Jesus is that he never had a job; he was not a carpenter who worked making tables like a lot of Hollywood movies try to make people believe. It’s recorded that his dad was the carpenter (Matthew 13:55) and in another gospel that he was called a carpenter (Mark 6:3). Even if both were true, there are no recorded testimonies that he worked a normal job as everyone else did. Jesus probably knew how to make furniture as a trade, but that’s as far as we can assume.

The opposite is recorded: when Jesus was a boy around nine years old, he was already going about his father’s business, which was preaching.

”And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when they saw him, they were amazed, and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? Wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:43-49)

As we read, we see that Jesus was already teaching older teachers, and they were astonished at the wisdom he had at such a young age. Jesus was already obeying his father, God, and not working a job. His focus was on the kingdom of Heaven.

Now we, as his imitators, should be doing the same thing, Jesus said to be as our master. (Matthew 10:25) He also taught that we should be putting the kingdom of Heaven first before anything else. But the world and the Christian world are not taught that. They are taught to make money and as much as they can gain.

All the apostles (the twelve) left their jobs as well right away in almost all cases.

”And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19-22)

”And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.”
(Matthew 9:9)

There was no hesitation from the apostles when Jesus commanded them to follow him; I did not list them all, but we can be assured they all forsook their jobs. Later some did go back to their jobs but then quit permanently and preached full time.

”Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

Jesus tells us not to store wealth on earth; this includes money and anything else that you or others consider to be materially valuable. Instead, he said to lay up treasures in Heaven. Now how do we do that? Well, we sell all that we have and give the money to the poor, and then we will have treasure in Heaven according to the verse listed. (Luke 18:22) Jesus points out a crucial way to discern where anyone’s heart is, which is how much wealth you have yourself; that is where your focus, concern, and time are. You’re not going to convince me that a millionaire is a sincere Christian and that his focus is God. The only way that person accumulated all that was because he put time, effort, and money into making more.

”The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matthew 6:22-23)

In this verse, right after Jesus explained where people’s wealth is, their heart is, we get a picture of light entering our eyes and that if there is nothing blocking our eyes, like a speck, we can see properly. That’s what your eye being single (by itself with nothing else in it) means. But if we have the smallest particle in our eyes, it can create darkness and can stop us from seeing at all.

You all have experienced how difficult it is to see properly when this happens. But Jesus is talking about a spiritual blindness when our focus is on money and just on money. How can I be certain that this is what it’s about? In the next verse, Jesus links the eye concept with serving or working for money.

”No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
(Matthew 6:24)

Why didn´t Jesus say we cannot serve (work) for God and the devil at the same time? Well, when people put money first, they are already neglecting God because all of their time goes into money or greed. They rarely have time for God. When we serve two masters, one being an actual person (employer) who tells you how much to work for him and when to take a break, and the other being God, who gets the leftover hours. Just imagine working two jobs; one employer gets less time given than the other. This is the truth, friends; it is not easy to hear, but it is for your benefit.

Paul told us that when we focus just on money, all the evil that we can possibly imagine is invited into our blind areas where God is not present. And that many difficulties and pains come about because of focusing on money.

”For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” (1 Timothy 6:10)

I can’t tell you how many people I have met who are burdened by their jobs so much that even their own health is put on hold in preference to their job. Their body’s literally being destroyed for money and, in many instances, for just wanting more and being greedy. It is a very hard yoke for them. A yoke, by the way is something a cow or ox would use to pull a heavy part that splits the ground properly to plant seeds for crops.

A job is just like that; it’s heavy, friends, it’s difficult, you’re in pain, and you complain about it too, and I don’t blame you. Paul mentioned people who are actual slaves to employers to submit to “the yoke” that they are under to show that you are still behaving properly. But he also later says that if the slave has a chance to be free, then take it. (1 Corinthians 7:21)

”Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.” (1 Timothy 6:1)

He called it a yoke because that is exactly what it is; it’s not a good thing to be under a yoke of another person. This is why Jesus said this. ”Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:29-30)

How can a yoke of any kind be easy? Isn’t dragging one of these big yoke contraptions difficult? Well, Jesus used the word yoke for an example and familiarity. His yoke is easy because when we seek (look for and learn) the kingdom of God first as our main business, all of our material needs like money, food, and clothing are supplied and given to us. Therefore not having to labor so much to get by like unbelievers.

”And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?” (Luke 12:22-24)

When Jesus compared us to birds, he told us that he provides for the birds, yet they don’t use money or work jobs for money or even store food. They just find what they need. We know they are animals and that they are less intelligent and instinctive, but Jesus doesn’t focus on that. He just says that if he takes care of birds, can’t he do the same for us if we just work for him instead?

”And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26)

As mortal humans we can’t even add life to ourselves; we could try to be the healthiest person in the world with all the right foods and medical care, but in the end the Lord is the only one who can let us live longer. If we can’t actually add life, why even worry about basic things like food and clothing?

”Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Luke 12:27-31)

Everywhere around the world, Solomon is talked about as if he had more wisdom than Jesus himself, but Jesus says the flowers were dressed better than anything Solomon had in his life. If God clothes the green grass with eye-catching colors and later those flowers die, only living a short time compared to humans. How much more will the living God clothe us? We do not need to worry about food or drink; God provides for us.

These are promises Jesus will act on if you obey him in obedience and love. I have lived without asking anyone for anything, and God has taken care of everything I need.

On a related topic on greed, Jesus dealt with people who took his own house of worship and turned it into a market of thievery.

”And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:12-13)

After the temple was cleansed of greed, the blind, lame, and crippled came into the cleansed temple, and Jesus healed them. If only the churches today would open their doors to the poor every single day and invite them in to eat and listen to the spiritual messages there are for the edification of their own souls.

The same problem happens today with the so-called houses of worship, or the churches. They set their church up to generate income, a Starbucks, a candy store, or any other type of place to make money. Even all the way in the south of Mexico, where I am at currently, the Catholic churches put coffins of Jesus´ body with loads of money in them to influence people to put more in. Or to show that giving money to the churches is what you are required to do.

People often think that rich leaders have the poor people’s best interest in mind, but the reality is they don’t care at all for the poor. Jesus also gives us a story of a man who thought storing up wealth on earth and saving for a retirement was a good idea. But then God himself says it’s not.

”And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me. And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:13-21)

Jesus combats greed so much in the gospels that it is shocking to me that people will try to argue that it is alright to store up wealth on earth in complete disobedience to Christ. The verses and stories can be right there in front of them, and yet they still deny everything Jesus said about it. Clearly the story is about not laying up wealth on earth. Coveting (wanting money) wealth is greediness according to the Bible itself in the verses below.

”Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
(Colossians 3:5)

“For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” (Ephesians 5:5)

Jesus plainly says that coveting things or simply just wanting wealth is evil too.

”For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: all these evil things come from within, and defile the man.” (Mark 7:21-23)

This topic is the most important to put into practice, friends. To people who don’t practice these things, you might not agree with all that Jesus says, but it should be an eye-opener for you as you were probably never explained any of these significant things. The best thing for you to do is start out small in certain areas with greed. Like not buying things you don’t really need, and hopefully later in the future you can practice more of what Jesus taught.

If we continue reading the things our creator said, the pattern keeps emerging of Jesus speaking on behalf of greed. Jesus said it’s very difficult for a rich man to enter the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:23). So many people have not one clue of what Jesus actually meant when he said this. He most definitely was not saying you can enter with riches; he was saying if you have riches, it will be difficult to enter heaven because the individual values his wealth over God, and therefore he has created a huge obstacle from entering.

In the parable of the camel squeezing through the eye of an actual needle, we get a severe warning of coveting riches. And I am not talking about a passageway called “the needle” in Jerusalem where camels traveled and actually had to squeeze through an overlapping bridge because they had too much stuff packed on. I feel some people have tried to make Jesus parable about the camel and the needle less extreme to lessen the significance of what he meant about riches. So let’s just stick with an actual sewing needle. Impossible, right? Well, that’s the point Jesus was making.

”Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”
(Matthew 19:23-25)

In the book of James, as I have repeated in other spiritual applications, he lets us know some hardcore things about people who deliberately destroy the poor for capital.

”Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.” (James 5:1-6)

This also should wake people up about what God thinks about the accumulation of wealth. We need to be on guard about our own greediness on a daily basis and not neglect the poor. Always be giving to the poor and not use wealth for our own selfish desires in obedience to our Lord Jesus.

To the unbelievers, disobedient, and ignorant, if you have never done this, if you don’t feel like you can obey these things, or even if you don’t want to, the best thing to do is start small. Keep working your way to more obedience to Jesus. Ask God for strength to obey. That way when you see him in person, you will be blameless and without blemish, hopefully. We do not want to disobey our Lord; if we do, we are in serious trouble, and we will be held accountable for all that we did for others and our Lord. Quiting your job and depending on the Lord and selling all your material things and giving it to the poor is the first step.

I don’t promote disobedience; I believe we all have to do these things as Jesus said and that it’s helpful to all people everywhere. If anything, I can encourage you to start out small and later do more in obedience to God. I would love for people to actually obey everything Jesus said here, and if you do, please write to me and praise God! But it is rare to find others like-minded. I hope the best for you, friends; please take Jesus at his word.