In this continuation of the Does God Hate the Rich? series, Dr. Charles Cooper unpacks Jesus’ encounter with the rich young ruler to reveal five core values that offend God. This lesson goes far beyond wealth—it exposes the operating system of the heart that prioritizes possessions, status, and comfort over obedience and trust. Dr. Cooper explains that the rich young ruler’s tragedy was not his money but his misplaced values. His sorrow mirrored the same deep grief Jesus felt in Gethsemane—the sorrow of facing a clear command from God and refusing to obey it. Through this message, believers are challenged to evaluate what truly rules their hearts and to trade earth’s economy for heaven’s reward.
Dr. Charles Cooper draws a powerful parallel between the rich young ruler’s emotional distress and Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Both men faced a decisive moment: whether to obey God’s will despite the cost. One submitted; the other walked away with profound regret.
From that contrast, Dr. Cooper identifies five values of the rich—values that still challenge believers today.
1. Possession Over Submission
The ruler’s wealth represented both security and identity. His possessions became proof of God’s favor and the means to control his destiny. When Jesus asked him to sell everything, it was a test of trust—God’s provision or his portfolio?
True faith submits ownership to the Lord rather than clinging to control.
2. Status Over Sacrifice
In first-century Judaism, wealth carried social honor and the assumption of righteousness. Giving it up to follow a poor, itinerant rabbi would have destroyed his reputation. His loyalty to public recognition outweighed humility and obedience.
Dr. Cooper reminds listeners that Kingdom greatness always comes through surrender, not status.
3. Law-Keeping Over Heart Trust
The ruler believed he had kept the law from his youth, yet his obedience was transactional—not relational. He performed religious duties without loving the God who gave them.
Jesus exposed this void, showing that external obedience without internal devotion is empty. The rich young ruler valued morality more than intimacy with his Creator.
4. Temporal Reward Over Eternal Treasure
When Jesus promised, “You will have treasure in heaven,” the man couldn’t imagine value beyond what he could see. His heart was anchored to the present, not the Kingdom to come.
Faith requires imagination—the ability to believe that eternal reward outweighs temporary gain.
5. Self-Preservation Over Self-Denial
Following Jesus always involves the cross. The ruler wanted assurance of eternal life without the cost of discipleship. He desired a Messiah who confirmed his comfort, not one who called for crucified loyalty.
Jesus wasn’t trying to impoverish him—He was inviting him to transfer his treasure. The tragedy was not wealth but misplaced trust.
The rich young ruler’s disappointment reveals that values, not riches, determine faithfulness.
He knew the truth, desired the Kingdom, but refused the cost. His question—“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”—came from knowledge without submission.
He left sorrowful because he valued control, comfort, and credit more than Christ.
00:00 – The “operating system” behind our choices
00:27 – Introduction to the Doctrine of Rewards and the rich young ruler
01:00 – The ruler’s question and Jesus’ reply (Luke 18:18-23)
03:00 – Emotional distress compared to Jesus in Gethsemane
05:08 – Sorrow as the result of disobedience
07:00 – The parable of the talents and consequences for unfaithfulness
09:22 – Faithfulness vs. laziness in Kingdom service
12:00 – Weeping and gnashing of teeth as regret—not condemnation
14:15 – Why God “hates the rich” — worship of creation over Creator
16:15 – Value #1: Possession over submission
17:27 – Value #2: Status over sacrifice
19:03 – Value #3: Law-keeping over heart trust
21:18 – Value #4: Temporal reward over eternal treasure
23:40 – Value #5: Self-preservation over self-denial
25:27 – Comfort vs. faith in Christ
27:00 – The invitation to transfer treasure
27:28 – Profound regret and missed opportunity
31:52 – The ruler’s choice and our own: what we value determines reward
Luke 18:18-23
Matthew 19:16-22
Mark 10:17-27
Matthew 25:14-30
Matthew 26:37-38
1 Corinthians 3:11-15
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
Week 6 of the Does God Hate the Rich? series:
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