GOP Gospel: The Rich Young Man

Day 2 of my Lent project. For background, please read this.

A reading from the Gospel according to the GOP:

As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; you shall not commit sodomy; you shall not cause a child in the womb not to be born; you shall not be a burden on society; honour traditional gender roles.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "God has shown his love for you by blessing you with great wealth. With this blessing you have the power to do much good. Go forth and buy many things, so that the farmers, wine makers, tailors, carpenters, builders, and merchants may prosper with you, and all will glorify God for the prosperity that flows to them through you." When he heard this, he was much pleased and went away praising God for his blessings.

Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "What a living testimony are those who enjoy God's blessing on earth!" The disciples marvelled at his wisdom. Jesus said to them again, "Truly the rich are a testament to the love and power of God. For they have laboured, and made wise investments, and God has rewarded them justly for their righteousness, and made them an example to us all. For it is written,* 'God helps those who help themselves,' and in so doing, these have shown what is available to anyone who strives for it. Labour alone without righteousness, and righteousness alone without labour, may come to naught, but with a righteous soul and a willing hand, anything is possible, and one will bless others also."

( Mark 10:17-27 )

*This axiom does not appear in the Bible.