Given the statements about the danger of wealth for the disciple, it is not surprising that the disciple needs to surrender his wealth before he can be included as one of the inheritors of the kingdom.
Jesus indicated that one can either store up treasures on earth or treasures in heaven, but not both (Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:21) and that to store up treasures in heaven is to inherit the kingdom of God (Luke 12:32-34).
Jesus offered as a principle that whoever gave up everything—their family and livelihood—would receive an abundance of family and livelihood in this life and will inherit the kingdom of God in the age to come.
When the disciples began to follow Jesus, they gave up their occupations and their families and their wealth (Mark 1:16-20; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27-28). In fact, Jesus says, before one begins to follow Jesus, he must give up his family, and surrender his very life (Luke 14:25-27).
Right after this, he says that the one who wishes to follow him needs to give up all of his possessions (Luke 14:33). Instead, all of Jesus’ disciples needs to not worry about their future needs, but to sell their possessions and give to the poor and then they will have riches in God (Luke 12: 21-34).
As an indication of his inheritance of the kingdom of God, Zaccheus offered as proof his lack of cheating in his occupation and his surrender of half of his wealth to the poor. Jesus accepted this and called him an inheritor of the kingdom (Luke 19:1-10).
Jesus commanded the young man with many possessions to sell everything in order to follow Jesus and to inherit the kingdom (Mark 10:17-22).
Jesus also spoke two parables which indicated that if one was to gain the kingdom of God, he would have to sell everything he had to gain it (Matthew 13:44-46).
In Acts, the disciples in Jerusalem are described as having nothing of their own, but held everything in common, some of them selling their family inheritance in order to give it to the apostles, who gave the proceeds to the poor among them (Acts 2:44-45; 4:32-37).
When the 12 are sent out, they are to take nothing with them, but to have their needs provided for by the towns where they ministered (Matthew 10; Mark; Luke 9).
In John, the one who inherits eternal life is the disciple who loves others.
In I John, is shown to be those who surrender their wealth for those in need (John 13:34-35; I John 3:16-18).
Thus, in the teaching of Jesus and in the life of the disciples, the surrender of one’s wealth is a prerequisite of inheriting the kingdom of God.
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