Readings for the day: Matthew 19, Mark 10:1-31, Luke 16-18:30
“It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25)
Honestly, I think this is one of the most difficult passages in all the Scriptures. Why? Because I am rich. By the world’s standards. (www.globalrichlist.com) By historical standards. I am one of the richest people to have ever lived on the face of the earth. I am not only in the top 1% but am in the top tenth of a percent of the wealthiest people to have ever walked the planet. So when Jesus says it is harder for a person like me to enter the kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, it is terrifying. It sounds impossible.
So what’s a person like me to do? Where can I find hope? First and foremost, I find hope in Mark’s version of the story because he includes this wonderful little nugget in verse 21. “And Jesus, looking at him, loved him…” Jesus loved the rich young ruler. He had compassion on the man. He saw the internal struggle in his eyes. Saw how much he wanted to please God and yet saw the hold his riches had over him. Jesus doesn’t hate rich people. Jesus doesn’t hate me. The accumulation of wealth is not, in itself, a barrier to God’s love. And for that I am thankful.
Second, Jesus gives me a practical way forward. "Go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The path Jesus offers is the path of generosity. Give as much as I can away to those who are less fortunate. Use my wealth to bless others. Hold loosely onto the resources God has entrusted into my hands and let them be the tools God uses to expand His Kingdom in this world. In this way, I will guard my heart from the sin of falling in love with money. Trusting my riches. I cannot serve both God and money so I need to make a choice and I need to make this choice every single day because I live in constant temptation. Loving money more than God puts me in real spiritual danger so heeding Jesus’ command here is vital.
Third, "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." God is mighty to save. The least. The lost. The rich. The powerful. There is no one who stands beyond the reach of His grace. Salvation ultimately will not be determined by the amount of money I give but by the grace that is given freely to me in Jesus Christ.
Finally, I need to take these words of Jesus to heart. Let them re-orient my desires. Let them re-order my priorities. Let them re-define success and achievement in my life. “But many who are first will be last, and the last first." Many years ago, I suffered a massive failure. Professionally. Personally. It was traumatic. It almost cost me my marriage and my ministry. Thankfully, God used the trauma of that experience to strip my life down to the studs. The result was a brand new outlook. A deep awareness of my own weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Love of money is one of those. So is success. As a result, I felt God calling me to never ask for another raise and never seek another position professionally but instead to walk with open hands, trusting Him to take care of me. Over the last ten years, God has more than delivered on His promises. My life has been enriched in every way imaginable. And I have learned to live in the overwhelming abundance of His grace.