Today's passage comes from Mark 10:17-30
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
This teaching of our Lord is both stern and reassuring. Many people have a very hard time accepting that wealthy people will not enter God's kingdom. But for all the holy people, all the saints, all that make sacrifices for God, how very reassuring it is. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of men the things God has prepared for those who love him (Jesus: those who love me follow my commandments). It seems in the olden days, it was much easier for Christians to give away there wealth, and not spend on such lavish things. But today, there are so many more lavish things a person could spend there money on, it makes it even harder to resist and to live a simple life focused more on people and relationships over things and possessions. I suppose this passage also helps account for the poor. If a poor man says, "Lord, why have I not been blessed with wealth and riches as this man before me is?" the Lord may respond, "What causes you to believe this is a blessing from above; blessed are you, for yours is the Kingdom." I always thought passages like this help give an account for some of the misfortunes that people are dealt in this life, that it will by no means be looked over. Lord, have mercy on the rich, soften their hearts to do your will with the wealth they have received, that they may not receive the same fate as the rich man you met while on earth. I know this passage isn't very popular, but it is what it is. And for the saints who have said yes to God's will, blessed are your names forever. How very great your rewards will be.
May the Lord bless us all, rich and poor, that we may all live faithfully according to his will whatever hand we may be dealt in this life, that we may see the fullness of his promise in the life to come. Amen
17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”
18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’”
20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”
21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”
22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”
28 Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
29 So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel’s, 30 who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.
This teaching of our Lord is both stern and reassuring. Many people have a very hard time accepting that wealthy people will not enter God's kingdom. But for all the holy people, all the saints, all that make sacrifices for God, how very reassuring it is. Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the hearts of men the things God has prepared for those who love him (Jesus: those who love me follow my commandments). It seems in the olden days, it was much easier for Christians to give away there wealth, and not spend on such lavish things. But today, there are so many more lavish things a person could spend there money on, it makes it even harder to resist and to live a simple life focused more on people and relationships over things and possessions. I suppose this passage also helps account for the poor. If a poor man says, "Lord, why have I not been blessed with wealth and riches as this man before me is?" the Lord may respond, "What causes you to believe this is a blessing from above; blessed are you, for yours is the Kingdom." I always thought passages like this help give an account for some of the misfortunes that people are dealt in this life, that it will by no means be looked over. Lord, have mercy on the rich, soften their hearts to do your will with the wealth they have received, that they may not receive the same fate as the rich man you met while on earth. I know this passage isn't very popular, but it is what it is. And for the saints who have said yes to God's will, blessed are your names forever. How very great your rewards will be.
May the Lord bless us all, rich and poor, that we may all live faithfully according to his will whatever hand we may be dealt in this life, that we may see the fullness of his promise in the life to come. Amen