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 adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." They were greatly astounded and said to one another, "Then who can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible." Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first."
A man asked Jesus, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” This earnest question is on the heart of all believers. Today, Jesus offers the man and us a direct answer. However, like the man, we may not like what Jesus is saying at first. This scripture passage was also delt with on 2/5/2012.
The concept of wealth is a serious matter, especially in our capitalistic society where money is the scorecard by which people are measured. It is almost as if society says, “he who dies with the most toys, wins!” Jesus gives us a different opportunity to follow in a way that frees us from the bounds of society’s fixation on money. He says that one must not be bounded by or governed by money. The man in the scripture goes away grieving. I wonder if the man sold his possessions.
If we sell everything we have, are we guaranteed salvation or eternal life? I’m not sure that Jesus intends for us to live in poverty. However, some have embraced this manner of life. Having resources and money (like anything else) are hindrances to our salvation if we let their importance come between us and God. Jesus wants us to understand this, emphatically.
Jesus uses hyperbole again, as he explains that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. This is a ridiculous comparison, but makes the point. He contrast this impossible feat by setting up the relationship that “for God, all things are possible.” Jesus says that the believers will receive their reward now and in eternal life.
The call that I hear today is for us to be responsible with what God has entrusted to us. We, as holders of the resources, should be diligent about building up the kingdom of God and using our wealth and resources to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ.
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