GOSPEL READING:
Mark 10:17-2717 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19 You know the commandments: `Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.'" 20 And he said to him, "Teacher, all these I have observed from my youth." 21 And Jesus looking upon him loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." 22 At that saying his countenance fell, and he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is 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 exceedingly astonished, and said to him, "Then who can be saved?" 27 Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."
Meditation: What gives hope and satisfaction to our desire
for happiness and security? A young man who had the best the world
could offer - wealth and security - came to Jesus because he
lacked one thing. He wanted the kind of lasting peace and
happiness which money could not buy him. The answer he got,
however, was not what he was looking for. He protested that he
kept all the commandments - but Jesus spoke to the trouble in his
heart. One thing kept him from giving himself whole-heartedly to
God. While he lacked nothing in material goods, he was nonetheless
possessive of what he had. He placed his hope and security in what
he possessed. So when Jesus challenged him to make God his one
true possession and treasure, he became sad.
Misplaced hope and treasure
Why did he go away from Jesus with great sorrow and sadness rather
than with joy? His treasure and his hope for happiness were
misplaced. Jesus challenged the young man because his heart was
possessive. He was afraid to give to others for fear that he would
lose what he had gained. He sought happiness and security in what
he possessed rather than in who he could love and serve and give
himself in undivided devotion.
The greatest joy possible
Why does Jesus tell his disciples to "sell all" for the treasure
of his kingdom? Treasure has a special connection to the
heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of will and
focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure.
The Lord himself is the greatest treasure we can have. Giving up
everything else to have the Lord as our treasure is not sorrowful,
but the greatest joy. [See Jesus' parable about the treasure
hidden in a field in Matthew
13:44.] Selling all that we have could mean many different
things - letting go of attachments, friendships, influences, jobs,
entertainments, styles of life - really anything that might stand
in the way of our loving God first and foremost in our lives and
giving him the best we can with our time, resources, gifts, and
service.
The priceless treasure of God's kingdom
Those who are generous towards God and towards their neighbor find
that they cannot outmatch God in his generosity towards us. God
blesses us with the priceless treasures of his kingdom - freedom
from fear and the griping power of sin, selfishness and pride
which block his love and grace in our lives; freedom from
loneliness, isolation and rejection which keep his children from
living together in love, peace, and unity; and freedom from
hopelessness, despair, and disillusionment which blind our vision
of God's power to heal every hurt, bind every wound, and remove
every blemish which mar the image of God within us. God offers us
treasure which money cannot buy. He alone can truly satisfy the
deepest longing and desires of our heart. Are you willing to part
with anything that might keep you from seeking true joy with
Jesus?
Why does Jesus issue such a strong warning to the rich (as well
as to the rest of us who desire to be rich)? Was he really against
wealth? We know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth per se, nor
was he opposed to the wealthy. He had many friends who were
well-to-do, including some notorious tax collectors! One even
became an apostle! Jesus' warning reiterated the teaching of the
Old Testament wisdom: Better is a poor man who walks in his
integrity than a rich man who is perverse in his ways
(Proverbs 28:6; see also Psalm 37:16). Do not wear yourself
out to get rich; be wise enough to desist (Proverbs 23:4).
Where do we find true security?
Jesus seems to say that it is nearly impossible for the rich to
live as citizens of God's kingdom. The camel was regarded as the
largest animal in Palestine. The "eye of the needle" could be
interpreted quite literally or it could figuratively describe the
narrow and low gate of the city walls which was used by travelers
when the larger public gate was locked after dark. A normal sized
man had to "lower" himself to enter that gate. A camel would
literally have to kneel and crawl through it.
Why is Jesus so cautious about wealth? Wealth can make us
falsely independent. The church at Laodicea was warned about their
attitude towards wealth and a false sense of security: "For you
say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing" (Revelation
3:17). Wealth can also lead us into hurtful desires and
selfishness (see 1 Timothy 6:9-10). Look at the lesson Jesus gave
about the rich man and his sons who refused to aid the poor man
Lazarus (see Luke 16:19ff). They also neglected to serve God.
We lose what we keep - we gain what we give away
The Scriptures give us a paradox: we lose what we keep and we gain
what we give away. Generosity will be amply repaid, both in this
life and in eternity (Proverbs 3:9-10, Luke 6:38). Jesus offers us
an incomparable treasure which no money can buy and no thief can
steal. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure.
Material wealth will shackle us to this earth unless we guard our
hearts and set our treasure on God and his everlasting kingdom.
Where is your treasure?
Lord Jesus, you have captured our hearts and opened to us the treasures of heaven. May you always be my treasure and delight and may nothing else keep me from giving you my all.
Psalm 111:1-2,5-6,9-10c
1 Praise the LORD. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who have pleasure in them.
5 He provides food for those who fear him; he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations.
9 He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant for ever. Holy and awesome is his name!
10 His praise endures for ever!
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Seek the life that endures, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"The Lord said to a certain young man, 'If you would enter life, keep the commandments' (Matthew 19:17; Mark 10:17; Luke 18:18). He did not say 'If you would have life' but 'If you would enter life,' defining that life as eternal life. Let us first consider then the love of this life. For this life is loved, whatever its quality; and however troubled it is, however wretched, people are afraid to end it. Hence we should see, we should consider, how much eternal life is to be loved, when this miserable life that must at some time be ended is so loved. Consider, brothers, how much that life is to be loved when it is a life you never end. You love this life, where you work so much, run, are busy, pant. In this busy life the obligations can scarcely be counted: sowing, plowing, working new land, sailing, grinding, cooking, weaving. And after all this hard work your life comes to an end. Look at what you suffer in this wretched life that you so love. And do you think that you will always live and never die? Temples, rocks, marbles, all reinforced by iron and lead, still fall. And a person thinks that he will never die? Learn therefore, brothers, to seek eternal life, when you will not endure these things but will reign with God forever." (excerpt from SERMON 84.1.9)
