October 13, 2018
Mark 10:23-27 …“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.” vs. 25
It’s funny how upset folks get when their pastors talk about money. They might tolerate a few words on giving come Consecration Sunday, but at other times of the year pastors are expected to talk about spiritual stuff. Unfortunately, no one ever got the word to Jesus! He regularly speaks about money and riches and consistently has harsh words for the wealthy. In his estimation, the biggest obstacle to kingdom living was material abundance. His image of the camel and the eye of a needle is well known and scholars seeking loopholes for the wealthy have bent over backwards to explain away its jaw-dropping bluntness. He’s not saying that the rich have to humble themselves like a camel getting on its knees to go through a small gate; he’s saying it’s impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! It’s a jolting statement, especially in a culture like ours that reveres wealth and puts the rich on a pedestal. Of course, we don’t need to worry, no one takes Jesus seriously when he says things like this. Mostly we just ignore him. But sometimes he makes us think. What is it about wealth that is so destructive? Why do so many strive to be rich when it’s so dangerous? What if Jesus knew what he was talking about?
Thought for the Day: What makes a person rich?
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