Mark 10:23-31
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
In some ways the world that Jesus lived in was not that much different from our own. There were huge disparities between the rich and the poor, people complained about taxes, and the wealthy controlled everything. And to the amazement of his disciples, Jesus never had anything good to say about riches. While he would occasionally sit at table in the home of a rich man, and a few wealthy people did become his followers, he consistently taught that seeking riches was pointless. Here he even indicates that the door of the kingdom of God is closed to those who are rich. The disciples didn’t like to hear that and neither do we, especially since a majority of folks in our country are addicted to money and love to accumulate as much as they can. And because we don’t like this teaching we do everything we can to find loopholes in what Jesus said, or at least reinterpret it in ways that will allow the wealthy (including ourselves) to wiggle off the hook. It’s just so hard for us to believe that the billionaires are foolish and that there are better ways to live in this beautiful world. Even people who regularly worship and who claim to be following in the way of Jesus close their ears to his warnings about wealth, and go blithely on their way.
Thought for the Day: How do I rationalize Jesus’ teachings about riches?
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