Possible- In His Word 2-19-19
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for
those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
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! 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.”
And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who
then can be saved?”
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are
possible.” Mark 10 23:-27
How many times have you
read this? You know, the part about the eye of a needle and a rich man? Then
how many times have you focused on the fact that he was rich and had too much
money and not on what it’s really about?
I ask this because
personally I have always thought that because he had so much money he was too
busy for God. Today as I read my own side notes I saw that Jesus meant that the
rich man did not know how to trust God. The impossible things that we go
through and cannot get out of on our own we ask God for help during. The things
we do not realize is that we try to do so much without Him.
I had to ask myself; do I
trust God totally? I like to think I do, but I know there are things that I try
to handle on my own. Maybe you are the same way. We can trust Him when we are sick, or need
healing but what about with our finances? Can we trust God to make the dollar
stretch to reach more than a quota? Can
we trust Him to allow us to share that wealth? Then why not trust Him to allow
us to share the Gospel with people around us wherever we go? Why not trust Him
to direct our path totally?
A young person that I know
gave up everything they thought they needed and put God to the test. The person
put their whole life in God’s hand and at first it seemed that God was not
providing for the person, but eventually the person noticed that they had a
roof over their head, even if it was not the desired roof. They had food in their
belly, even if it was not choice steaks, it was food for sustenance. So instead of quitting all together they kept
going forward while God began to provide through other areas the needs and
desires.
The man in the story Jesus
shares in His Word, had so much to give up. Yet he went away sad because it was
so much. Who do you think trusts God more, one who has more to give away or one
who has only a little to give and yet both give it all?
The story of the widow’s
mite tends to lead us to the belief that it’s the one who gives it all, but
what if that all is riches and all the things the rich man had? Think on that one a moment. If they both are giving up everything, they
are the same. Rich or poor, God loves
all of us the same. He is no respecter of persons, but causes the rain to fall
on all of us.
So it is harder for a rich
man, because he trusts in his own abilities; but the sacrifice is the same in
God’s eyes.
What are you willing to
give up for the Lord’s glory? Is it control? Is it pride? Is it self?
I think we need to give it
all to Jesus. All the things we think “I got this!” about. God wants us to
trust Him with everything we do, see, and be.
That is why it is harder
for a rich man. He has what he needs; he has brought it to himself in his eyes.
What if he didn’t give it all up physically but gave it up to be used of God,
to be an arrow to the blessings of God and spiritually gave it up to Him?
I don’t believe God wants
us to become poor physically but to be willing to. It all comes down to the
heart again. Its all about faith.
Dear Heavenly Father, make
our hearts and minds line up to Your word. Help us to be spiritually willing to
give it all up to You and physically able to help others in Your name, In Jesus
name, amen.
Suggested reading Mark 10:
1-52, Mark 12:1-44, 2 Peter 3:1-18 and Philippians 4:1-23