Word@Work 117 - Mark 10:24-27
Published: Tue, 05/06/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 10:24-27 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said 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 a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God." (NIV)
You might have thought that Jesus would make it easy for people to become His disciples. He did! Those who obeyed His commands, (fishermen to leave their nets, lame people to get up and walk, sinners to repent) found immediate access to His kingdom. The hardness about entering the Kingdom was not of God's making; it was the hardness of people's hearts against obeying Jesus. The rich young man has been told to sell everything, and give the money away: he refused and walked away - because his heart was hard against Jesus (even though it was enthusiastic for religion!).
That religious man would have been taught that riches were a sign of God's blessing - a foretaste of the Kingdom. But that sign was so corrupted by the man's acquisitive sinful nature, that it turned from a blessing into a barrier against obeying the Word of God. The disciples were no doubt hungry for fame and fortune too (cf Mark 9:33-34) and could not understand how possessions could be a spiritual handicap. Jesus further amazed them by the ludicrous word cartoon of a camel trying to get through the eye of a sewing needle. Impossible, they thought. No! Not impossible, said Jesus ... if God is involved and in charge.
The man had made his possessions his god and they were in charge - that was why they could not be sacrificed. And so the command of Jesus fell on deaf ears. Jesus cannot be a bolt-on extra to a self-serving lifestyle. He has the right to be your God, because He is God! So, He has the right to command according to His wisdom, and expect obedience. Refusal to submit (and its eternal consequences) is our problem and not His. However, the Lord is more than willing to help those who are willing to let Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord. I need your help to be willing to listen to Your voice and to obey you. It is so easy for me to soak up the values of the worldlings I work with, and to justify my selfish lifestyle. Please show me one area today in which I need to change - so that others can see the real Christian life, and desire to follow Jesus too. In His Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
You might have thought that Jesus would make it easy for people to become His disciples. He did! Those who obeyed His commands, (fishermen to leave their nets, lame people to get up and walk, sinners to repent) found immediate access to His kingdom. The hardness about entering the Kingdom was not of God's making; it was the hardness of people's hearts against obeying Jesus. The rich young man has been told to sell everything, and give the money away: he refused and walked away - because his heart was hard against Jesus (even though it was enthusiastic for religion!).
That religious man would have been taught that riches were a sign of God's blessing - a foretaste of the Kingdom. But that sign was so corrupted by the man's acquisitive sinful nature, that it turned from a blessing into a barrier against obeying the Word of God. The disciples were no doubt hungry for fame and fortune too (cf Mark 9:33-34) and could not understand how possessions could be a spiritual handicap. Jesus further amazed them by the ludicrous word cartoon of a camel trying to get through the eye of a sewing needle. Impossible, they thought. No! Not impossible, said Jesus ... if God is involved and in charge.
The man had made his possessions his god and they were in charge - that was why they could not be sacrificed. And so the command of Jesus fell on deaf ears. Jesus cannot be a bolt-on extra to a self-serving lifestyle. He has the right to be your God, because He is God! So, He has the right to command according to His wisdom, and expect obedience. Refusal to submit (and its eternal consequences) is our problem and not His. However, the Lord is more than willing to help those who are willing to let Him.
Prayer: Dear Lord. I need your help to be willing to listen to Your voice and to obey you. It is so easy for me to soak up the values of the worldlings I work with, and to justify my selfish lifestyle. Please show me one area today in which I need to change - so that others can see the real Christian life, and desire to follow Jesus too. In His Name. Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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