Today’s Scripture Reading: Psalms 131, 132, 133, 140, 142; Exodus 7:25-8:19; 2 Corinthians 3:7-18; Mark 10:17-31
Today’s Writer: Donna Wilson
In the Gospel reading today, a law-abiding, God-fearing young man with many possessions, much like us, asks Jesus what he must do to have eternal life. Jesus cites several commandments to which the man responded that he has kept all from his youth. Lovingly, Jesus looks the man in the eye and says that that there is one thing missing. The man needs to go, sell all of his belongings to the poor, and follow Jesus. The wealthy man found this to be too difficult and walked away in a cloud of sadness (Mark 10:17-21).
Jesus did not necessarily call us to a life of poverty, but he knew the seductiveness and tight grip that riches can have on the human heart. Later in the passage, he stated that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter God’s kingdom (Mark 10:25).
We cannot love the Lord with all of our heart, our soul, and our mind if the pursuit of money, luxury, power, prestige, undue passion for leisure activities, or idolatrous relationships compete with our love for God and service to others.
When the disciples asked Jesus who can be saved, Jesus stated that with man it is impossible, but not with God. “For all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:26). Grace is not cheap. Only by relinquishing what we have and what we do, can we understand that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Our salvation must rest totally in Christ’s death and resurrection on our behalf.
What clutters your heart and mind? What is in your way of following Jesus? Are you willing to trade earthly riches for heavenly treasures? What competes for your attention and your heart?
All to Jesus I surrender;
All to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him
In his presence daily live.
Image by Abraham Puthoor (used by permission via Creative Commons).
