Mark 10:24-25

Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”

There is a widespread disease in our society known as affluenza. It is the belief that peace and contentment can only be found in life by becoming increasingly wealthy. It is in fact not a new disease at all. The disciples were shocked by Jesus’ teaching that riches were a massive obstacle to following him. Jesus had just met a rich, young ruler. He seemed to have everything. On the surface, he had every advantage in life, but when Jesus told him to sell all that he had and give it to the poor, he went away sad. It wasn’t the answer he wanted to hear.

In our verse today, Jesus addressed his disciples as children. He didn’t often use that expression, and it suggests that he was reaching out to them with great gentleness and compassion. He could see how much they were struggling with his teaching about wealth. They had been brought up with the belief that wealth was a sign of God’s blessing, so the thought that it was a huge obstacle to following Jesus was a new way of looking at life. Jesus was saying that wealth will never be the way get a ticket into his kingdom. The only way to find salvation is through depending entirely upon God and throwing ourselves upon his mercy.

Jesus was never opposed to wealthy people following him, and clearly many did. Through the centuries, the Church has been blessed by the presence of many rich people, but not one of them has obtained salvation through their wealth. The only way into the kingdom is by recognising our spiritual poverty and coming to the Lord with empty hands, eager to receive his gift of new life.

Question

In what way do you think it is particularly difficult for a rich person to follow Christ?

Prayer

Loving God, help me never to allow anything to get in the way of following you. Amen