Mark 10:17-27 - I'm Rich ~ Uh, Oh!

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”

 

So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.

 

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’

 

And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.”

 

Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

 

But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

  

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.

money, money, money!
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In this famous Bible story, Jesus encounters a rich, young man who sincerely asks of Jesus what it is he must do to inherit Eternal life.  He must have been sincere in his asking because the Gospel remarks how Jesus looked at him and loved him.  He had no words of rebuke for trying to "test Him" or trap Jesus with His own words.  The young man really wanted an answer.  Jesus gave him one but, he couldn't bear it.

Jesus looks at me and loves me.  He sees that I sincerely want to inherit the Kingdom.  But He also lets me know what it is I must do to win it.  This day, I must  not be like the young man who walked away sorrowfully but, rather, hearing Jesus' call to take up my cross and follow Him, I must obey.

How hard it is for those with riches to enter the Kingdom of God, says Jesus. And right He is.  Even as an unemployed man, I have great riches and these riches can interrupt me on my path to God. It's hard to pick up a cross when your life is already so comfortable.  May God grant me to ever be mindful of His Kingdom. Surely, this day, I want to be in it. Amen.