Our scripture this morning is Matthew 19:23-26.
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—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!” The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
Jesus speaks here about those who have much and how hard it is for some of them to let go. He doesn’t say that wealth is evil, but that some become more attached to their possessions than to the promise of eternal life God offers. Everything is a gift from Him and we are meant to use it wisely for the good of everyone.
When we rely on our “own” resources we often miss the lesson and the task God has for us. We must realize that nothing is really ours, all we have is made by His hand, we are merely the grateful recipients. We are given skills and resources to carry out the mission God has for each of us.
Part of that mission is discovering and meeting the needs of others, and that involves relationship. We can’t know the needs of others unless we know them! Jesus teaches that “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.” Our relationship with God enables us to relate to each other in love, and to share the gifts we have been given.
Gracious God, we are sorry for the times that things are more important to us than our connection to You and Your children. Forgive us and give us new energy to care for Your creation and each other. Amen.
