When You Think You Have Everything

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Scripture:

Mark 10:21 Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” 22 When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

Observation:

This story of the rich young man gives us pause. He is a good man and has been doing all he can to follow God’s laws, and as a result, believed that he had everything. Seeking Jesus’ affirmation he came and told the Lord all the good that he had done. He is shocked by Jesus’ response, because he had become dependent upon his wealth, and probably the lifestyle that came with his resources. Jesus was asking him to be counter-cultural and to become entirely dependent upon him. This was more than the young man could handle. 

Application:

I was doing a little checking-up on our finances this morning. I have to confess that sometimes I get a little distracted when I’m reading and studying the word. I’m guessing that wasn’t lost on the Lord as I was working on a few account balances. However, I was struck by a phrase when I logged into my bank account, where there was a testimonial of a young person who had gone on a “spending diet.” I thought to myself that this would be good language to talk about in the church, because that’s what Jesus was trying to say to the rich young man.

The young man thought that he had everything, and yet, he didn’t understand about life in the kingdom of God. He was holding onto his lifestyle, thinking that it suited him best, but didn’t know what it was that God was offering him. Far too often, we don’t either. 

In the United States we are currently in a campaign season where everyone who is running for office is trying to promise us everything. Economic and political systems are debated with voracity, each touting the benefits of the other. The church is divided as she tries to navigate the landscape and is encouraged to endorse one worldview or the other. The problem with all of this is that it’s not the kingdom of God. Jesus was always talking about the Father’s kingdom that would transcend the things of this world. This isn’t right, or left, or even in the middle, but it is simply different. 

We don’t have everything, and nor do we have everything figured out. At the same time, we have to remember the rest of this story. Jesus said that it would be as hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom as it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. Maybe in today’s context Jesus is saying that for those of us who think we have everything figured out in the human realm, it will be just as hard for us to enter the kingdom as it is for the camel to go through the eye of the needle. The good news is when he reminds us that “with God, all things are possible.” 

If we think we have everything, we are sorely mistaken. God is offering so much more — and not necessarily materially — through life in the kingdom. This is possible through God’s grace. I love this comment from Kent Brower: 

No wonder one of Wesley’s favorite terms for the holy life was “perfect love.” Happy indeed are those who find themselves serving and being served in a congregation that has no human explanation for its health but is wholly based on the love of God poured out in them. In such a community human barriers of race, class, gender, and economics do not matter. (NBBC)

The world will tell us that money, possessions, sex, and power are all that we need. Through God’s grace we are invited into a complete reorientation of our lives where knowing and participating in Christ usurps all else. Only then, will we have everything. 

Prayer:

Lord, reorient me by your holy presence. Amen. 

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