23 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!’ 24 And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, ‘Children, how hard it is to the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’
Mark 10: 23-25
Jesus has just told the man who asked him how. he, the man, could inherit heaven that he must sell his wealth, give to the poor and follow Jesus. He leaves sad because he was wealthy. Jesus now turns to his disciples who have watched this interchange and tells them it is hard for the wealthy to enter the kingdom of God. This is a shocking, conversation stopping comment. It was commonly believed that the rich are also the blessed because blessings come from God. We have a paradox. In fact, Jesus says a second time, in case the disciples did not hear, that it is hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God. Anything worth Jesus repeating twice is worth pondering.
I can think of two reasons off hand. Wealth comes from God and can deceive us into thinking we are in God’s favor and then we begin to take our relationship with God for granted. The second would be that wealth implies many responsibilities that crowd out time with God and so the relationship cools.
There are many ways that we can be wealthy, not just riches. Certainly just looking at FaceBook we can see the many who have singing talents, photography talents, wood carving talents and the list is long. Take a moment and ponder how you have been blessed. Loving family? Good friends? Education of a good mind? Take time to thank God for his gifts and ponder how they draw you closer to God or are they might be distracting you from that primary relationship with God. Blessings.
On the Way to Wonder 