If I Were a Rich Man

Scripture – Mark 10:23-27: ²³Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” ²⁷Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Reflection: Who are “the rich?” Very simply, they are people who have more than I do. It’s easy for me to point a finger at them and make sarcastic comments about how extravagant and wasteful they are.

Yet the fact is the Lord has blessed me with more than most people in the world. My human nature wants me to look up the economic ladder at all the people who have more. In Christ, I remember to look down that ladder and see all the people looking up at me.

It is hard for us who are rich to stay focused on the kingdom. One of Satan’s most effective schemes is to keep us dissatisfied. So I end up paying attention to what I don’t have rather than to how I can serve.

I will look at what I have and thank God for it today. I will be intentional about that.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your provision in my life. As much as I resist the reality that I am rich, the fact remains that I am over blessed. Forgive me for wanting more. Show me your ways today. Give me a servant’s heart and a thankful attitude.

An Invitation: For anyone interested in sharing their personal reflections from this week’s readings, you are invited to come by the Tim Hortons donut shop at Dix-Toledo and Northline in Southgate this Sunday morning at 9:45am. We’ll have a cup of coffee and see what the Lord has been teaching us this week.