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Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
August 16, 2023
Invitatory
Thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy, “I dwell in the high and holy place and also with the one who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Reading - Mark 10:17-27
As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’” He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” 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.” When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.
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!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”
Meditation - Winnie Smith
These familiar words have long induced a cringe or an eye roll in many a church audience: “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” (10:25). So God hates rich people? We have to be poor to get to heaven? God stands with the downtrodden but not the powerful?
It’s hard to hear this passage when the rest of the world says wealth is the most important thing, and that when we attain much, we will be happy. There are well known pastors who preach a Gospel based on these ideas, that it is God’s will for people to prosper, and that those who have a deep faith will be rewarded in this life and in the life to come (and that reward includes financial success.) That’s a pretty alluring idea, but it also seems to fly in direct opposition to the meaning of this passage from Mark.
The rich man we meet today has done everything right to be deserving of eternal life. He has followed the Jewish law outlined in the Ten Commandments - has worshiped only God, has not murdered or stolen, has honored his parents. Isn’t he the model student of Jesus? No, Jesus tells him - the last thing he must do is sell his belongings and give that money to the poor. This is troubling news for the man who - one hopes - has worked for his belongings and wealth. There was no commandment to rid oneself of all belongings as part of the requirements to get to heaven! Where does this come from?
What Jesus is emphasizing in this interaction with the rich man is the importance of prioritizing God above one’s own personal success. While this man had “followed the rules,” he still was not truly living as a disciple, because one of his biggest concerns was his own wealth and achievements. The eye of a needle, we know, is tiny. To liken a rich man’s passage to heaven to a camel fitting through the eye of a needle is absurd! But it serves a purpose in showing that one who focuses so much on attainment and prosperity cannot possibly have room in their head or heart to be a devoted follower. This is the mark of real wealth - prosperity is a life with and for God.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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