Today’s Podcast
Today’s Bible reading plan:
Read it in a year – Psalms 146-148
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Luke 18:19-30
Jesus: Why did you just call Me good? No one is good but God—only God. You know what the Hebrew Scriptures command: “Do not commit adultery; do not murder; do not steal; do not bear false witness; honor your father and mother.”
Public Official: I’ve already been doing these things—since I came of age.
Jesus: One thing you still lack—one thing; sell all your possessions and distribute the proceeds to the poor. Then you will have treasure in heaven. Then you can come and follow Me.
The man heard these words and sadness came over his face, for his wealth was considerable.
Jesus: What a hard thing it is for those with much wealth to enter the kingdom of God! In fact, it would be easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!
Listeners: Then who can be liberated?
Jesus: Remember, what is humanly impossible is possible with God.
Peter: We have left our homes and followed You.
Jesus: I’m telling you the truth: there is nobody who leaves his house or wife or siblings or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who will not receive more than he has given up—much more—in this age and in the age to come. He will receive eternal life.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
As I read these words of Jesus, my mind slipped away to the presents I need to wrap and get under the Christmas tree. Then I thought about all the materialism that creeps into our lives without our even thinking about it. I like to give gifts to those I love and see the excitement on their faces when they open those mementos we distribute at different holidays. But we’ve gotten a little out of hand with the commercialism these days. Christmas decorations went on sale in July and August this year in some of the stores in San Antonio and by the end of October all that was left of Christmas decorations were the leftovers. Pretty sad, isn’t it? Not even Christmas and I’ve started seeing Valentine’s Day advertisements and goodies starting to fill the shelves in the stores.
It’s a hard thing for those with much wealth to enter the kingdom of God! But I’m not wealthy, you scream. I don’t think I am either, but then as I look around the world I find that we really are wealthy in this country. There are very, very few really poor in this country, and we have some pretty good programs to help those who are truly poor. The programs don’t let you afford alcohol or cigarettes at $10 a pack or dinners out or a lot of other things we in this country have come to think of as necessities, but the programs will take care of true necessities, food, shelter, and clothing.
Then, as I thought about these words I thought about the thousands who take that last verse out of context and declare that if you’re living for God, you should name what you want and He’ll give it to you. No Christian should want for anything. The name and claim it bunch. That’s not what Jesus says here. Because Jesus says we will receive much more than we have given up in this age and the age to come doesn’t mean we will live in luxury or drive new cars or always have plenty in our bank account.
Look back at the verses just before this one. Sure He says God will give much more in this age and in the age to come, but look at the warning right before this. “What a hard thing it is for those with much wealth to enter the kingdom of God! In fact, it would be easier for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle than it would be for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God!”
Why would Jesus give us great wealth and put us at great risk of losing our soul forever? Can a rich person make it into the kingdom? Yes. Nothing is impossible for God, but Jesus points out that it is hard. It is improbable. Why? Because the rich look to themselves for everything instead of looking to God. Food is bought, not sought from God. Shelter is bought, not sought earnestly in prayer. Work is provided to others, not sought for themselves. Health is paid for through the wisest physicians and best medicines, not petitioned in prayer. The rich too often think themselves self-reliant instead of relying on God, the real source of all things.
So why would God put us in that position? Why would He purposely challenge us in a name it or claim it religion if He knows most will succumb to the temptations wealth brings and loose their salvation because of it? No. God will give us something better. He’ll give us Himself and He’ll give us eternal life with Him. What could be better than that?
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