How Would We Respond?

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

HOW WOULD WE RESPOND

Mark 10:17-23

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 18 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good — except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"  20 "Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy." 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."  22 At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!" 

NIV

It would seem some of us have learned the lesson of self-reliance very well. It would also seem that with the invention of investments many believers have learned the lesson of storing up as much wealth as possible for some future date when they can spend it all on their own needs. It would also seem that Jesus debunks both those lifestyles with one simple but very pointed statement. Some believers may very be living according to all the rules and regulations, checking the lists of do’s and don’ts very carefully making sure they do not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie, defraud, and honor their parents, but they may very well be storing up wealth for themselves. It seems somehow some believers separate spiritual things from material things. They might use the excuse that Jesus teaches us to be frugal, but it is doubtful they can quote and scripture, especially when Jesus uses the word “give” so much. This man was so entrenched in his wealth he could not let go of it. Had he told Jesus, “no problem, give me a few days to give it all away”, Jesus may very well have told him there was no need to do it; just that Jesus had wanted him to be willing. Jesus was showing him how he had been deceived by the world’s way of thinking about material goods. It is clear, that what we place value on we put it, in what we think is, a safe place. Even in our attempts to increase our wealth, we try our very best to invest it in the safest stocks or bonds. The general thought is that it would be dumb to just throw our money away, which would not be frugal. It may well be true that we need money in order to pay for housing, clothing, food, and all the other stuff we need. It is true that money, wealth is needed in order to live our daily lives. We must work to secure enough money for our needs. All that is true, but to place so much value on it, that if Jesus told us to give it all away might be a little dangerous. How would we react to that statement of Jesus? How would we react if he told us to sell everything we had, our home, our furniture, our cars, our extra clothes, our investments, our complete portfolio, all our stuff, even the stuff in the storage unit? That is the one question we need to ask, how would we respond?