Sermon 10-20-24 Mark 10:46-52
Heavenly Father, we come to worship in order that we might be near to You. Teach us to love what You command, even when it is hard for us to understand, that we might grow in Your favor and witness to Your love to those around us. This we ask in Christ’s holy name. Amen
The American 21st century lifestyle really revolves around a “me first” mentality? We’re bombarded with this line of thinking in almost every kind of media we use. We’re told we’re at the center of our own universe. Whatever we want, we can have. Anything contrary to that thinking is politically incorrect.
So into this world of “me first” we hear these words of Jesus in our Gospel reading: “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” What’s Jesus trying to tell us?
Our reading for this morning picks up where last Sunday’s left off, when the rich young man approached Jesus, and asked Him “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The young man listed the commandments he had kept, but Jesus replied, “You lack one thing: sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come follow me.” The young man went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”
The disciples saw what was taking place and probably thought this young man was a good prospect! He seemed sincerely interested in following Jesus. But then, the mood changed when Jesus asked this wealthy young man to sell everything and give them to the poor.
This was shocking for more than the obvious reason. In Jesus’ day, Jews believed someone blessed with great material wealth, was an indication of God’s favor. So when Jesus asked this young man to sell all he had and give his money to the poor, it went against their very belief system. It was not the “politically correct” answer.
Jesus wanted this young man to trust Him for salvation, because no one is able to earn eternal life. Jesus underscores this same teaching in today’s Gospel when He says “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”
So the disciple’s response is logical: “Then who can be saved?” These are hard words to hear because they fly right in the face of our modern beliefs that “it’s all about me.”
Some people belief that wealth in and of itself is evil. They also believe that those who are wealthy have no chance with God. However, the sin of which the rich young man was guilty, wasn’t that he was rich. The problem for the rich young man was he’d turned his wealth into his God. He wasn’t able to give them up for eternal life.
When we put the focus on ourselves, on what we are doing, we’re guilty of the same thing. If we put our trust in a position we hold, or something we own, we have made it our God.
But in our text, Peter shows a hint of boasting– when he says “See, we have left everything and followed You. We gave up lives, possessions, security, families, to follow You. Doesn’t that count for something?” Jesus cuts that idea off quickly. It’s filled with sinful pride.
But this warning about trusting in worldly riches isn’t just for the wealthy. The poor are also vulnerable to this sin too. Those who are lacking in worldly goods will often covet those things others have, forgetting about the gifts God has given to them.
Indeed, if left on our own, we have no hope. Whatever accomplishments or stuff we have in this world, there will come a day when we lose it. I have officiated for more than 200 funerals and no one has taken one thing out of the world.
If we are left on our own, and our “it’s all about me” attitudes, we, too, like the rich young man, will walk away from our Savior dejected. It would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God. Rich being inclusive of material things, family, friends, happiness, anything in this world that they trust more than they trust in God. That’s why Jesus responds to the objection of “who then can be saved” by saying “with man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Because we are infected with sin from the moment of conception, we need a savior. Jesus is the one who paid the enormous debt of our sin. We in our sinfulness cling to our worldly riches, and Jesus willingly gave up the splendors of heaven, and His very life to save us.
At the cross, Jesus took all those times when we were focused on our selfish attitudes, all of our sins of thought, word, and deed and died for them, giving all repentant believers the gift of forgiveness, life, and salvation with no strings attached. When it comes to forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation, it’s not all about you, it’s all about Christ!
That’s the good news with which we have been entrusted, for our world today. There is a way to eternal life—all because of Christ. It’s not about our emotions or personal feelings. It’s all about Jesus!
There lies a great spiritual danger when we get our priorities mixed up. In worship Christ comes to us through the means of Word and Sacrament, to give us the free gifts of forgiveness of our sins, eternal life, and salvation. If we have the idea that worship must cater to our emotions, our feelings, our desires, our ideas instead of Christ, we are right back to trying to enter the Kingdom of God as a camel is trying to pass through the eye of a needle. It’s not possible when it’s all about us. But, when it’s all about Christ, all things are possible.
As we face a new work week, let’s repent of the times where we are tempted by the world’s cry of “It’s all about me.” Instead, let us center everything we do on Christ. Let our motto be “It’s all about what Christ has done for me and is doing for me today.” Thanks be to God when it comes to salvation, it’s not all about me, but it’s all about Christ. Amen.
