My Walk Through the Book of Mark by Annette Godtland

With God All Things Are Possible (Mark 10:23-31)

23Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" 24And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches 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."

26And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"

27But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."

28Then Peter began to say to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You."

29So Jesus answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, 30who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time--houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions--and in the age to come, eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

I have heard lessons based on the camel/needle quote many times before. Always it was a lesson that was presented with some difficulty because that verse by itself will make many otherwise good Christians uncomfortable. Too often this verse gets interpreted as an argument that you must give up all of your riches if you want to enter the kingdom of God. But when I read the full discussion that surrounds this verse, I see a totally different lesson here.

I do not consider myself rich, though I have many possessions, have a good job, and I am able to make plans for things I enjoy doing. Along with my family, my friends, my health, and my abilities, I view my good job, my good income, and many of my possessions as blessings from God. Why would God give me these blessings if by having them I couldn't enter His kingdom?

Jesus says that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. This is right after the rich man walked away when Jesus instructed him with what he must do next. But then He further explains that it is not just hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God, but for anyone who trusts in riches. That is another key point, but first let me dwell on why it might be harder for a rich man. Who would find it easier to place their trust in God: the one who has absolutely nothing else to rely on or the rich man who through the use of his own riches is able to provide for his perceived needs? Yes, it would be harder for a rich man because he would first need to turn his trust away from his own riches before he could place his trust in God. But that doesn't mean a rich man could not place his trust in God. It would just be harder.

Notice the choice of words used here. It talks about "entering" the kingdom of God, rather than talking about "being allowed entrance". Even a man with all the riches of the world is not able to enter the kingdom of God on his own. It is impossible for anyone to enter the kingdom of God. That is the second point. But even though it is impossible for man, it is possible with God. With God all things are possible -- even for a rich man if he gives up his trust in riches and turns his trust to God.

Immediately, Peter misses the point. I think this is the same mistake in interpreting this text as I had been making. He seems to be proudly saying he should easily be able to enter the kingdom of God because he has given up everything to follow Jesus. He figures he has no riches to prevent his entry. But Jesus doesn't congratulate Peter. Instead I read what Jesus says next as a mild admonishment.

Note that He says (and I paraphrase), "no one who has left all, shall not receive a hundred fold...". In saying this, I think He is reassuring Peter that yes, by giving up all for His sake and the gospel's, he will inherit eternal life, but He is also saying that leaving all is not necessarily the only road map to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus was also quick to let Peter know that although he is trying to claim he did what he thought must be done to be first, he may end up last. Just as we cannot enter the kingdom of God through our own accord, we cannot control where we will be in line by a plan of our own.

Another interesting aspect of what Jesus says here is how those who give up house, family, or lands will receive a hundred fold of house, family or lands in this lifetime. So giving up all for Jesus' sake or the gospel's will not leave you without anything. In fact, as such you will become a member of the Christian family which is much larger than what you had before. This is an immediate reward that you will receive as part of your time on earth. Though it is interesting that Jesus also mentions a downside to becoming part of the Christian family -- persecutions.

There were so many different parts of this text to think about. But one irony hits me in the end. Jesus states that we must not trust in our riches. And yet what is printed on every one of our coins and dollar bills? "In God we trust"! Even our riches remind us where we ought to place our trust!