Sunday, October 11, 2015
Pentecost
Amos 5:6–7, 10–15
Hebrews 4:12–16
Mark 10:17–31
Two weeks in a row, we are given a tough text from Mark. Last week Jesus speak to divorce and adultery. Now Jesus is telling the rich man to give everything up and come follow him. There you go, now you have it. All anyone must do is give up all they have and follow Jesus, it is that easy. Now if I only really worked that way, then we would have a button just like Staples, “That was easy”.
The whole point here, and just like last week is, it is not that easy for us to do. The rich man misses the point too. He tells Jesus that has has been following the commandments since his youth. Really, is all I have to say….really!?
Following the commandments are supposed to be in thought, word and deed. Not once, did this rich man think poorly of his parents about a single thing? Come come now.
I will give him murder and adultery on the surface as something he did not do, but we really don’t know much about him. Is murder just about taking a life or is it also about things we do that are not life-giving, to our fellow human beings. Such as not giving to the widows or the poor and in such, they cannot enjoy in the fullness of life that God has given them?
Adultery encompasses more than physical actions, but even the actions of thought about another. Again however, we don’t know this rich man, and he very well may have been able to be truly faithful in thought, word and deed for both murder and adultery.
After the rich man states that he has followed the commandments, Jesus Loved him. This form of love in the Greek is one that show a sincere appreciation, high regard for, concern for the rich man by Jesus. This should not surprise us. Jesus truly cares for everyone. What is interesting is that after making the bold statements of following the commandments, Jesus Loved him.
Jesus loved in such a way as to shock the rich man, hopefully into a new reality. This man was so rich, it would difficult if not impossible to give away all that he had to follow Jesus. The rich man walks away shocked and I would not be surprised if he was not disappointed.
Jesus was not trying to say that having wealth was wrong, it was where is the priority, God or stuff. Our stuff that we accumulate can be beneficial to others and in such, is a way to make God a priority.
Last Friday and Saturday, I went back to Dubuque to retrieve some of the items, some of the stuff, that had been left by the movers, back on the seminary campus. As it turns out, most of this stuff could have been replaced. Not only could it be replaced, in the end I had to get ride of some of my stuff, because I did not have room.
Not only did I drive to Dubuque, but I drove 3 hrs. East to stop for more stuff and then another hour East for some more stuff. Of all the stuff I picked up, which filled my entire Honda Element and a 5×8 U-Haul, one piece was probably the most necessary. It was the snow blower at the final stop.
Prior to making it the final stop, my car broke down. In fact, I called Chet to see if he would be willing to preach today. I put him on standby and awaited the car dealership’s determination of the trouble. While I waited, praying for a speedy and somewhat affordable solution, it is then I came to realize this trip was all about stuff and it was getting ready to interfere with my relationship with God.
After a couple of hours, the car was fixed and my son and I were on our way to get the last of our stuff. My need to get this stuff, could have caused me to not show up for service. I believe there may have been better ways to retrieve and deal with all the stuff of ours.
In the end, God ended up using my stuff to help me focus on this sermon. So, now back to Jesus and what he was telling the rich man and then later the disciples. Having stuff is not bad. Having wealth is not bad. What we do with it, is what counts. It is not good to live off of others, so we earn money, we acquire things and in that we can give and do things for others.
We are called to take care of our community. That means in our time, talents, our wealth of whatever kind we have, we look for opportunities to take care of the least, the last, the lost. We use what we have and what we can obtain, to take care of the widows, orphans and the poor.
When our stuff becomes our priority over God, then we should step back and re-evaluate. Maybe you have a nice vacation home you go to but when you go, you do not go to Sunday worship that weekend. Where is our priority when this happens?
What about someone that has a talent of teaching and there is a need for teachers, but that time is not given. Maybe the need is known but they are waiting to be asked to help out.
Someone gives to the church, but only when they attend or only when they are asked for a special gift going for a particular need. Where is the priority at in these circumstances? You name it, think of what we have and what we can do, and ask yourself, how can I respond to God and honor God’s children.
Jesus tells the rich man to re-think his priorities. Focus up the one and only good, which is God. Let’s face another reality that Jesus told us last week and again this week. Eternal life and heaven are not easily obtainable. In fact, for us impossible. We will not be able to follow all the commandments in thought, word and deed. We will not be able to give up everything and follow Jesus.
This does not prevent us from trying. Just realize that our stuff can get in the way. Our stuff can be helpful or hurtful. In the end, the only thing that is good is God, who sent the Son into the world, in order that the world might be saved. It is Jesus that has done the work. It is the Spirit of the good God, who imparts faith in us, so that we can believe in the Son and inherit eternal life.