What Would I Do?

 Mark 10: 17-30

The Rich Man

¹⁷ As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ¹⁸ Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.’” ²⁰ He said to him, “Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth.” ²¹ Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” ²² When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions.

²³ Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” ²⁴ And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” ²⁶ They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” ²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”

We might feel sad too as we see this promising man turn away from the challenge to take a further step in his pursuit of "eternal life". If he was so good, so close to the kingdom that Jesus looked upon him with love, why did he refuse? His many possessions stood in the way.

As I am in a month long process of settling int to my new community and have all my possessions out of their hiding places and cluttering my new room (and parts of the basement), I am embarrassed, ashamed, angry and determined to "divest".  It is a difficult, tough process, as so much meaning is attached to the the things....gifts, awards, representing my achievements over the years, too much clothing, most of which arrived under the Christmas tree; all of these things representing the love of the people behind them.  That's what makes is so hard.  BUT, as long as the love persists, the things can go.

How do YOU deal with possessions?  Jesus's invitation to is given to each of us, not just to the rich man. What do Ii really need, what can go to benefit someone who has less?  May this gospel passage set the wheels in motion for a necessary but freeing streamlining.

Bro. Rene