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 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2021

FOR GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE (MARK 10:23-27)

Jesus assures the disciples that it is possible to enter the Kingdom of God with the help of God.

REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is ‘for God all things are possible.’ The disciples of Jesus were amazed that the rich man who had followed the commandments of God (Mark 10:19-20)  did not meet the requirement to be considered worthy for the Kingdom of God. Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 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.” (Mark 10:24-25). It is important to note that Jesus did not say that it is impossible for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God, He said it will be hard for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God.

Beloved in the Lord, Salvation comes from God through His son Jesus Christ (John 3:16). In my eleven years of being a pastor, I have observed that most people come to church or get close to God mainly because of financial security, spiritual protection and solution to their problems. Most people appear to be committed to God when they are unemployed, poor or facing challenges but immediately God opens the door of prosperity for them their real colours of apathy, excuses and love for money and or wealth show up. It is only a handful of Christians who humble themselves and remain unchanged in their character, faith and commitment to God even after they have become rich or wealthy. 

Jesus recognises the temptation wealth and riches of this world poses to human beings during His forty days and forty night fasting “for the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendour. “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.” Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’ (Matthew 4:8-10).  My dear friend, wealth is good but if you acquire wealth and become obsessed with the wealth such that it becomes difficult for you to “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only” then Jesus’ words “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” in Mark 10:23 applies to you. We must worship and serve God no matter how wealthy and affluent we become for we came to this earth naked and shall surely leave with nothing.

 Our worldly possession is a gift from God for which we are only stewards. Our wealth and earthly possession cannot save us, we cannot bribe God to grant us salvation. Money cannot buy salvation but only faith in Jesus Christ can guarantee our everlasting life,  for this reason, Jesus said “With man, this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) When you live for God and have faith in Him you will come to realise that your possessions or wealth is worthless without God. Ecclesiastes 5:10 admonishes us that “whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless.” Paul encourages us that the rich can enter the Kingdom of God when He admonished Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17-18 that “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way, they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” Beloved, in the Lord there is nothing wrong to desire wealth and become wealthy through hard work but ensure that your wealth does not become your god or else it will be impossible for you to enter the Kingdom of God. The good news is that with God, all things are possible including entering into the Kingdom of God. Shalom. 

PRAYER 

ALMIGHTY GOD, WE TOTALLY SURRENDER OUR LIVES INTO YOUR HANDS, WE COUNT OUR WEALTH WORTHLESS BEFORE YOU AND WE RECEIVE YOUR SALVATION AS THE MOST IMPORTANT GIFT OF LIFE. WE PLEDGE TO WORSHIP AND SERVE YOU ALL THE DAYS OF OUR LIVES. AMEN

Jean-Paul Agidi (Rev)