08-24-19

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS

August 24, 2019

Scripture: Matthew 19:26

Jesus looked at them carefully and said, “It’s impossible for human beings. But all things are possible for God.”

Thought for the Day: People often assume this verse is found in Jesus’ sermon on how to make a risky investment pay off, or maybe this is the advice given to the non-athletic young person before trying out for the varsity basketball team. “…all things are possible for God.” Actually, it comes at the end of Jesus’ discussion on rich people’s chance of getting into heaven. I always remind people in the United States how, on a worldwide scale, most all of us are technically rich. Yikes! It is the same chance as a camel making it through the eye of a needle. It might appear impossible, but Jesus goes on to suggest that “…all things are possible for God.” Does this let us off the hook, or is Jesus suggesting that even God can make a stingy rich person into someone who is generous? Wherever we are on the economic scale, most of us (there are definite exceptions) could and maybe need to make some changes to how we live our lives. This is not about giving more money to the church, but about wastefulness or idolatry of things we want to buy or selfishness that turns us against others. Jesus talked about money a lot, and it wasn’t because he was hoping to collect it and build himself an expensive building. He was genuinely concerned about the capacity of money to obscure our vision of what is good, healthy and life-giving. I can name some wasteful spending in my own life, but I hear grace from Jesus…grace that challenges me to ask myself, “Why did I waste it in the first place?” -and- “How might I make the needed changes?”

Prayer: With confession comes some good soul searching. Be the gracious guide, O Lord, who loves me even when my justification is more smoke and mirrors. At the end of the day, you want me to be healthy and happy, and a means by which those gifts are shared with the world. I’m sure there is some work I need to do, so let’s get to it. Amen.

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