Wealth and Reward
This is the sermon I preached on Sunday, 10/13 at St. Timothy Lutheran Church. The text is Mark 10:17-31.
What was Jesus getting at when he asked why the man called him “good?” Was he trying to help him see that since only God is good and Jesus is good, Jesus must be God? Or was Jesus identifying more with sinful humanity? We don’t know.
What about “inheriting eternal life?” There is nothing anyone can do to make themselves eligible to inherit anything. You’re either a member of the family or you’re not.
In order to inherit, someone has to die. Regarding inheriting eternal life, we know it's the Lord Jesus who is on his way to death, but I doubt the rich man understood that, since Jesus' own disciples didn't understand.
The commandments Jesus cited come from the second table of the Law; having to do with relationships with other human beings. Life in the kingdom is all about relationship: relationship with God, relationship with each other and relationship with our community.
Here comes the linchpin to the entire passage. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said…” It’s the look of love, far more than a glance. Jesus is looking into the very heart of the man. In spite of what the man is lacking or maybe because of it, Jesus loved him. The man’s attachment to his money and possessions precluded him from having treasure in heaven because you can’t have it both ways. This man recognized that something was missing. He felt an emptiness and a desire for more. Have you ever experienced that?
Jesus confronts the man with his weakness—that of his captivity to possessions that prevents him from living into the full life of the kingdom. He names the power that binds the man and invites him to step into freedom.
Jesus tells the man to sell his possessions and give to the poor (which means his possessions are possessing him), then come and follow. To give away money is to win a victory over the spiritual power that oppresses him. Although that’s part of
the command for this man, Jesus’ focus, is on the command to follow him. It is the same command he gave his disciples and the same one he gives us. If we want to be real Christians, it means letting go of what stands in the way of our relationship with him and following Jesus wherever he may lead.
In the midst of the imperatives of “go…sell… and give” is the promise “you will have treasure in heaven.” These commands followed by the promise are inseparable. Giving up possessions is the consequence of discipleship, carried out in a very concrete way.
The man was shocked by Jesus’ words, grieving and left. Full involvement with Jesus called him away from this world’s priorities to God’s priorities. The imperfect tense of the Greek suggests the man was still in the process of “getting,” possessions, just as he wanted to “get” eternal life. His possessions may have had him, and he didn’t want to let go, or maybe he went away sorrowful because he had decided to sell all and follow Jesus.
Jesus says, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God” (v. 23). As usual, the disciples did not understand. What Jesus told the rich man and what he just said about wealth and God’s kingdom were incomprehensible, shocking concepts for the disciples. In their day, riches were a sign of God’s favor and blessing. If a rich man couldn’t get into the kingdom of God, especially such a pious, obedient-to-the-law kind of man, then who could?
But salvation is about living into the kingdom of God in the here and now. It’s impossible for us to do. Author Ched Myers writes, “Jesus contends that the only way to salvation for the rich is by the redistribution of their wealth—that is, the eradication of class oppression.” We share what we have with others so no one is in need, so all have enough, as the early church did.
Only those who recognize their need and helplessness, can receive the grace offered by God. As children, they only enter the kingdom of God because they’ve received it as a gift, not as something they have earned.
Wealth brings a false sense of security, which Jesus illustrates with a completely outrageous, impossible event—a camel being able to go through the eye of a needle.
Jesus now looks intently at his disciples. He said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible” (v. 27). Jesus never answered the question, “Then who can be saved?” He flipped it and instead answered, “Who can do the saving?” So Peter, feeling pretty good about himself and his companions, speaks up. After all, they’ve left everything to follow Jesus.
Jesus answers that they will all get plenty of rewards for their sacrifices. Everyone who has sacrificed for Jesus will receive 100 times more than given up in this life and eternal life in the next age.
Jesus adds one little phrase to the list of wonderful rewards, “with persecutions” (v. 30). That is the way of the cross. It is part and parcel of living the Christian life.
Being part of this family means following the God who turns everything topsy-turvy, inside out and upside down in the kingdom in which the “first will be last, and the last will be first.”
What will Jesus’ look of love and call elicit from us? Will we consider the cost too high? What stands between us and Jesus? Is it wealth, our house, our recreation, our children or spouse? Are we afraid that if we really let go and entrust everything and everyone into God’s hands, that we and they will lose out? It’s a good thing Jesus didn’t think his sacrifice on the cross was too much.
The Christian life is one of walking the way of the cross, following Jesus, as we respond to his love. God has designed us together, as the church, to be part of the solution to the many ills of our world: hunger, sickness, pain, want and loss.
Following Jesus means feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for the stranger, visiting those in prison and helping those recovering from hurricanes. Many are struggling emotionally and spiritually, as the rich man was. They work to be right
with God and we have the peace and grace of God to offer as the solution.
God’s church is responsible for helping to meet the needs of hurting people in the name of Christ, our savior, regardless of the source of their pain and suffering—whether it is spiritual, physical or both. Parts of our country have experienced two devastating hurricanes, the most recent being Milton. Both through Lutheran Disaster Relief and Thrivent, there are opportunities to help those who are trying to rebuild their lives.
We are making progress as a church in feeding the hungry through the 5 and 2 ministry. This Tuesday evening we will once again be packing food for backpacks. Keep your eyes and ears open for more ways in which you can be involved in this ministry for these children for whom Christ died.
Resources
M. Eugene Boring and Fred B. Craddock, The People’s New Testament Commentary
Fred B. Craddock, Preaching Through the Christian Year B
Robert Danielson, asmweb.org
Beverly R Gaventa, Texts for Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary Based on the
NRSV-Year B
James Howell, jameshowellsweeklypreachingnotions.blogspot.com
Ched Myers, Binding the Strong Man
Marion Soards, Thomas Dozeman and Kendall McCabe, Preaching the Revised
Common Lectionary: Year B, After Pentecost 2
Brian Stoffregen, crossmarks.com
James J. Thompson, Charles R. Campbell, Feasting On the Word: Year B, Volume 4: Season After Pentecost
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