Thoughts for the Day

… but with God all things are possible                       Matthew 19:26

The more we look, the more unachievable obeying Jesus’ teaching seems to be.  Perhaps today’s scripture provides a helpful perspective.  And, by way of continuity, we meet another camel.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all record this story of a very rich man coming to Jesus, desperately wanting to gain eternal life.  After a heartfelt exchange, Jesus invites him to give away all he has and follow him.  This proves more than the man can handle and he goes away sad.  Jesus commented to the disciples’ astonishment that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.  “Who then can be saved?” they asked.  Jesus replied, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I suggest this should make us feel both uncomfortable and encouraged.  I doubt I’m alone in having wondered just how wealthy ‘very rich’ was, with the aim, though I may tell myself otherwise, of letting myself off the hook of being rich enough for Jesus’ comments to apply to me without qualification.  It doesn’t wash, of course!  If there is to be a measure here, it is probably how I react to the idea of giving away all I have.  But that’s an unhelpful train of thought too … not so much a “Did God really say?” moment as a “Might he say that to me?” one!

Why don’t I just accept that I’m uncomfortable enough to sense the epithet has some relevance to me?  Why don’t I simply rest in the assurance that it is both impossible for me to “save” myself and not only possible with God but made available to me through Jesus?  Why don’t I just allow Him to re-mould me?  Wouldn’t that be better?