Ouch!

I read recently that most churches are known for what they are against, not what they are for. The man in this story can list off many sins he hasn't committed but isn't sure what he is for.

We know from the other Gospels that he was young and rich (Matthew 19:22), and a ruler (probably of the synagogue) (Luke 18:18). In Mark he is simply "a man." He had everything going for him, and yet he was aware that he was missing something.

Jesus put his finger on the issue. It was his money that was the problem. This must have come as a shock to him and to the Jews around him. After all, wasn't wealth a sign of God's blessing? "The blessing of the Lord brings wealth, without painful toil for it" (Proverbs 10:22).

(As an aside, I just did a Bible search for the word "wealth" in the Old Testament, and discovered a whole host of warnings about the dangers of wealth, and its failure to satisfy.)

This sad story brings into focus what is a central issue for most of us—whether we have money or not. What part does money play in our thinking? Do we worry about it, worry about how to invest it, worry about the stock market, worry about how we are going to make it to the end of the month, worry about debt?

Ironically, I had to stop in the middle of writing this note and honour a promise I had made to someone that I would support their ministry financially. I had forgotten all about it.

What about you?

Respond in Prayer

Lord Jesus, you can get right to the heart of me. Sometimes it is painful, but I still thank you. I pray that I will follow you in how I use my money. Amen.

Glynis Belec