Matthew 19:23-30
Jesus makes the statement twice, almost word for word, that it is hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. In fact, he says, it is easier for a camel to be threaded through the needle's eye than for a rich person to enter the kingdom. This shocks the disciples because they live in a world, much like ours, where everything is easier for the rich. If it is so hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom, then it must be even more impossible for anyone else to enter the kingdom. Being so insulated by the Christian culture - which is too often a mix of Christian language and worldly values - in which I grew up, I don' t think I fully understand the impact of Jesus' statements. However, those who recognize their poverty would feel the impact. They would realize more fully how the values of the kingdom are so opposite those of the world. In the kingdom humility is honoured over ambition, money doesn't count for much and servants are more important than kings.
It seems like one of Jesus' favourite statements about the kingdom is that the first will be last and the last will be first in the kingdom of heaven. I don't think I fully grasp how different the values of the kingdom are. I think I have adopted too much of the worldly values and applied them to the kingdom. I think I have ignored the clear teaching of Jesus because it is so hard to believe in light of everything else the world is teaching. I wonder where I am missing the teaching of Jesus and the treue values of the kingdom because I am seeing them through the lens of the values of the world.
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