Mark 10:22-26: a reflection

22But his face fell at that saying, and he went away sorrowful, for he was one who had great possessions. 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it is for those who have riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!” 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom! 25It is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye than for a rich man to enter into God’s Kingdom.” 26They were exceedingly astonished, saying to him, “Then who can be saved?”

When the rich man goes away sorrowful, unwilling to part with his great possessions, Jesus speaks soberly about the danger riches pose, and where our trust is placed. How hard it is, he says, for those who trust in riches to enter into God's Kingdom. Notice how Jesus puts it: not simply for the rich, but for those who trust in riches. The danger is not merely in having wealth but in trusting it, leaning on it for security and life, so that it takes the place that trust in God should have. The rich man could not part with his possessions because his trust and treasure were in them; and this kept him from the kingdom. This calls us to examine where our trust truly rests. Trust in riches, not merely having them, keeps us from the kingdom. The danger is trusting riches for security instead of God. Where is our trust: in riches or in God? Riches can take the place trust in God should have.

Notice the way Jesus clarifies his own words. He first says how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom; then, seeing the disciples amazed, he clarifies: how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter God's kingdom. The heart of the danger is trust. Riches easily become the thing we trust for security, comfort, and life, so that we lean on them rather than on God, and cannot let go of them when following God would require it, as the rich man could not. When our trust rests in riches, they take the place that belongs to God, and hold us back from his kingdom. This calls us to examine honestly where our trust truly rests. Do we lean on our resources, our wealth, our security, for our sense of safety and life? Or do we trust God? It is possible to have much and not trust it, and possible to have little and yet trust in riches. The question is where our trust rests. To trust God rather than riches is to be free for his kingdom. Riches grip us when we trust them; freedom comes in trusting God instead. Examine where your trust rests: in riches or in God. Trust in God, not in riches, holds the place riches would seize.

That is worth taking to heart, for the danger Jesus names is trusting in riches, and it calls us to examine where our trust truly rests. We can lean on our wealth, our resources, our security, for our sense of safety and life, trusting riches rather than God, and be gripped by them as the rich man was, unable to let go; but Jesus said how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter God's kingdom. The heart of the danger is trust misplaced. Examine honestly where your trust rests, and trust God rather than riches, that you may be free for his kingdom. Examine where your trust truly rests and trust God rather than riches, for Jesus, when the rich man went away sorrowful because he could not part with his great possessions, said how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter God's kingdom, clarifying that the danger is not merely in having wealth but in trusting it; for riches easily become the thing we lean on for security, comfort, and life, taking the place that belongs to God and gripping us so that we cannot let go of them when following God would require it, as the rich man could not, so that the real question is where our trust rests, and it is possible to have much and not trust it or to have little and yet trust in riches, and we do well to examine honestly where our trust truly lies and to trust God rather than riches, that we may be free for his kingdom.

Lord Jesus, when the rich man goes away sorrowful, unwilling to part with his great possessions, you speak soberly about the danger riches pose, and where our trust is placed. How hard it is, you say, for those who trust in riches to enter into God's Kingdom. I notice how you put it: not simply for the rich, but for those who trust in riches. The danger is not merely in having wealth but in trusting it, leaning on it for security and life, so that it takes the place that trust in God should have. The rich man could not part with his possessions because his trust and treasure were in them; and this kept him from the kingdom. This calls me to examine where my trust truly rests. Show me the way you clarify your own words. You first say how hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom; then, seeing the disciples amazed, you clarify: how hard it is for those who trust in riches. The heart of the danger is trust. Riches easily become the thing I trust for security, comfort, and life, so that I lean on them rather than on you, and cannot let go of them when following you would require it. When my trust rests in riches, they take the place that belongs to you, and hold me back from your kingdom. This calls me to examine honestly where my trust truly rests. Do I lean on my resources, my wealth, my security, for my sense of safety and life? Or do I trust you? Take that to my heart, for the danger you name is trusting in riches. Keep me from leaning on wealth and security for my sense of safety and life; help me examine honestly where my trust rests, Lord, and trust you rather than riches, that I may be free for your kingdom rather than gripped by possessions as the rich man was.