As I pondered on Jesus' words in Mark 10:24, Jesus said, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!" It made me realize that anything can be a stumbling block in our journey towards the Kingdom of God.
I recalled the story of the rich man who approached Jesus, seeking to inherit the Kingdom of God. He had followed all the commandments, but Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The rich man went away sad and grieved, for he had great possessions. This made me realize that it's not about giving away all our possessions (unless Jesus specifically instructs us to do so). Jesus was addressing the rich man's heart issue - his trust and confidence were in his wealth, not in God.
This applies to more than just money. It could be our spouse, our children, our business, God's promise and blessing (future and wealth) or anything else that we place our confidence and safety in. If we trust in these things more than we trust in God, it will be hard for us to enter the kingdom of God. We should put our full trust to the Giver not the Gifts.
Then, I remembered the story of Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, in the same chapter. He had nothing but a cloak, which he probably used to collect alms because he was blind. But when he approached Jesus, he surrendered everything, including his only possession (his cloak) , and called out to Jesus for mercy. He didn't present Jesus with his righteous deeds like the rich man did. He presented himself as a whole, with nothing but himself. Jesus, seeing his faith (surrendering), asked him what he wanted, and Bartimaeus asked to receive his sight. Jesus then healed him and said, "Go your way, your faith has healed you." Bartimaeus was instantly healed and followed Jesus.
This story touched my heart deeply. Bartimaeus had nothing, yet he had the faith to be healed and follow Jesus. On the other hand, the rich man, despite following all the commandments, couldn't let go of his wealth and trust in God completely. It made me realize that it's not about our possessions or accomplishments, but about our heart posture towards God.
There are valuable lessons to be learned from the encounters between Jesus and the rich man, as well as Bartimaeus, the blind beggar.
First, take a moment to examine your heart. Are there things in your life that have taken precedence over Jesus? Surrender your "mammon," whatever it may be - whether it's material possessions, relationships, or other distractions. Follow Bartimaeus' example and let go of anything that is consuming you, and surrender it all to God.
Next, remember that God already knows what you need even before you ask for it. However, He is waiting for you to fully surrender your heart to Him first. It's not just about following all the commandments and appearing righteous in the eyes of others and God. It's about where your trust truly lies. Do you trust in the gifts more than the giver? Do you focus on the promise or the promise keeper?
Furthermore, a comfortable life can sometimes be a stumbling block in following Jesus wholeheartedly. The rich man's attachment to his possessions hindered him from fully surrendering to Jesus. On the other hand, Bartimaeus, because of his afflictions and hardships, was able to surrender to Jesus and receive healing because he had nothing else to hold onto but his faith.
So, I prayed and asked God to reveal to me if there's anything that I've been trusting in more than Him. I want to surrender everything to Him, just like Bartimaeus did, and have unwavering faith in Him alone. I want to prioritize my relationship with God above all else and fully trust in Him as my source of security and confidence on this journey towards the Kingdom of God.
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