Sermon – Priorities Rev. Sandy Lacey October 13, 2024
This passage in Mark is a challenge for us to listen to and even more challenging to comprehend. In case you slept through the reading from Mark’s Gospel, the passage begins with telling a bright and faithful man to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor so that he could inherit eternal life and follow him. Jesus then describes the impossibility for rich people to become part of God’s kingdom, but hold on, God can do all things, even impossible things. Jesus then reassures his disciples that when they do give up everything to follow him, they will be rewarded both in this life and in the life to come. Their rewards will include such great things in this life as property, family, and . . . persecution! And then he concludes this passage with the odd phrase, “but many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” What are we to make of this passage? It is a passage that makes preachers want to choose something else for any given Sunday. In thinking about context, right before today’s passage Jesus chastised his disciples for keeping children away from him. Children of that day did not have any status or rights, but Jesus embraced and welcomed them. In fact, Jesus held them up as a model for the disciples. He told his disciples that unless they received God’s kingdom as a no-status child, the disciples would not be included in God’s kingdom. Children may not have had status, but they lived their lives without pretense. They knew they were completely dependent on others for their well-being. They came to Jesus readily for healing, for blessing, for love – and they did so in complete trust. So, unless you receive God’s kingdom like a child – in complete trust, in complete dependence, with no pretense – then you cannot be part of it, according to Jesus in the passage right before today’s reading. Today’s passage, right after the words about receiving God’s kingdom as a child, a wealthy man asked what else he can do to inherit eternal life. Did he miss the previous discussion about simply trusting God? First of all, we must remember that one does not do anything to inherit; one merely receives a gift of inheritance. But Jesus indulged the man even though he apparently missed that point – that one receives the kingdom as a dependent child, as one who trusts God to do for him. Jesus indulged him and gave him what he asked for, something to do. He apparently is bright and is a faithful Jew because he knows the Law, the 10 commandments, and said that he follows the commandments. And the Scripture says Jesus looked at him and loved him. Jesus told him, “So if you want something else to do, give up your status and your wealth and be like these children, and follow me.” Jesus knew what held him captive, what the one thing was that captured his attention, what the one thing was that would be extremely difficult for him to let go. Mark says the man left sorrowful. Jesus seized the moment to teach his disciples an important lesson that he has been trying to teach them from the beginning of his ministry: that the Law is not meant to keep us captive and to make us try to earn God’s favor and love with what we do; instead, the Law is meant to liberate us and give us life. So why is it so challenging for a wealthy person to be part of God’s kingdom and follow Jesus? Why did wealth hold that man captive? I suppose that when you get used to doing for yourself and relying on your own resources, it becomes difficult to acknowledge your dependence upon God and upon others. You become used to the phrase, “a self-made man (or woman)” and you grow to like it. During Jesus’ day wealthy people were the ones who had power, and the pervasive cultural belief was that wealth equaled some kind of favor from God. If things were going well for you, then you must have been doing something right. God must favor you in that all these “blessings” were being showered upon you. Conversely, if things were going poorly for you, the cultural understanding was that it must be the result of some sin from either you or your family. The Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, is full of this kind of interpretation – the book of Job being the exception. The thing about wealth is that it gives you power and status and people come to you for advice and help, assuming that God is blessing you with favor. It is kind of an insidious thing but before long, you even think that God favors you and you become more and more convinced of your specialness and you become more and more reliant upon you and less and less reliant on God. Wealth comes with all kinds of trappings that hold one captive – so captive that the man in question cannot envision life without it. So, Jesus gave him something to do but it was not anything he could have imagined. That was then and now is now. We do not have the same problem with wealth . . . or do we? If you think Jesus’ description of the wealthy is only the 1% in our country, then you would be mistaken. In comparison to the majority of people in the world, each one of us in this room today is wealthy. Can we also be accused of relying upon our own resources rather than upon God? Do we also associate prosperity with God’s favor and blessing; and do we assume the poor deserve to be poor because of some defect or sin or maybe they just haven’t worked as hard as us? Do we enjoy the description of being called a “self-made” man or woman, rather than a man or woman utterly dependent upon God? Are we held captive by our wealth and resources, so much so that if anyone threatens it, we would do anything to protect it? And we would not give it up for anyone? Do we spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about our resources or lack thereof? How do we spend our money? How much of it do we give away? We can easily see our priorities by looking at how and what we spend. Jesus said the pull of wealth is so strong, so compelling, so distracting that it is impossible for a wealthy person to be part of God’s kingdom. That is really bad news for us. But then he also says, “Yet, with God all things are possible.” With God’s help, we can set appropriate priorities and put our money and our possessions in the right place in our lives. There are some people in Ft. Pierce this morning who have lost most, if not all, of their possessions as a result of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton. I am sure there is some lament going on (and rightly so.) I am also sure that there are some sighs of relief as they realize the importance of having their loved ones safe in spite of their loss of property. I remember a hospice nurse wrote an article several years ago in which she said that of all the laments her dying patients voiced, having more possessions was NEVER mentioned. What was lamented was always related to some sort of relationship loss. Sometimes a bit of reorientation to help us realize what is truly important. Peter responds to Jesus’ pronouncement about wealthy people with what sounds like some sort of justification – it is almost as if he is asking, “What about us?” or maybe he is being prideful when he says, “Look at what we have done; we have left everything and followed you.” And Jesus reassures him that those who have done so will be rewarded both in this life and in the next – but the reward is a mixed blessing because it includes persecution. And finally, as if we have not had enough tension with this passage – Jesus says the enigmatic, “the first will be last, and the last will be first.” Are we to give up since we are all wealthy? Are we to give away all our possessions this week? What are we to take from this passage for our lives today? Maybe we can begin with examining our attitude about possessions. Are our clothes, our furniture, our houses, our cars, our boats, etc. so important that we exert more energy in accumulating them and protecting them than we do in actually enjoying them? Do we use our possessions for hospitality toward others? Do we find ourselves in regular shopping frenzies for the newest thing or gadget? Do we have way more than what we need? Are we in over our heads with debt just so we can have bigger and better possessions? Do we feel compelled to purchase things because our neighbors have them? Are we working more and more hours simply to pay for the possessions that we do not need and are not necessarily sure we even want? Or, are we living our lives in gratitude, gratefully giving at least 10% of our income away and honoring God’s commandment of a tithe? If we are honest, you and me, we have a little trouble with some of those questions. We live in a culture that thrives on consumerism and a “can-do” attitude. When our country encounters crises, our leaders will often encourage us to not worry, go out and buy stuff – keep the market going and all will be well. We are truly consumer driven in this culture – often to the detriment of our mental health. The thing about possessions/things is that they are just that. They are not life or life-giving; they do not lead to fulfillment and joy; and what is more, they are fleeting – they could all be gone tomorrow. House fires, hurricanes, tornadoes all teach us that hard lesson. When it comes down to it, there are only a few things that are life-giving and life sustaining. The article written by the hospice nurse said her patients’ regrets had to do with working too hard, neglecting important relationships, and not being true to yourself. Relationships, courage to do what is good and right, and giving generously of your time and resources – that is what is life-giving and life sustaining. Perhaps a reorientation is needed so that money and possessions do not hold us captive. I know it seems impossible and it is if you attempt to do this on your own. Children know how to do those things – they refuse to work too hard; they love the people who are around them and they want to spend time with them; they are unlikely to cooperate doing things they do not want to do; and children are generous in sharing with others. Jesus says, “unless you accept God’s kingdom like a child, you will have no part in it.” Remember that nothing is impossible with God. AMEN.
This passage in Mark is a challenge for us to listen to and even more challenging to comprehend. In case you slept through the reading from Mark’s Gospel, the passage begins with telling a bright and faithful man to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor so that he could inherit eternal life and follow him. Jesus then describes the impossibility for rich people to become part of God’s kingdom, but hold on, God can do all things, even impossible things. Jesus then reassures his disciples that when they do give up everything to follow him, they will be rewarded both in this life and in the life to come. Their rewards will include such great things in this life as property, family, and . . . persecution! And then he concludes this passage with the odd phrase, “but many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” What are we to make of this passage? It is a passage that makes preachers want to choose something else for any given Sunday. In thinking about context, right before today’s passage Jesus chastised his disciples for keeping children away from him. Children of that day did not have any status or rights, but Jesus embraced and welcomed them. In fact, Jesus held them up as a model for the disciples. He told his disciples that unless they received God’s kingdom as a no-status child, the disciples would not be included in God’s kingdom. Children may not have had status, but they lived their lives without pretense. They knew they were completely dependent on others for their well-being. They came to Jesus readily for healing, for blessing, for love – and they did so in complete trust. So, unless you receive God’s kingdom like a child – in complete trust, in complete dependence, with no pretense – then you cannot be part of it, according to Jesus in the passage right before today’s reading. Today’s passage, right after the words about receiving God’s kingdom as a child, a wealthy man asked what else he can do to inherit eternal life. Did he miss the previous discussion about simply trusting God? First of all, we must remember that one does not do anything to inherit; one merely receives a gift of inheritance. But Jesus indulged the man even though he apparently missed that point – that one receives the kingdom as a dependent child, as one who trusts God to do for him. Jesus indulged him and gave him what he asked for, something to do. He apparently is bright and is a faithful Jew because he knows the Law, the 10 commandments, and said that he follows the commandments. And the Scripture says Jesus looked at him and loved him. Jesus told him, “So if you want something else to do, give up your status and your wealth and be like these children, and follow me.” Jesus knew what held him captive, what the one thing was that captured his attention, what the one thing was that would be extremely difficult for him to let go. Mark says the man left sorrowful. Jesus seized the moment to teach his disciples an important lesson that he has been trying to teach them from the beginning of his ministry: that the Law is not meant to keep us captive and to make us try to earn God’s favor and love with what we do; instead, the Law is meant to liberate us and give us life. So why is it so challenging for a wealthy person to be part of God’s kingdom and follow Jesus? Why did wealth hold that man captive? I suppose that when you get used to doing for yourself and relying on your own resources, it becomes difficult to acknowledge your dependence upon God and upon others. You become used to the phrase, “a self-made man (or woman)” and you grow to like it. During Jesus’ day wealthy people were the ones who had power, and the pervasive cultural belief was that wealth equaled some kind of favor from God. If things were going well for you, then you must have been doing something right. God must favor you in that all these “blessings” were being showered upon you. Conversely, if things were going poorly for you, the cultural understanding was that it must be the result of some sin from either you or your family. The Hebrew Scriptures, the Old Testament, is full of this kind of interpretation – the book of Job being the exception. The thing about wealth is that it gives you power and status and people come to you for advice and help, assuming that God is blessing you with favor. It is kind of an insidious thing but before long, you even think that God favors you and you become more and more convinced of your specialness and you become more and more reliant upon you and less and less reliant on God. Wealth comes with all kinds of trappings that hold one captive – so captive that the man in question cannot envision life without it. So, Jesus gave him something to do but it was not anything he could have imagined. That was then and now is now. We do not have the same problem with wealth . . . or do we? If you think Jesus’ description of the wealthy is only the 1% in our country, then you would be mistaken. In comparison to the majority of people in the world, each one of us in this room today is wealthy. Can we also be accused of relying upon our own resources rather than upon God? Do we also associate prosperity with God’s favor and blessing; and do we assume the poor deserve to be poor because of some defect or sin or maybe they just haven’t worked as hard as us? Do we enjoy the description of being called a “self-made” man or woman, rather than a man or woman utterly dependent upon God? Are we held captive by our wealth and resources, so much so that if anyone threatens it, we would do anything to protect it? And we would not give it up for anyone? Do we spend an inordinate amount of time worrying about our resources or lack thereof? How do we spend our money? How much of it do we give away? We can easily see our priorities by looking at how and what we spend. Jesus said the pull of wealth is so strong, so compelling, so distracting that it is impossible for a wealthy person to be part of God’s kingdom. That is really bad news for us. But then he also says, “Yet, with God all things are possible.” With God’s help, we can set appropriate priorities and put our money and our possessions in the right place in our lives. There are some people in Ft. Pierce this morning who have lost most, if not all, of their possessions as a result of tornadoes spawned by Hurricane Milton. I am sure there is some lament going on (and rightly so.) I am also sure that there are some sighs of relief as they realize the importance of having their loved ones safe in spite of their loss of property. I remember a hospice nurse wrote an article several years ago in which she said that of all the laments her dying patients voiced, having more possessions was NEVER mentioned. What was lamented was always related to some sort of relationship loss. Sometimes a bit of reorientation to help us realize what is truly important. Peter responds to Jesus’ pronouncement about wealthy people with what sounds like some sort of justification – it is almost as if he is asking, “What about us?” or maybe he is being prideful when he says, “Look at what we have done; we have left everything and followed you.” And Jesus reassures him that those who have done so will be rewarded both in this life and in the next – but the reward is a mixed blessing because it includes persecution. And finally, as if we have not had enough tension with this passage – Jesus says the enigmatic, “the first will be last, and the last will be first.” Are we to give up since we are all wealthy? Are we to give away all our possessions this week? What are we to take from this passage for our lives today? Maybe we can begin with examining our attitude about possessions. Are our clothes, our furniture, our houses, our cars, our boats, etc. so important that we exert more energy in accumulating them and protecting them than we do in actually enjoying them? Do we use our possessions for hospitality toward others? Do we find ourselves in regular shopping frenzies for the newest thing or gadget? Do we have way more than what we need? Are we in over our heads with debt just so we can have bigger and better possessions? Do we feel compelled to purchase things because our neighbors have them? Are we working more and more hours simply to pay for the possessions that we do not need and are not necessarily sure we even want? Or, are we living our lives in gratitude, gratefully giving at least 10% of our income away and honoring God’s commandment of a tithe? If we are honest, you and me, we have a little trouble with some of those questions. We live in a culture that thrives on consumerism and a “can-do” attitude. When our country encounters crises, our leaders will often encourage us to not worry, go out and buy stuff – keep the market going and all will be well. We are truly consumer driven in this culture – often to the detriment of our mental health. The thing about possessions/things is that they are just that. They are not life or life-giving; they do not lead to fulfillment and joy; and what is more, they are fleeting – they could all be gone tomorrow. House fires, hurricanes, tornadoes all teach us that hard lesson. When it comes down to it, there are only a few things that are life-giving and life sustaining. The article written by the hospice nurse said her patients’ regrets had to do with working too hard, neglecting important relationships, and not being true to yourself. Relationships, courage to do what is good and right, and giving generously of your time and resources – that is what is life-giving and life sustaining. Perhaps a reorientation is needed so that money and possessions do not hold us captive. I know it seems impossible and it is if you attempt to do this on your own. Children know how to do those things – they refuse to work too hard; they love the people who are around them and they want to spend time with them; they are unlikely to cooperate doing things they do not want to do; and children are generous in sharing with others. Jesus says, “unless you accept God’s kingdom like a child, you will have no part in it.” Remember that nothing is impossible with God. AMEN.