Mark 10:17-27
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Jesus used his interaction with the rich young ruler to make an important point about the spiritual life, namely, that we are incapable of it. It is a natural human tendency to want to be able to accomplish something. In the rich young ruler's case, he wanted to know what he had to do to gain eternal life (verse 17). If he could just figure out the right set of rules, then he could discipline himself and get in. So Jesus challenged the security he put on his money, correctly identifying the blocking issue in the man's life, but also challenging the assumption that he could control gaining eternal life. Jesus went on to say "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (verse 25). To which the disciples were amazed and said "Then who can be saved?" (verse 26). Jesus then furthers his point by saying "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (verse 27). This is counter-intuitive, in that we expect there to be some way we can accomplish our goals. But Jesus is saying that we can't do it ourselves, it is only God who can do it. That is why those who have much strength or wealth in themselves are often at a disadvantage in spiritual matters compared to the weak and broken, who more readily accept their need for God. This applies not just to salvation but also to our recovery. We can't do it by our own strength or intelligence or resources. If we try that, we'll just slip back into sin again. But the good news is that "all things", even purity, "are possible with God". Let's claim that promise and rely on His provision.
Heavenly Father, thank you that all things are possible with You.
17 And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.’” 20 And he said to him, “Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.” 21 And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were exceedingly astonished, and said to him, “Then who can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Jesus used his interaction with the rich young ruler to make an important point about the spiritual life, namely, that we are incapable of it. It is a natural human tendency to want to be able to accomplish something. In the rich young ruler's case, he wanted to know what he had to do to gain eternal life (verse 17). If he could just figure out the right set of rules, then he could discipline himself and get in. So Jesus challenged the security he put on his money, correctly identifying the blocking issue in the man's life, but also challenging the assumption that he could control gaining eternal life. Jesus went on to say "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (verse 25). To which the disciples were amazed and said "Then who can be saved?" (verse 26). Jesus then furthers his point by saying "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God" (verse 27). This is counter-intuitive, in that we expect there to be some way we can accomplish our goals. But Jesus is saying that we can't do it ourselves, it is only God who can do it. That is why those who have much strength or wealth in themselves are often at a disadvantage in spiritual matters compared to the weak and broken, who more readily accept their need for God. This applies not just to salvation but also to our recovery. We can't do it by our own strength or intelligence or resources. If we try that, we'll just slip back into sin again. But the good news is that "all things", even purity, "are possible with God". Let's claim that promise and rely on His provision.
Heavenly Father, thank you that all things are possible with You.