October 11, 2009
And then what happened?
- Mark 10:17-31
- Dr. Teri Thomas
Taking a step into the future can be a difficult task. Getting ready for the first day of school, going on a first date, walking into your first AA meeting, undergoing experimental treatment for an illness, setting up the first appointment with the marriage counselor, selling a home and moving to a retirement community. Taking that first step can be difficult.
We have to give the man in this morning’s gospel reading some credit. He ran that first step. He ran to Jesus and then he knelt. He approached with excitement and with humility. And then he asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
He was obviously searching for something, otherwise why would he go to Jesus? People who are content and satisfied don’t going running to Jesus. You only go asking if you already know there is something missing in your life. There's apparently something gnawing at this person, and who doesn't know what that feels like? He's got it all: great job, good friends, lots of travel.
He has a promising future and a growing portfolio with his broker. But there is this gnawing uneasiness, this middle of the night dissatisfaction. What more must I do?
Jesus looked at him; he did not simply glance in his direction, Jesus looked into his soul and Jesus loved him. Jesus doesn't condemn or even criticize the young man. In fact, he appreciates him. When Jesus tells the man to follow the religious rules, to keep on keeping on, and the young man assures him that he's already doing that, Jesus prescribes something specific. He tells him something further to do. "Sell your possessions, give the money to the poor, and come follow me."
One modern scholar, commenting on that text, said if you aren't appalled by this message, you have not yet heard it.
And the man turned and walked away from Jesus, feeling sad. We can understand why he left feeling sad. I would understand if he left feeling mad. After all, Zaccheus gave only half and Jesus celebrated with him. The rabbis taught that a tenth of one’s assets was a faithful tithe. That old widow only gave two coins and Jesus praised her faithfulness. Why was this man singled out to give up everything?
You and I live in a culture that promises us, and our children, that you can buy life. You can establish happiness and security if you earn enough, have enough, accumulate enough. Really, can we blame him for going away discouraged?
Sometimes we are most afraid of what we need the most. We know what we need to do to have more blessed and satisfying lives, But when faced with the reality, we walk away sad. It is hard- Jesus said, very hard- to enter the kingdom of God. Yet it is hard not because of Jesus, but because of us.
This man will enter the Kingdom of God, he will know fullness of life, only if he is willing to do something that seems reckless- wildly preposterous. He has to give up all he has.
We notice there is no indication that all his possessions have made him happy. He has not found what he is seeking in his wealth, but still he goes away sad. What's wrong with him? Well, he's not free. His inability to sell all means that his possessions actually own him. I'll bet this young man was too busy to enjoy his life. I'll bet he had worked so hard to get ahead, that he had no time left, no love, no passion in life. And I think that's why he came to Jesus. He was engaged in a struggle for his own soul. And for him the prescription was surgical: Let it go -- give it away -- and come follow me.
Even the disciples were shocked. If this guy can’t be saved, Holy Moses, who can?
Do you ever wonder what this rich man did next? Do you suppose he just gave up on the kingdom as being too costly and bought a BMW? I don’t want to think so. This is the only story in all the gospels where someone asks for Jesus’ help and then goes away empty.
I want to believe he is sad and disappointed, but he is not going away empty handed. He does not walk away without hope. I can imagine him replaying the scene over and over in his head.
Once he calms down he thinks about what Jesus said. Jesus didn’t say he had to do it today, or even this month. He didn’t demand the man sell everything in this tax year.
So the man continues to think and pray about what Jesus challenged him to do. Then one day a refugee family moves into town. The rich man has five guest bedrooms that are never used,
So he gives away all that furniture to the refugees. Sometime later he is asked to contribute to the temple building fund. He thinks about those CD’s that just keep rolling over in the bank. He hasn’t used that money in years- why not give it away. Then he decides to rewrite his will so that when he dies he will give everything to the poor. Then he learns of a family made homeless by a natural disaster. He realizes how tired he is of the upkeep on his house, so much space he doesn’t use, so he gives them the house and moves into a condo.
All of that makes him feel good. He likes the feeling. The next year he sells 2% of what he has and gives that away. It feels so good and he doesn’t really miss it and the following year he sells 10%. The more he gives the easier it becomes to give. He discovers the rewards of giving
are greater than the rewards of wealth.The rich young man eventually becomes the poor old man,
but he is rich in spirit and he has a great and meaningful life.
What must we do to enter God’s kingdom? New life in the Kingdom calls for new behavior,
one step at a time. New life in the Kingdom is about caring and sharing, not business as usual.
New life in the Kingdom is about transformation, following Jesus, one step at a time.
Sometimes we are most afraid of what we most need. We have to take that first step. “It’s OK,” Jesus promises, “Because with God all things are possible.”
Amen.