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The Rev. Dr. Dennis E. Morey, Pastor
Scripture: Mark 10:17-31
“The winner, coming in last, is …”
The disciples and Jesus were on their way back to Jerusalem. Jesus knew it was the last time before his death. Suddenly they were interrupted. This rich man—other Gospels add to his description young and a ruler, a man of influence—threw himself down in front of this One who is known as the penniless, plainclothed preacher, and asked an urgent question.
“Good Teacher, before you go, I have to know: what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus replied, “Hold on there. Don’t call me good. Only God is absolutely good. Slow down and catch your breath.
You already know the way to know God. It is a lifestyle chosen and followed, outlined by the commandments.”
The rich man replied, “Yeah, I know, I know. I have won all the good conduct prizes. I have kept the commandments all my life, even since I was a child. I have never done anyone harm of any kind.”
Not only was this a rich, young, influential man; he was religious! Sounds like the perfect internet date. By the world’s standards he was a “winner.”
Yet he knew something was missing in his life. There was no spark, no meaning, no joy in life.
Jesus said, “It is time you looked at life differently. I’m glad to hear you haven’t used your position in life to do anyone harm. What good have you done with your wealth, youth, influence and religion? Is it only for you? No wonder you are empty. Look outside yourself. If you really want to do some good, get rid of everything that serves you and learn to live on the edge where you have to depend on God. Where is your ultimate trust?”
This week on the early morning news, the weatherman Dave Price has been trying to get from Los Angles across the country to New York on $50 and the kindness of strangers. Each day he reported, and about Thursday he said with tears in his eyes that it has been by “grace from above and the help of a lot of people” that he had made his way as far as Minneapolis.
He has been forced to live on the edge of hunger, sleep deprivation, and uncertainty. There he found a renewed sense of the kindness of others and how things seem to fall into place without his detailed control.
Jesus said that is the place: when we are totally dependent on God’s next move. We don’t have to wait until we die to get to know God. We can know God now when we acknowledge just how powerless we are and how dependent we are on God’s care.
As wise investors in the future, we learn not to take too many risks. “Don’t put all your money in one place. Don’t rely on only one source of income. Make sure you cover all the bases. Don’t leave anything to chance. Keep a firm grip on your assets.”
Jesus is asking this guy to forget all that. Forget being worried and preoccupied with the cares of this life. As members of God’s family, are we willing to take some risks so that we learn to depend on God at work in our lives?
In today’s scripture we see when the man heard Jesus’ reply his face fell, and in utter gloom he went away sad, for he was very rich.
This guy got it! It was right there in front of him, but he didn’t take hold of it. He understood perfectly what Jesus was saying. But the cost was too much. He could not let go and put God in control of his life instead of letting his wealth control it. This winner lost the most important opportunity of all.
Jesus looked at his disciples and shook his head. “How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God. It would be easier for a camel to get through a needle’s eye than for a rich person to get into God’s Kingdom.”
In that culture wealth was seen as the mark of God’s favor, and trouble was seen as the mark of God’s anger. Oh, no. That sounds like what we believe today doesn’t it?
This rich, young, good-looking, powerful man was obviously blessed by God. He was a winner! God blesses only those with whom he is pleased. If he did not get into the Kingdom, the disciples had a question, “Who could?”
Jesus said, “I know it looks impossible in human terms, but you are looking at it in just those terms, ‘human.’ For God, possibilities are endless.”
Peter said, “Well if poor does it, then look at us. We have left everything to follow you—business, home, family everything.”
Jesus said, “Yes, and I tell you this: those who leave behind what the world measures as success will receive even more of its blessings. Along with those blessings will also come your share of troubles, but that chosen way of life leads to a relationship with God that will last for eternity.”
By God’s standards, those who “grab all they can from life while they can” will be last in line in God’s Kingdom, and those who understand that real life comes from being the servant will find they are first in God’s Kingdom.
When there is a race, the fastest gets the prize. The one who can hit the most holes first, with the golf ball, wins the money. The one with the fastest car and the best driving skill gets the trophy. The one who knows the most earns the most. The one who is the prettiest gets the crown. The best wins the “gold” medal. The world has a standard and when the best score is achieved the prize is awarded. The winner comes in first.
Others applaud when the winner is announced. Others run to get them a drink, or offer them a cool cloth for their brow. Others ask for their autograph and let them go first in line. Others plan banquets in their honor and send them flowers. Others long for the privilege to polish their golf clubs, or fix them a meal.
The rich man in today’s scripture was used to that kind of treatment, and he was saying that it all really meant nothing. He still felt empty. He needed something more. He needed what Jesus had to offer. He knew that whatever the price, he could pay it. Whatever the requirement, he could meet it. He could keep the list of rules. He could learn what was required.
But then Jesus said, “Learn to trust God. Live on the edge. Take a risk. Go and sell what you have and give it to the poor. Learn to be a servant. Set yourself up to make someone else look good and smart and able. Get busy making someone else’s life easier. Shake off anything that encumbers you from serving.
“Dump the baggage you carry around that is supposed to bring you comfort. Find the joy of investing in someone else’s happiness.”
That is the life lived by those who are a part of God’s Kingdom. That is the life of the person who is the prizewinner in God’s sight. That is the life that is determined not with coming in first but in being the servant and coming in last.
That is the life that has a spark that is contagious. That is the life that may indeed have its troubles, but that is the life that has meaning. That is the life that is marked by joy.
Where are you today? Depressed? Think that nothing is going your way? Worried you are not getting enough good days? Worried you aren’t getting enough blessings? Trying to somehow even up the odds and at least get your share of the good things of life? Can’t hang on to your youth? See your investments slipping away?
Here is your chance. Dump it. Take who you are and what you think you deserve, what you have, and what you have earned out of the spotlight.
Step out on your faith in God. Listen to listen to what God is calling you to do. Become the servant God has designed you to be. Find the spark, the meaning, yes, the joy that comes from losing yourself and serving someone else.
Take a risk. Instead of demanding attention, focus your attention on someone who needs you. That kid who is bugging you at school needs a real friend. Ask God to help you take the risk. There is joy waiting for you.
That person who is making your life miserable at work is really giving you an opportunity to be the servant of God. Why aren’t you paying attention? There is joy waiting for you.
That parent who won’t listen has something to say. Be quiet and learn obedience. It is God’s way of life for the family. You are no exception. There is joy waiting for you.
Keep demanding the number one spot, keep thinking you are the best and deserve the best and that others should serve you; you will not only settle for a miserable life, you will miss the Kingdom of God.
In God’s Kingdom, the first are last, and those who found the joy of placing themselves as servants, last of all, will be first.
May we all live each day so that at the end of life we can be announced in heaven as “the winner, coming in last of all.”
Amen.
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Mark 10:17-31 Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” They were greatly astounded and said to one another, “Then who can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.” Peter began to say to him, “Look, we have left everything and followed you.” Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age—houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” (From the
New Revised Standard Version of the
Bible) |
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