How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! … It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.
Mark 10:23 and 25
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Why they were shocked
A rich man had just walked away sad, because he couldn't let go of his possessions. Jesus looked around and said that it is hard for people with wealth to get into God's kingdom. The disciples were shocked. In their day many people saw wealth as a sign of God's blessing.
Between those two sayings Jesus calls them children, a word he rarely uses for them. He isn't threatening them. He says it because he cares. Possessions promise security, and that is exactly why they can take hold of your heart. The more you have, the more you have to let go of.
Question for today
Where do I find my security?
Prayer
Lord, you see what I own, and what owns me. Open my hands. Let my security rest not in my things, but in you. Amen.
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