Poverty and prosperity

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Monday, November 24, 2008
Devotions: Ps 106; Zech 10:1-12; Gal 6:1-10; Lk 18:15-30

No one can fully grasp God’s goodness or the meaning of His actions; but we will praise God for what we can comprehend! Lord, remember me when You show favor to Your people; I want to share the prosperity and gladness and glory of Your heritage. I am a sinner descended from sinners; yet I stand with those whom You have graciously preserved and vindicated. The history of humanity’s wavering relationship with You is a dreary cycle: blessing, joy, commitment, advance, struggle, triumph, prosperity, laxity, corruption, disaster, repentance, and so on and on. Despite human inconstancy, You have been faithful and true, unwavering and consistent. Let YHWH be blessed forever, and we praise the Lord.
Seek fortune and blessing from God. Other seers and oracles lie, and those who follow them wander blind and afflicted. YHWH’s hottest anger is for those who have shirked shepherding responsibilities, in order to serve themselves. From the house of Judah, He brought forth the Cornerstone, the Stay, the Battle Bow, the King of kings. God preserved Judah because of His compassion, and as a conduit of His grace. Let all who see exult in the Lord! He has gathered His own from their Diaspora, and they will glory in His name. God affirms this.
Paul counsels: ‘When one of you sins, let others restore him in a gentle spirit; bear one another’s crushing burdens, and take up your own self-sized responsibilities. Stay humble; focus on your own right conduct and your own tasks. Let students share with their teachers. We sow what we reap; if we serve our selfishness, we reap corruption; if we sow to the Spirit, we reap eternal life, everlasting community with God and one another. Let us not become weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest, if we persevere. So whenever we have opportunity, let us do what is good to all people, beginning with those in the household of faith.
People came to Jesus for blessing, and brought their infants, too. The disciples tried to interrupt this, but Jesus rebuked them: ‘Let the children come to Me; don’t hinder them: the kingdom of God belongs to children and the childlike. Whoever doesn’t receive God’s kingdom like a child shall not enter it!’ A religious leader standing nearby asked Him: ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied, ‘Why call Me good? Only God is good. You know the commands; keep them: no adultery, no murder, no stealing, no lying, honor your parents.’ The questioner affirmed: ‘I’ve kept each of those since I was a child.’ Jesus responded: ‘Okay; you lack only one thing: sell everything you possess and give the proceeds to the poor; then you’ll have eternal treasure and the eternal life you ask for; then, come and follow Me.’
Though he got a specific answer to his question, all this made the inquirer sad. Jesus looked at him and remarked: ‘It is very hard for the rich to enter God’s kingdom. It’s easier for a caravan camel to kneel and crawl through the tiny gate people call the ‘Eye of the Needle’ than for a rich man to enter God’s kingdom.’ The listeners were amazed, because their culture held that riches were a sign of divine favor and virtue. They marveled: ‘Then, Lord, who can be saved?’ Jesus answered: ‘What is impossible with humanity is possible with God.’
Peter pressed the issue: ‘Lord, we have left our homes and followed You.’ And Jesus said: “I tell you most solemnly, everyone who has left house and family for the sake of God’s kingdom will receive many times more in this life, and in the age to come, eternal life.’