Making The Impossible Possible

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.
Matthew 19:23-30

Notes

Many people are hopeful when they read that nothing is impossible with God. Knowing that God can make anything possible is a comfort in a complicated world where much of what we strive for is beyond our grasp. What we miss with this verse is the levity with which we use it. In a high-production societal mentality, it is easy to rephrase this verse to meet our productivity needs, but we miss the point of the message.

Jesus is emphasizing the sheer impossibility of salvation without God. God sent his only begotten son, born into mankind, and died, although he was innocent and was raised from the dead. The richest people are no more blessed than the poorest people are cursed. Much of what we do on earth has eternal ramifications. How much money we have does not determine our righteousness. It is the acceptance of a free gift and a complete transformation that leads to life.

Even today, when we see someone who we consider “blessed” because they have a nice house, little to no debt, health, money for travel, hobbies, or whatever they seem to want, we think they are more righteous. But the poor woman who gave two mites for her tithing was praised. (Mark 12:41-44) What we are called to do is not have our eyes on being rich or not being poor. Our hearts and minds should be on laying down our lives, striving for a servant-like heart, and following Christ even though it means sacrifice.

Wealth and success can make us think we are doing everything right. Yet it never feels like enough, which is why it is so hard to live sacrificially with a heart focused on serving others as Christ commands. But if we focus on God, He can help us live sacrificially even when tempted to hold on to what we have rather than give generously of our time and money. What we sacrifice on earth is recompensed in abundance as God sees fit and provides the most precious reward of all: eternal life.