Begin with 2 minutes of silence and stillness before God.

Did you know that nearly 690 million people around the world live for less than $1.90 a day? The World Bank defines this as “extreme poverty.” In the United States, however, the poverty line is significantly higher. Roughly 34 million people (about twice the population of New York) in the United States live beneath the poverty line of $12,880 a year, or $35.28 per day.

If you are reading this on any kind of electronic device, then odds are you would be considered wealthier than the majority of the world. That is a fact that you should not feel any sort of guilt or shame over. I believe that should stoke a sense of gratitude and thankfulness within you. Having wealth is a blessing, it's not a bad thing. However, we should pay careful attention to the words of Jesus in Matthew 19.

“And Jesus said to his disciples, 'Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person 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 a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.'” Matthew 19:23-24

A camel going through a needle? That sounds more like impossible than difficult. If that is true, then what hope do any of us have? And what does Jesus have against rich people to begin with? Cue the refrain.

“But Jesus looked at them and said, with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Wealth doesn’t disqualify you from Heaven, but it does add a layer of difficulty. Money can be a good thing, but it also creates a false sense of security. Good things can often distract us from the best things.

Treat your wealth as a blessing from God, not as your god, and the impossible becomes possible. Salvation cannot be bought or earned. It is freely given by God’s grace.

Reflections:

• In what ways has God blessed you? How can you use those blessings for good?

Take 2 minutes to reflect in silence.

Family Application: Following God

Throughout Jesus’ time on earth, as He and His disciples traveled, people followed Him wherever he went. Some followed to hear Him teach about God through stories called parables; others followed because they didn’t like what He taught so they wanted to trick Him into saying something untrue about God. Regardless, Jesus always taught the truth about God, even if some did not like what He said.

One time Jesus was asked about marriage and divorce. He told them that from the beginning it was God’s plan for a man to marry a woman, and that they should remain married for the rest of their lives on earth. Only when one spouse betrayed the other was divorce permissible. Knowing that sometimes married couples would divorce for different reasons not permissible, Jesus was asked if it was better for people not to ever be married. He said that most people want desperately to be married, and so they should; only in very rare situations do people not desire to be married or their lives play out in a way that they don’t marry.

Another time someone asked Jesus what things he could do to go to Heaven when he died. Jesus told him that it was impossible for him to do everything required to be worthy of going to Heaven because he would have to be perfect in every way in everything he did, obeying all the commandments all the time. He went on to say that while it was impossible for a person to be good enough to go to Heaven, it was possible to one day go to Heaven if we trust in Jesus and repent of our sins.

Prayer: God, please forgive me of my sin, and help me to trust in You and follow You in all Your ways