The Eye of a Needle

Matthew 19:16-30

 

 

Can you think of an impossible task? Here is my daughter’s answer to this question: being invisible, flying, memorizing the dictionary, picking up a semi truck and teaching a newborn to read. Obviously, she had super heroes in mind. There are times though when we all feel like we are facing an impossible task. But can you imagine trying to put a camel through the eye of a needle?

 

Jesus told his disciples, “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”. Wow! This must have been a shock to the disciples. In their culture it was believed that if a man was wealthy it was because he had been blessed by God. Therefore, the conclusion was that he must have been obeying the Law.

 

The rich young ruler, who prompted Jesus’ comment, was very self-sufficient. By his own admission, he had obeyed all the commandments, yet he felt that there must be just one more thing that he needed to do. He was confident that if he could learn what it was, that he could do it, and thus earn eternal life.

 

If you think about it, people still believe this way today. Being religious and obeying the rules is their focus, rather than faith in Jesus. If I go to church, pray and read my Bible; then I will go to heaven. If I don’t cuss; if I don’t yell at my wife; if I’m a nice person and say the right things; I can earn my eternal reward.

 

In reality, we all adopt this belief at times because it boils down to our human nature which believes in our own self-sufficiency. Basically, we want to be our own god. We want to control our own destiny. But it is impossible for us to bridge the chasm that our sin has created. Only God can do that through Jesus Christ.

 

The disciples questioned Jesus about his camel comment. “Who then can be saved?” His

response was, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

 

It is impossible, if not a little funny, to imagine putting a camel through the eye of a needle. It is impossible for us to earn our way to Heaven. It is impossible to jump across the great chasm between God and us that we have created through our sin. Only God can breach that chasm. Only God can overcome the impossible. Only God can put a camel through the eye of a needle.

 

 

 

Fight the Good Fight of the Faith

1 Timothy 6

 

In February of 1990, Buster Douglas shocked the sports world by defeating the undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson. It was like the movie Rocky come to life. Buster Douglas came out of nowhere to beat the most feared boxer of his day.

 

Paul knew what it meant to be in a fight, and wrote to Timothy about it. “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

 

Obviously, following Christ is not for the weak of heart. Like a boxer, there is work, sacrifice and discipline. Like a boxer, there are some things that you need to flee. And like a boxer, there are other things that you need to take hold of.

 

However, unlike a boxer, you aren’t alone in the fight. When you “made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses”, you gained the love, support and accountability of your brothers and sisters in Christ. But there is even more involved in the fight than this.

 

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

 

As followers of Christ, our fight is everywhere. At work, at home, at church, in our mind – it follows us wherever we go. A battle can happen literally at any time. We must be ready. We must prepare through reading the Word, meditating, accountability with fellow believers and prayer.

 

Buster Douglas had one good fight. After that, he never fought the same again. We don’t have that option. “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”  That someone is you and me.

 

Take to heart what Peter wrote to the scattered believers in Asia: “Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.” 

 

We must be ready to “fight the good fight of the faith”.

 

The Serenity Prayer

1 Timothy 6

 

Reinhold Niebuhr is given credit for writing the Serenity Prayer in 1943. It is one of the most popular prayers known, and has been made famous by AA and other twelve-step programs. However, did you know that the version used by most of these groups is an abreviated one. Here is the complete prayer:

 

“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.”

 

Obviously, you don’t have to be an addict to benefit from this prayer. Serenity, or contentment, is a fleeting experience in all of our lives. Think about how many times a day you complain about something: the weather, the traffic, your boss, your co-workers, your spouse, your kids, your food, your self, your health, your church, your house, your car… God. The list is undending.

 

In today’s chapter Paul wrote to Timothy about being content.

 

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that”.            Verses 6-8 NIV

 

People have been discontented since the Garden. Satan sowed discontent in Eve’s heart, and it’s been a part of the human condition ever since. In fact, it’s such a problem of the human condition, that God devoted one whole commandment to it.

 

“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”           Exodus 20:17 NIV

 

Why else do we covet unless it is because we are not happy with what we have? We are not content. So what is the key to finding contentment in our lives? To help answer this question, here are Paul’s words to the Philippians:

 

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Christ who gives me strength.

Everything that we try to gain in this world stays here unless it is eternal. The only things that are eternal are our souls and God’s word.”        Philippians 4:11-13 NIV

 

So let us learn to focus on what is eternal – our souls and God’s word. The Serenity Prayer speaks not of perfection, but of growth; of surrender to God and trusting Him. Doing this leads to contentment. The same contentment that Paul wrote about. What more do we need?

 

 

 

 

Who is Malcom Butler?

1 Timothy 6

 

If you know the answer to the title question, then you either a) love NFL football; b) love the New England Patriots; or c) actually watched the Super Bowl game and not just the commercials and half-time show. Malcolm is the rookie free agent defensive back who single handledly put an end to the drive that would have allowed the Seatle Seahawks to win two consecutive Super Bowls.

 

Some players when they make a big play are all about making themselves the center of attention. Malcolm seemed to be the exact opposite. Following the game the NBC sideline reporter had to chase him down to get an interview. And when she asked him a question, he seemed emotional to the point that he could barely respond. He did anything but come across as if the whole game depended on him.

 

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment”.    1 Timothy 6:17

 

Apparently some of the believers in Ephesus had a problem with money – imagine that! Human nature hasn’t changed much has it? Even back in the first century people put too much emphasis; too much trust; too much hope in their money.

 

But, this verse has a much wider application for us than money. The question isn’t do you put your hope in wealth, but what do you put your hope in? It could be money; but it could just as easily be a relationship, your career, your abilities – really almost anything.

 

Our human nature trusts in ourselves. We trust in what we can see and control. We live in an earthly body that is prone to desire what is here and now, and then to take credit for it when we get it. It’s called pride, and we all struggle with it.

 

It would have been easy for Malcolm Butler to take all the credit; to say I worked hard to get where I’m at and I deserve this; to say my hope all along has been in me and my efforts. But he didn’t. In fact, after intercepting the pass, as he ran to the sidelines, he pointed up. I took this to mean, give God the glory.

 

What do you hope in; trust in; have faith in? In the above verse Paul wrote Timothy to tell the rich Ephesians to “put their hope in God”. Like the rich Ephesians, we need to identify what we hope and trust in other than God; confess it and embrace our Heavenly Father who loves us unconditionally and gives us every good gift.