Thanks for joining us on this journey of building a consistent habit of reading our Bibles every day. The Bible reading plan we are using this year can be found here: One Year Bible or here on the Bible app. As always, if you miss a day, don’t feel compelled to go back and catch up. Just skip it and start back on today’s date. I am reading the NLT this year, but feel free to use whatever version you prefer. Now here are some thoughts from today’s readings:
Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.”
– Matthew 19:23
It’s harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. In fact, Jesus goes on to say that it is impossible with man. Wow. Now, your first thought may be, “good thing I’m not rich!” But consider this, if you make or receive more than $32,400 a year, you’re in the top 1% of wealth in the world*. Even if you make less than that, just by virtue of living in a developed country, you are probably still in the top 20%. You are rich, whether you feel that way or not.
Now that we know we’re all rich, this verse strikes us hard. We should never think the Bible is about THEM and never consider that it might be talking about US. The good news is, though, what is impossible with man is possible with God. In fact, all things are possible with God. He should be our source whether we are making $1000 today or $0.
So don’t trust in your wealth today, you rich person! Trust in the Lord. He’s both your best shot and your only shot (even if you think you’d pretty well on your own… new flash, you won’t).
Have you ever felt rich? Is your desire of or trust in money keeping you from trusting God fully?