Rich Man Poor Man
Jan 11th, 2008 by Larry
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. Mark 10:25
Heading into town the other day to pick up lunch, I had to walk by some homeless people. For clarification, I am not talking about street beggars, the people I’m talking about live on the street. They are the ones you see pushing shopping carts with all of their worldly possessions. They wear multiple layers of clothing even in the dead of summer.
I have seen one of the men many times before, pushing his cart up the street or sitting in the park. What happened to him? How did he get into this lowly position? How can he go through life not knowing were his next meal is coming from or where he will spend the night? All of these thoughts run through my mind when I see him. But is he truly poor?
We all have our own little worlds we live in. We have hot and cold running water, a warm bed to sleep in, and electricity at the flick of a switch. Who among us could live without these things for very long? I know that I couldn’t. But are we wealth?
Reading the passage above makes me stop and think. Do we trust too much in our wealth? I know that I’m not a wealth man, but do I place too much trust in my possessions? I fear that I may. Do the homeless people place too much trust in their possessions? I fear that they may. Wealth or poverty means nothing in the end. We will both stand naked before our Lord.
