Rich Rulers

"Though the fig tree should not blossom,
nor fruit be on the vines,
the produce of the olive fail
and the fields yield no food,
the flock be cut off from the fold
and there be no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will take joy in the God of my salvation."

These words come from Habakkuk, a prophet from the people of Israel around the year 600 BCE. This book is absolutely fascinating and I would encourage anyone to really put some time into studying this arrogant, angry man whose heart is softened by some stern rebuking. (I must admit, I often see Habakkuk when I look in the mirror.)

This passage intrigues and concerns me at the same time. It's the passion and response that I want, but is it the response I have? See, the church in America is rife with the so-called "Prosperity Gospel," even in corners that often don't claim to hold that particular doctrine. How many times are we going to say or sing "God Bless America" before we realize that He has? Maybe we should instead be saying "God let us turn our blessings back to you by giving ourselves away." I know this probably won't make a great, catchy tune or fit nicely on a bumper sticker, but I think we've got enough bumper stickers.

My fear for the church in America is that we, much like the rich ruler, are doing a decent job of keeping up our morality, but we're losing our souls to our stuff.

22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich. 24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, “How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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.” Luke 18.22-25

This young ruler kept the law. He did a great job of keeping the law. But he was losing his soul. I've heard this taught by pastors that leave the story right here. Give everything you own away and God will love you for it. But that leads us into another danger, that if we do enough good deeds and give enough to the poor or stand up for the marginalized that we will be saved.

Those who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?” 27 But he said, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.” 28 And Peter said, “See, we have left our homes and followed you.” 29 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.” 18.26-29

The point of this story is that it is God who saves us. He reaches out and woos us in such a way that everything becomes a shadow to Him. When Jesus and his disciples walk away from this incident, he tells them that he will die. THIS is what saves us. THIS is the crux of the gospel. That neither our stuff, nor our good deeds will save us. Only the blood of Christ. Christ is our salvation.

"I will take joy in the God of my salvation."