The Eye of a Needle

As I was packing and unpacking for college I couldn't believe the sheer amount of things I owned.  I apparently have something like 35+ pairs of socks.  I could not believe the wealth by which I was surrounded, yet I wouldn't necessarily consider my family "rich".  However, according to some studies (http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1222-04.htm), my family is in the top 2 percentile of the wealthy IN THE WORLD (yours is likely to fall into the same category because over 70 percent of America falls into the top 3 percent).  My family is not only rich, but filthy rich.  I couldn't believe it.  All the clothes and small little items I thought I needed for school... or at all.  I have so many things I could barely fit them all in my family van.  "Why, why do I have all this?" I asked myself again and again.  "Do I really need this?  If I lost it today, would I even notice?"  Once I came to realize the magnitude of my belongings, I felt guilty.  I'm a normal American who always thinks that they need more.  One more pair of shoes, tv, book, table, burger at Mickey D's.  We're deceiving ourselves.  I couldn't help but think that maybe kids in Pakistan could use my extra cash with which I was going to get another shirt.  Or how someone in Chile might be able to use my extra sports sweatshirt.  I have so much, but I realized I wasn't giving any of it away, just accumulating.  How often do we find ourselves doing that, just getting more stuff without getting rid of the old.  I challenge you to find out how many pairs of socks you own (and if you're at college, don't forget to count the ones at home),  how many pairs of shoes you have (do you really need more than one for recreation and one for church?), and how often you go shopping for extra things.
     Am I saying we need to be poor.  No, but I am encouraging you to re-evaluate your own life like I did mine.  I was reminded of a passage in Matthew where Christ talks to the rich young man:

Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"  Jesus replied, "Why do you ask me about what is good?  There is only One who is good.  If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."  "Which ones," the man inquired.  Jesus replied, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."  "All these I have kept," the young man said, "What do I still lack?"  Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come follow me."    -Matthew 19:16-22

I want to stop there for a moment.  Christ doesn't condemn this guy immediately after he claims to have followed all the commandments.  He doesn't call the young man out and say "look, I'm Jesus so I know everything, and you definitely lied to your friend that one time."  Instead Jesus just challenges him to put his money where his mouth was.  I always think it's funny how many people "claim" to be Christians.  "Yeah I go to church on Easter and Christmas, and I don't swear plus I taught my kids the golden rule."  We all know Christianity is more than that, and we typically view ourselves as being on the inside group.  But, I challenge you to put your money where your mouth is.  Before you buy more clothing, take two items (just two, any two, a shirt, shorts socks, shoes, jewelry, any two), and take them to Salvation Army, or donate them to some other organization, church or anything.  As you search for something to give away, you may struggle.  That's understandable, and brings me to my final point.

 Jesus said to His disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to 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 man to enter the kingdom of God."  When the disciples heard this they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"
 -Matthew 19:23-25

I love how Jesus' disciples have the same reaction we likely do today.  If it's impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then how are we going to be saved?  Christ's response should humble us, but also bring us reassurance, hope, and love for Him.

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."  -Matthew 19:26

It's hard in this world to not be distracted by the things we own; to not let the things we own come to own us.  If we are to inherit the Kingdom of God, we need to keep God at the center, to not let our "busy" lives full of "important" things take our attention away from that which is truly important.  I leave you the challenge I gave above: go through your things and find out what you actually "need."  You'll likely be surprised.  I'll leave you with one more scripture.

"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life.  But many who are first will be last, and the last first."  - Mark 10:29-31

Blessings,
MN