Sunday, November 19, 2006
CAMELS
In follow-up to my post from yesterday which included Matthew 19:24 (the camel passing through the eye of the needle), below is a link to John Wesley's sermon on this very subject. It is a very good read if you're interested.
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
It occurs to me that, if you're able to read this blog (meaning that you have computer access and can read), then you are truly among a very select group -- the most blessed to have ever walked this earth. It is so important for us to not put our trust in and gain our comfort from the blessings of this world but instead from our Lord. But how hard is that? How often do I run to pleasures of this world (family and friends, comfort food, travel, a good book, a good movie, recreation time, etc.) rather than God when things are stressful? It's a scary thought.
Did you notice from my post yesterday, though, that The Message translation talks about the camel "galloping" through the eye of the needle rather than just "going" through it? Now, I suspect that The Message took far greater liberty with its translation but it did get me to thinking a bit. Whereas a whole, living, breathing, and mobile camel indeed could not gallop through the eye of a needle, a camel that has been melted down, and broken into little pieces -- a camel that has died to this world in order to live for another -- could indeed pass through the eye of a needle.
God calls those to whom much has been given to give more of themselves and their resources. As I said before, we are truly among the richest and most blessed to walk this earth today or at anytime in the past. We must hold fast to our faith in God, and seek our comfort in God, not in the things of this world. We must give up what we have in this world, and treat one another with lovingkindness and compassion. We must be broken down and poured out, dead to this world. Then, even as the world's most blessed, we can go through the eye of the needle.
I pray that I can continually make progress in living that kind of life.
http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umhistory/wesley/sermons/108/
It occurs to me that, if you're able to read this blog (meaning that you have computer access and can read), then you are truly among a very select group -- the most blessed to have ever walked this earth. It is so important for us to not put our trust in and gain our comfort from the blessings of this world but instead from our Lord. But how hard is that? How often do I run to pleasures of this world (family and friends, comfort food, travel, a good book, a good movie, recreation time, etc.) rather than God when things are stressful? It's a scary thought.
Did you notice from my post yesterday, though, that The Message translation talks about the camel "galloping" through the eye of the needle rather than just "going" through it? Now, I suspect that The Message took far greater liberty with its translation but it did get me to thinking a bit. Whereas a whole, living, breathing, and mobile camel indeed could not gallop through the eye of a needle, a camel that has been melted down, and broken into little pieces -- a camel that has died to this world in order to live for another -- could indeed pass through the eye of a needle.
God calls those to whom much has been given to give more of themselves and their resources. As I said before, we are truly among the richest and most blessed to walk this earth today or at anytime in the past. We must hold fast to our faith in God, and seek our comfort in God, not in the things of this world. We must give up what we have in this world, and treat one another with lovingkindness and compassion. We must be broken down and poured out, dead to this world. Then, even as the world's most blessed, we can go through the eye of the needle.
I pray that I can continually make progress in living that kind of life.
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