23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”
24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is[e] to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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 10:23-25
Financial blessings do not necessarily reflect God's favor. I used to think it did but then I would think about all the wonderful preachers and missionaries who truly live their lives for God and many are far from rich. In fact the Lord tells us in the scriptures how difficult it will be for many rich men to ever enter heaven because so many look to money as their god. They try to find their happiness from people, places and things. Many people place more importance on making their almighty dollar than worshiping our Almighty Father. I worked in an environment for over twenty years where obtaining financial wealth was everyone's number one goal. To watch who out did who with the jewelry, the houses and the automobiles were countless years of entertainment. I was around people who would sell themselves out and their families for the big bucks. I would be attacked and accused falsely of things simply because people hated me or were threatened by me. I never sold out and I never rose up the ladder by knowing someone, I rose up the ladder by hard work, God's favor, and God's gifts. But even I lost sight after awhile and forgot the One who gave me all my successes. But I am so grateful the Lord loved me enough to ask me to lay it all down for Him. And I am so thankful I obeyed Him that day. And when I reflect back, I think "how on earth could I ever think that God favored those men and women because they had wealth"? A lot of times people gain riches through lying, cheating and stealing. So how could God ever honor that with His favor? So don't ever make the same mistake I did by equating God's favor with the riches of this world. And I will leave you with one name? Jesus.
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