Matthew 19:23-26 We are given gifts to share with others.

We are given gifts to share with our families and others. Whether it is  money, talents or the gifts of the Spirit they are given to us to be shared. 

Matthew 19:23-26 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to 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.”

25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Whatever we do for the least of us we do for the glory of God. Without the grace given in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ there would be no salvation. We are all undeserving of this gift of God’s love. Carla

Jesus’ comment about a rich man’s salvation would have been difficult for some Jewish people in this period to accept because they held to a form of “prosperity theology.” If people prospered, it was evidence of God’s blessing on them. Whereas verse 23 says it is hard for a rich man to become saved, verse 24 implies that it is as impossible as passing a camel through the eye of a needle (Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25). The NKJV Study Bible

The challenge comes from being overly attached to earthly goods. Go through the eye of a needle, Jesus employs this ridiculous impossibility to capture His hearers’ attention and emphasize the great sacrifice necessitated by the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 19:21).

Jesus’ remarks in Matthew 19:23–24 reverse the conventional wisdom of His day. It was commonly believed that if someone was blessed with riches, they had God’s approval and were thereby assured of entrance into His kingdom of heaven. Faithlife Study Bible

The way to heaven is a narrow way to all, and the gate that leads into it, a strait gate; particularly so to rich people. More duties are expected from them than from others, and more sins easily beset them. It is hard not to be charmed with a smiling world. Rich people have a great account to make up for their opportunities above others. It is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven. Christ used an expression, denoting a difficulty altogether unconquerable by the power of man. Nothing less than the almighty grace of God will enable a rich man to get over this difficulty. The beginning, progress, and perfecting the work of salvation, depend wholly on the almighty power of God, to which all things are possible. Not that rich people can be saved in their worldliness, but that they should be saved from it. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Genesis 18:14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Job 42:2

“I know that You can do everything,

And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

Matthew 13:22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. 

Jeremiah 32:17 ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You. 

Luke 1:37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

And here’s the deal: this happens to me (the need to hide) when I put a moral price tag on my wounded (or fragile or broken) places. Because, now, these are places to be run from, or concealed, or suppressed, or fixed.

And I miss the power that these are places where grace lives.

I miss the exquisite beauty (strength and power and life) in what is fragile—and the light that shines from broken places—love, tenderness, kindness, generosity, gentleness and empathy.

We forget (or maybe don’t see) that it is from our soft and broken places that light (and healing) can and does spill.“Sabbath Moments”

The Teacher advised God's people to savor their work, experiences, and relationships while they were alive (Ecclesiastes 9:7-10). After all, "He who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion" (Ecclesiastes 9:4) This is a depressing mindset, isn't it? In the end, our fun on earth will be short-lived, overshadowed by the emptiness of pleasure and the inevitability of death. From this perspective, the meaning of life is ... meaningless.

But for Christians, we know there's more. Christians believe in eternity in a way God's people could only glimpse in the Old Testament before the gospel of Jesus was fully revealed. We know we will die, yes, but we look to a Savior who took the sins of the world upon Himself so we can spend eternity with Him. Even now, He makes a place in heaven for us (Romans 6:23; John 3:16-17; John 14:1-3).

In Christ, we can truly enjoy both earthly and eternal life with appreciation for the Life-Giver. He provides opportunities for meaningful connection, beautiful experiences, and simple joys as we live out our days in His incredible creation: a wonderful bite of food, a smile from a loved one, a glorious sunset. None of these are trivial! But acknowledging God as our Sustainer and Provider is key. With this in mind, we live out our days on earth, many or few, difficult or easy, for God's glory. This is our meaning in life.

We see Jesus in the small joys, the big events, and everything in between. And because of His blessings, we walk with purpose and diligence. While the Teacher in Ecclesiastes 9:10 tried to work and live just for the sake of staying alive, the Apostle Paul tells us to work and live for the cause of Christ: "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ" (Colossians 3:23-24).

Therein lies the difference ... and what a difference Jesus makes! We are meant to live with meaning and intention, knowing that with Him, we have purpose in life and hope in death. First5