Out Our Way:

Mark 10:17-27

Out our way, folks say there's no of question of whether or not you will ever get thrown from a horse, only when. For some of us - especially when learning to ride - it happens with alarming regularity. In my case, even with years of saddle time, it is nearly a daily occurence. Poor old Goliath just rolls his eyes and sighs every time it happens, because he is really a good-hearted soul who doesn't buck, rarely kicks, and although a bit of a stumble - klutz on the gallop - never intentionally attempts to throw me. I just tend to fall off a lot. But not as much as I used to, for slowly I have begun to get the feel and the rhythm and find my seat. I have moved up in riding skill from "rank beginner" to "not quite as rank a beginner." It is quite an accomplishment for me to have progressed that far in my skill, and I have eaten a lot of dust getting there.

But there really isn't any other way to become an accomplished rider than to get up and ride. Saddles don't come with seat belts, and falling off is part of the process. You have to be willing to face the chance you will end up in the dirt now and again if you ever expect to experience the thrill of really riding and becoming one with your horse. There is no other feeling quite like it.

Now, in the text Goliath selected for this week is the account of the rich young ruler who could not find the courage to follow Jesus without the "safety belt" of his wealth to protect him from unexpected trials along the way. Jesus was saddened that the man could not find the courage to follow him, and he remarked that it was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God.

This puzzled the disciples, for in the Jewish culture, great wealth was seen as a sign of God's favor. But what they didn't understand was that in most cases, the more you depend on your wealth the less you depend on God, and so it becomes an obstacle to growing in faith.

To grow in faith we have to grow in trust, and as we learn to depend on God instead of self and our possessions, the closer we come to the Kingdom of heaven. Conversely, the more we depend on things and our own resources, the less likely we are to trust God and grow in faith. Hence the wealthy very often have an underdeveloped faith, or even none at all. Who needs God's help when I own the world? As Jesus said, "What does it profit to gain the whole world and lose your soul?" He also warned that what we value most, God or mammon, will govern our lives.

Is wealth a bad thing? Not in and of itself, for there are those who use their riches for the good of the world. They understand they are God's stewards and so use what has been entrusted to them for the work of loving neighbor. But for many of us, the temptations of wealth can be overwhelming.

I personally struggle with making my weekly tithe to God's work because I find the more I have, the more selfish I tend to be. Not exactly a great example for the world am I? Maybe not yet, but I intend to challenge that. I explore my timidity in giving generously to God's work and I find it is cowardice. I am afraid to trust God and so put my faith in my possessions. I want a seat belt for my saddle. How far I am from the Kingdom of God with such an attitude!

So maybe it's time to "cowboy up" and start looking to God instead of my wallet, to seek first the Kingdom, and let God handle the rest. It isn't easy, and I am as scared of trusting God that much as I am of riding full tilt on Goliath with no seat belt. But I can never be truly what I want to be as a cowboy and as a disciple until I push past my fear and really give it a try.

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John Bruington and Goliath are connected with First Presbyterian Church of Havre, but consider the whole community of faith to be one Church in Christ. In the matters of faith we are all beginners.