Doors, Walls, and Fences

Read Mark 9:1–10:52

24. Jesus said again, “Dear children, it is very hard to enter the Kingdom of God.
25. In fact, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
26. The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
27. Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”
28. Then Peter began to speak up. “We’ve given up everything to follow you,” he said.
29. “Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good News,
30. will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and property—along with persecution.” Mark 10:24-30

Everyone lives with physical barriers—the doors, walls, and fences that keep valuables in and intruders out. These barriers have counterparts in the moral and spiritual arena—beliefs, attitudes, and actions that define and limit a person’s choices. Think, for example, of the fences put up by prejudice, the doors shut by negative self-worth, and the walls built with pride or rebellion.

The young man in today’s passage wasn’t even aware of the barrier that he had put around his heart. Jesus knocked on the barrier, but the young man was unwilling even to make an opening, much less tear it down. This caused a problem. From the text we can see that all of the young man’s good intentions and law-abiding behavior didn’t count as much with Jesus as did removing that barrier around his heart.

When Jesus told the rich young man to sell all he had, the man walked away sadly (Mark 10:17-23). Jesus’ challenge revealed the truth about the young man’s law-abiding record: he loved his money more than God, thus breaking the first commandment (Exodus 20:3). And as Jesus pointed out, until he let go of this false god, he could not have eternal life (Mark 10:17, 23).

Boasting about goodness always presents a barrier to following Jesus—a false god who is really being served. Love of money blocked this man from following Christ; for others it may be career, relationships, security, power, or simply self-centeredness.

The next time you find yourself feeling pride in your own efforts, reevaluate your priorities. Confess your “idol worship” and give Christ first place in your life.