Mark 10:13-16 and Matthew 18:1-14 are two different occasions on which Jesus used actual little children to teach his disciples that they must become like children if they want to enter the kingdom of heaven and the importance of actual little children to Jesus and His Father.
In Mark's case the disciples rebuked parents to hinder them from bring their little children to be blessed by Jesus, and Jesus rebuked His disciples. In Matthew's case the disciple wanted to know who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child to Himself to teach them.
From Matthew 18:4 we learn the greatest in the kingdom of heaven humbles himself as that little child did when he that came to Jesus' call. The child's response was unquestioning, trusting and innocent. In Mark 10:17-31 we get the account of the rich young ruler that wanted to be justified. He claims to have kept the commandments since his youth, but knew he still lacked something. Jesus loved him, but when Jesus gave him the call to sell all he had to become rich in heaven and to pick up the cross and follow Him, he walked away disappointed. He was not a child of God, since little children don't possess anything under their own authority, they must get everything from their father. The rich young ruler chose the visible wealth he gained from his earthly father and his own initiative over the unseen, but far more valuable, wealth offered by being a born again follower of Christ and His Father. The disciples were astounded by this requirement, even though they had pretty much done what he asked when He called them. They must have still been holding on to some hope that earthly wealth and power like the rich man had would be part of the future Christ would bring them. It wasn't until they finished carrying the cross and received their riches in heaven as Christ did. The health and wealth gospel is not taught by Christ. The crucified and poor gospel is the narrow way to eternal life.
My interpretation of the rich young ruler passage of course convicts me of my own hypocrisy and need to repent. Christ is making it ever clearer to me I can't trust in wealth and continue loading up a camel with goods that won't fit through the eye of a needle. Even though Christ says all things are possible with God, I take that as hope that there is still time to repent rather than encouragement to continue loading up the camel. Also, Christ promises that the things we lose for His sake will be restored in greater measure in this life and the next; however, all of it comes only by trust in Christ and His Father. I must always remember in this life that I am not an owner, I am only a steward who will only be trusted with my own wealth if I am faithful with the little portion of God's wealth I have been entrusted with here.
I also need to be increasingly more responsive and trusting like the little child Christ called to himself. Getting into the kingdom of heaven by conversion as a little child is not all there is to gain by becoming more and more like a little child in humility each day God's mercies are made new for us. The riches of Christ's wisdom and the fruits of the Spirit must increase and are only available to little children that wait on their Father.
I am also beginning a journey of volunteering and learning how to love the poor in the communities where I live and work and not disregard, despite or neglect them or think of them as somebody else's problem and not part of my calling. If I can truly see them as my neighbors and learn ways to show His love to them and share His gospel with them, He says He will see me responding to His needs in response to His voice as His sheep. I never would have even thought to do that if hadn't learned to humbled myself like a child homeless on the streets to receive the love Christ showed me when I was a beggar.
Rich, well said and good food for thought. Perhaps it is good for all of us to think of how we can "downsize" our lifestyle, "unloading that camel" as you said. There are so many ways to bless others with our time, talents, and "treasures", (One man's junk is another's treasure rings a bell).
In Mark's case the disciples rebuked parents to hinder them from bring their little children to be blessed by Jesus, and Jesus rebuked His disciples. In Matthew's case the disciple wanted to know who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven and Jesus called a little child to Himself to teach them.
From Matthew 18:4 we learn the greatest in the kingdom of heaven humbles himself as that little child did when he that came to Jesus' call. The child's response was unquestioning, trusting and innocent. In Mark 10:17-31 we get the account of the rich young ruler that wanted to be justified. He claims to have kept the commandments since his youth, but knew he still lacked something. Jesus loved him, but when Jesus gave him the call to sell all he had to become rich in heaven and to pick up the cross and follow Him, he walked away disappointed. He was not a child of God, since little children don't possess anything under their own authority, they must get everything from their father. The rich young ruler chose the visible wealth he gained from his earthly father and his own initiative over the unseen, but far more valuable, wealth offered by being a born again follower of Christ and His Father. The disciples were astounded by this requirement, even though they had pretty much done what he asked when He called them. They must have still been holding on to some hope that earthly wealth and power like the rich man had would be part of the future Christ would bring them. It wasn't until they finished carrying the cross and received their riches in heaven as Christ did. The health and wealth gospel is not taught by Christ. The crucified and poor gospel is the narrow way to eternal life.
I also need to be increasingly more responsive and trusting like the little child Christ called to himself. Getting into the kingdom of heaven by conversion as a little child is not all there is to gain by becoming more and more like a little child in humility each day God's mercies are made new for us. The riches of Christ's wisdom and the fruits of the Spirit must increase and are only available to little children that wait on their Father.
I am also beginning a journey of volunteering and learning how to love the poor in the communities where I live and work and not disregard, despite or neglect them or think of them as somebody else's problem and not part of my calling. If I can truly see them as my neighbors and learn ways to show His love to them and share His gospel with them, He says He will see me responding to His needs in response to His voice as His sheep. I never would have even thought to do that if hadn't learned to humbled myself like a child homeless on the streets to receive the love Christ showed me when I was a beggar.
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