30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 13 22-30 The narrow door 03 Is our trust on the material
📖 Luke 13:22-30
16Oct19 - Is our trust on the material? - _Luke 13:22-30_ - Bible reading: _Mark 10:23-27_
_Luke 13:23-24 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, (24) “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able._
We have seen so far that Jesus was preaching about the good news of the kingdom and at the same time, He wants us to understand that entrance into His kingdom is by identifying ourselves by faith, with His crucifixion, burial and His resurrection.
As He is all set to explain this to us, when someone asks Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?". This question gave Jesus the right platform to unveil for us the way of the cross, to enter into His kingdom.
Jesus said, _Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. (14) Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it._
We will look at three preparatory lessons to understand the way of the cross to enter into His kingdom. What is the narrow gate and difficult way, to enter into life?
The first lesson is in Mark 10. From verse 17, we read about the Rich Young Ruler, who came seeking for eternal life. He could not follow Jesus, when Jesus asked him to go sell all that he had, give it to the poor, then he would riches in heaven and then come, take up the cross and follow Him.
He went away sad for he had great possessions. The Lord explains then to His disciples, the first of the three preparatory lessons, for the way of the cross. _Mark 10:23-27 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" (24) And the disciples were astonished at His words._ The disciples were astonished for they knew that riches was what everyone wanted, including the religious leaders. _But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!_ The Lord made it clear that it was not riches that prevented people from entering His kingdom but it was the attitude that people had towards riches. The attitude of trust.
Is the material our trust? This is what we must examine ruthlessly, within our own hearts. Many of us can testify of God’s goodness and miracles that we have experienced but deep down it is the ‘material’, which is our trust. Even if we have sacrificed much in life, we want our children to be well settled, materially, in life, for our trust is actually on the material.
If God is convicting you, will you repent of your trust?
_(25) 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." (26) And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?"_ The disciples realized that it will be very few who will pass this test of trust. Many will claim to know God but when it comes to matter of our trust, we will fail, because our trust is actually on the material things of life. _(27) But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible."_
*Thought to ponder*
```God is able to change our trust from the material to place our trust on Him.```