11-13-24-DAILY READING-ENG.

EXPERIENCING THE SPIRIT

                  WHAT'S HARD FOR THE RICHLY TALENTED 

Among many startling statements Jesus made to people of His day was this one: “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” (Matthew 19:24). This was an astounding assertion that went against everything the people had been taught; they'd always assumed wealth was a sign of God's blessing.

But Jesus knew that wealth causes people to feel self-sufficient and can lead them away from God. Rich people may never know how to walk by faith and experience the provision of God, for they already have everything they need, and they rely on their own abilities to obtain whatever else they may want. The same is true with those who are blessed with many natural talents. It's easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for someone with great talents to be used in the kingdom of God, for this person will be tempted to rely on natural abilities rather than the power of the Holy Spirit.

He or she may even begin to confuse abilities with God's enabling Holy Spirit. And once a person's talents become a substitute for the work of the Holy Spirit, that person is of no use to God. Don't get me wrong: God can use our talents. But never forget that He can also use our weaknesses. There are many ways God can get glory from our lives. Sometimes He'll enhance and sanctify our natural abilities and character qualities, while at other times He'll use a person in ways that don't correspond to anything previously seen in that person's life.