The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I say to you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, 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.’ When the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ And looking at them, Jesus said to them, ‘With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

—Matthew 19:23–26

When we are rich in anything—time, talent, money, health, intelligence, beauty, etc.—our tendency is to rely on and put our hope in that thing to the point that we can’t imagine our lives without its benefit and security.

To be servants of Christ, we must recognize that these riches are not lasting or meaningful in the kingdom of God; they are temporary circumstances in our earthly lives. Many of them fade over the natural course of time, and if we have not become confident in God alone before that happens, we will become bitter and disillusioned over their loss. 

We must be willing to give them up if he asks, knowing it’s not our richness that matters in the end; it’s Christ’s sacrifice and life in us.

Anything we aren’t willing to give up when the Lord asks is an idol.

He knows we will be left empty if we’re counting on our idols, so he may make us destitute in this life so we won’t be destitute forever. If there’s something in the way, he will make a way for us to come to him. We still must choose to come, but the path will be possible.

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