Dear friends in Christ, grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The family was uncertain what to do about the priceless heirloom vase without damaging it. Their great-grandmother had hand painted it, and as a little grandson was studying it he curiously placed his hand inside the vase, he could not get it out.  His father tried  to remove the vase from the boy’s hand, but it was all in vain.  The family was actually thinking of breaking the vase into pieces when the father said, “Now, son, try once more.  But this time, open your hand and hold your fingers out straight, and then pull.”  To the family’s astonishment the little boy sheepishly answered, ” O no daddy, I couldn’t put my fingers like that. If I do, I’ll drop my penny.”

Regardless of our age, possessions have a way of getting the best of us. Those things we believe we must have, soon possess us, and how quickly yesterday’s luxuries become today’s necessities.  We forget about God and what he has done in our lives.  That was the case of the rich man in our gospel reading.

This morning, I would like to conclude my sermon series on the Epistle of James and Ordinary Discipleship with the question posed in St. Mark’s gospel by the rich, young ruler to Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Let me begin by underscoring that the rich, young ruler was not a bad man. Jesus  may have said some pretty harsh things about the rich, but they were not bad people. The young rich ruler kept the Lord’s commandments which he had learned in his childhood.  He did not kill, steal, defraud, or hurt anyone in any way. He was the kind of person that you would probably like as a next door neighbor or as a colleague. You’d be proud to call him your friend.  Not only was he respectable and polite, but he was also religious.  He knelt before Jesus and addressed him as the Good Teacher. When he asked the Rabbi a question, it was not to make himself look better than others, or to trap Jesus.  His question rose from a deep and sincere curiosity. “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Unfortunately, for the rich man, the conversation quickly went south.  Possessions, after all, do have a way of getting the best of us.  We read in the gospel that Jesus loved this man.  Indeed, he cared for the man’s present and for his future, and so he told him the truth.  “You lack one thing” The rich man looked up into Jesus’ face. “Go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”  When he heard this, the rich man was shocked and went away grieving. The result of that promising, chance meeting was a sad farewell.

But let’s be honest. Very few people are called to do what he was asked to do- to sell everything that they possess.  Jesus’ disciples weren’t called to do that. We know that Peter claimed to have left everything after he began following Jesus, still he had his house as well as his fishing boat. He didn’t sell them off and give the money to the poor. Nor did the other disciples.

The dazzling riches of this world, you see, aren’t inherently evil.  When Jesus taught his disciples that “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God,” he was simply speaking a profound word of truth.  When you believe you have accumulated all the comforts, securities, and entertainment amenities that the world offers, and you have been nurtured to trust that they are heaven on earth, there will be no need, nor room for the gracious, loving benevolence offered in God’s kingdom. You will have no need for God.

Jesus’ prophetic word was reminiscent of Moses’ plea to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. “Do not say to yourself, ‘My power and the might of my own hand have gotten me this wealth.’  But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth. If you do forget the Lord your God and follow other gods to serve and worship them, I solemnly warn you today that you shall surely perish.”

That, to me, is what is so intriguing about this story. It is a question to each one of us. What is that one thing that you lack in your relationship to God?  It may not be wealth or riches.  It may be pride or self-assuredness- or even theology.

For Lutherans, the right answer to the question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life” is always the same.  There is nothing you can do to inherit eternal life.  “Who can be saved?”  Without Jesus, no one. But with Jesus, everyone.  We believe that the kingdom of God cannot be purchased, earned or bartered for no matter how much money you have. All you have to do is to take Jesus’ hand in faith and let him lead you.  The challenge for us, however, is that we can be like the little boy clinging to the penny in the heirloom vase.  It is impossible to let go of those earthly treasures and take Jesus’ hand.  Faith without deeds and actions is dead.  That is what the wisdom of James is all about.

Throughout the Epistle of James, James the Just, Jesus’ brother is inviting his listeners to consider, what is that one thing that prevents them from placing all their trust in God. True, James speaks especially harshly to the rich for their sense of privilege, but he is just as hard on those who lack a sense of hospitality and refuse to welcome the stranger to their church or show favoritism to those whom they know best. James is extremely critical of those who show prejudice and hatred in their language, who choose to use their tongue to curse their neighbor instead of praising God. So in the final chapter, he suggests some ordinary ways that Christians should embrace and practice that will help them open their hands to God, so that Jesus may guide them.

What is the work of the Christian community?   If people are suffering, pray for them and help them take care of their needs. If there is joy in the church, celebrate. Don’t be embarrassed when good things happen.  Sing songs of praise.  It proclaims the wonder of God.  When people are sick, don’t forget about them. Call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. Remember to speak of sin, including your own.  Sin is a burden and an evil that destroys hope and life, but anyone who has committed sin will be forgiven. So don’t avoid acknowledging sin. Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of the righteous is powerful and effective.  Finally, be good shepherds leading the lost back to Christ.  My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and is brought back by another, you should know that whoever brings back a sinner from wandering will save the sinner’s soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.  That is the task of the Christian church, and through these means you will be placing your hand into he hand of the Savior.

A pastor once tried to explain eternal life to the youngsters in his children’s sermon and  how you get into heaven?  “If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would that get me into Heaven?” “NO!” the children all answered. “If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would that get me into Heaven?” Again, the answer was, “NO!” “Well, then, if I was kind to animals and gave candy to all the children, and loved my wife, would that get me into Heaven?”” He asked them again. “NO!” they all answered. “Well,” he continued, “Then how can I get into Heaven?” and a five-year-old boy shouted out, “Pastor, you got’ta die first!”

You see, you cannot bargain, negotiate nor coerce God into giving you eternal life. It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. “For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible.”  No, it is by God’s grace that he freely offers his gift of eternal life to you and to all those who know him and trust him.  Your choice now is simply to commit yourself anew, to live and enjoy and share the life and the gifts that he had entrusted to your care, so that your life can embody and reflect God’s gracious love.   My friends, heaven can wait for now.  And since that is so, you can turn your gaze to the world instead following Jesus  and practicing ordinary discipleship wherever he leads you.  Amen.

May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.