Christian Mission and Poverty

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Christian Mission and Poverty

And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he was rich, having great possessions. And Jesus looked round about, and says to His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answers again, and says unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! More easily shall a camel enter through the eye of a needle than a rich man into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, and said, Who then can be saved? And He, looking upon them, said, What is impossible with men is possible with God. For with God all things are possible. Peter began to say to Him, Look, we have left all and followedYou. And Jesus answered and said, Truly I say unto you, Whoever shall leave what is his own, parents, and brethren, and possessions, for My sake and the Gospel’s, shall receive an hundred-fold now in this world, lands, and possessions, and house, and brothers, with persecutions; and in the world to come is life everlasting. But many that are first shall be last, and the last first . . . 8. . . . But, nevertheless, this man being such, is perfectly persuaded that he doesn’t need anything in relation to righteousness, but that he is entirely destitute of life. This is why he asks it from Him who alone is able to give it. And with reference to the law, he carries confidence; but the Son of God he addresses in supplication . . . 9. Jesus, accordingly, does not charge him with not having fulfilled all things out of the law, but loves him, and fondly welcomes his obedience in what he had learned; but says that he is not perfect in relation to eternal life . . . For “the commandment is holy” (Rom 7:12) as far as a sort of training with fear and preparatory discipline goes . . . But Christ is the fulfilment “of the law for righteousness to