But as we hear this evenings readings we realise that there's more to it than just saying Jesus we will follow
you. Am I one of the rich people whose wealth will make it next to impossible to get into heaven? For in
comparison to so many in our world I am rich. I remember hearing this reading at school and how dis-
heartened we all felt - what hope was there for us. for obviously no camel could ever get through the eye of a
needle!

But is the message to do with good stewardship? Is it the way we spend our money that counts?
From the time of the early Church, it has been suggested that favour with God can be obtained by sharing
our wealth with the church. The burden of wealth is lifted, paving the way to heaven by the simple transfer
of money or possessions. In fact, there was a time when it wasn't even a suggestion - you could purchase
the indulgences you needed. If you were wealthy, you were blessed in many ways. If you were
poor, well bad luck. How Jesus must have wept over his church, for surely nothing was further from
his message. And no wonder people question the church's message.

Money gives the power to spend it how you like, to give it to good causes or just waste it. But it
surely would be just too easy if giving large sums of money to good causes bought redemption. I
always feel, now what do I feel, perhaps uncomfortable when churches, and I am not including ourselves in
this and I don't think I need to, - when churches in affluent areas say how quickly they have raised, say, a
million pounds to build a new hall or whatever. I know its good that the rich have given their money, but
in a poor parish where say nearly everyone earns below the national average it would take them a lifetime.

So what is the answer, for I think there is something quite uncomfortable in this reading. Have we to
accumulate wealth and give it all to the church or good causes in order to gain God's favor? Can that really be
Jesus' message. Is he asking us to sell all our possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow him? For if
we listen this is one of those moments when Jesus is being really clear.

Does it bring us into conflict with our faith - for it is an ethical challenge facing us all. Is the answer
in our stewardship, not just monetory stewardship but good stewardship of our time also. Going back to
monetory stewardship - how many of us know how much it costs to run our church each week? And if we don't know
how can our stewardship be good?

Jesus tells us that living a good life requires more than obeying the commandments. When we love God and
our neighbours as ourselves, we naturally follow the commandments.

But we must work to try to see a fairer distribution of wealth, buy Fairtrade goods to ease the plight of farmers
in Third world countries. We have to ask the hard questions. Do we do all we can to work for the just
distribution of wealth through participating in Mission projects.

Our covenant with God to love one another requires that we consider our choices and our actions. The awareness
of the need of others is the first step towards understanding what the Gospel is calling us to do. And
I believe it can't be achieved when we given money to buy ourselves favour, but when we give money to ease the
plight of others. True humility is concerned with the just distribution of wealth as the only real stewardship,
surrendering the false security of wealth and truly turning to God entering into his grace and receiving all the
security that will bring us.

Amen.