“No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Luke 16:13

“It’s not riches alone, but the blind pursuit of wealth that “enslaves” a person. Money can help us do tremendous good for others. But all who focus on getting more and more stuff are caught in a vicious cycle. Like drugs, alcohol, or gambling, money and stuff can be powerful addictions. The powerful trap of pursuing wealth is always present in our world. But Jesus is always present, too, and he is more powerful than money and any stuff we can accumulate.” (Laurie Hanson. The Funny Shape of Faith: Devotions for the Rest of Us (Kindle Edition.)

Heaven: A Place With No Class (Read on McDuff before you crucify me)

Rich or poor – all fall short of the glory of G-d. Rich or poor – all are dependent on G-d’s love, mercy and grace. Rich or poor, Nasty or Nice – it is G-d who chooses who will be a part of the Kingdom. Paul will write in Galatians 3: “…in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. There is no longer Jew or Greek; there is no longer slave or free; there is no longer male and female, for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.” In other words, there is no class system in Heaven – there is only our G-d who chooses based on his system of determination – not ours. As such I have this feeling that once we get to paradise, we might be just a little surprised at who is being welcomed. It will not be based on our list of qualifications – for we are too quick to make class distinctions.

Instead of fighting to be at the front of the line or spending too much time deciding who should be at the end of the line, why not focus on paving the way for others to join the line of those who feel welcome and invited. Yes, heaven has no class, because all are equally welcome to the kingdom.

Let us pray,

Lord of the rich, poor, and all creation, help me avoid the trap of class distinctions when it comes to offering your love, mercy and grace. Give me the strength to help break down the divides that separate people, and help me see all people as your children. Amen.

Pastor Dave