And Jesus looked about and saith unto His disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Mark 10:23
During his Gospel message, a preacher looked about the half-filled auditorium and declared, ‘This place should be packed!’ How right he was! The Gospel message is the best news anyone can hear. It is our only hope of escaping damnation and obtaining forgiveness and eternal bliss. The grand old story still thrills the hearts of the Lord’s people – most of the time. So why is the Hall not packed to the doors for every Gospel meeting? We live in a rich society where even those in what we call poverty are better off than the average in most of the rest of the world. Our wealth has produced a deadly apathy. As in Laodicea, they have need of nothing.
As our country grows ever more wealthy, our nation’s interest in the Gospel shrinks to the point where attendance at Gospel meetings is pathetic. So maybe we are targeting the wrong people as we seek to invite sinners to come and hear. As the majority of people ignore the Gospel and turn their attention to the sports events, the entertainment venues, the shopping centers, and their own homes filled with trinkets and gadgets, let us place our emphasis on those who cannot afford those things. An encouraging percentage of people in disadvantaged areas will still come out to hear the Gospel. A Gospel supper is still appealing to some folks who can’t afford to buy nice things at the supermarket. Yes, many of these people are poor because of the sinful lives they lead… but was it not for sinners that our Saviour came and died?
Our Bible tells us that not many rich, mighty, or noble are called. And yet, these are the ones on whom we place the most emphasis as we reach out with the Gospel. Why? Is it because they are so much like us? Maybe if we weren’t so well off ourselves, we would have better success in reaching out with the Gospel.
Who then can be saved? Mostly, those who are not rich. Let us focus on bringing the Gospel to the poor. -Jim MacIntosh