In his discussion of the Sermon on the Mount, Yancey indicates that Jesus’ words indicate a Great Reversal – meaning that the way God’s kingdom works is almost exactly the opposite of how our human kingdoms work. For example:
…I began to realize why so many saints voluntarily submit to the discipline of poverty. Dependence, humility, simplicity, cooperation, and a sense of abandon are qualities greatly prized in the spiritual life, but extremely elusive for people who live in comfort. There may be other ways to God but, oh, they are hard — as hard as a camel squeezing through the eye of a needle. In the Great Reversal of God’s kingdom, prosperous saints are very rare.
–Philip Yancey
We know God calls us to dependence on Him and interdependence on others. We know that he desires humility and simplicity in our character. And yet these qualities are not often highly praised in our society and culture. Without much material wealth, prideful independence can be harder to obtain, but that is what most of us are seeking here in America.
The question becomes – “What is most important to you?” The character traits that come with the Great Reversal of God’s kingdom, or the characteristics and qualities that our society says are important?