The World of Two Ways

"Two ways hath God put before the children of men, and two inclinations hath He bestowed upon them, two kinds of actions and two aims. Therefore all things are in twos, the one opposite to the other." We ought not be double minded pursuing both goodness and wickedness. Cling only to the ways of goodness, the Lord delights in them and we should yearn after them. We are in the world of the 'two ways'.1

According to some philosophers and religious teachers we are in the world of the two ways we can either choose the treasures of heaven or the treasures of the earth but you cannot have both for you will learn to hate the one and love the other.

But, I shall ramble about wealth for a moment. Being rich neither makes one good nor bad. It rains upon the just and the unjust. Wealth is a magnifier of ones deeds. Though deeds or alms giving are to be done in secret. There is a saying, the greater the secret the greater the reward. Along with this according to the teaching of the Jesus of Nazareth in Matt. 19:24 “And again I say unto you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” This quote is reiterated in

Mark 10:23–27
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

Luke 18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. The story of the wealthy youth who could not give all to follow this ancient prophet of Nazareth was clearly of great weight, import and moment.

No such gate exists. There has never been any evidence for such a gate called the “eye of the needle” existing, much less a gate of this nature at all in the Jerusalem wall. The entire thing is a complete fabrication, which sounds good, in a bible given to me in my youth called Holy Bible: From the Ancient Eastern Text is a translation from Aramaic by George M. Lamsa he uses the word 'rope' in the main text. In a footnote on Matthew 19:24 it says the Aramaic word gamla means rope and camel, possibly because the ropes were made from camel hair. Evidence for this also comes from the 10th century Aramaic lexicographer Mar Bahlul who gives the meaning as a "a large rope used to bind ships". These stories completely ignore what Jesus also said in Matthew 26 “But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

The great secret of this world is that one can get gain through murder. But, can one get gain through "lesser" sins or evil? Maybe a little lying, a little cheating, perhaps steal a little? Vice and virtue these are the two choices. One seems fun, glitzy and glamorous. The other seems boring, trivial and often not worthwhile. We are shown the lifestyles of the rich and famous we ogle over the massive wealth of Bill Gates or Carlos Slim Helu the richest man in the world. We now build mansion unto ourselves. Look at the houses we live in today. Go to the homes and neighborhoods of the average person in the 1940's- 50's and 60's compare them to the middle class homes of today.

The homes of today are mansions of yesteryear. The saltbox home of the 50's were purchased on loans that were 10-15 years. Today we settle for 20-30 year mortgages. We enslave ourselves to debt, and for what? By indulging in the 'things' of today we put off or ignore the things of tomorrow.

We learn from Abraham the friend of God that what makes him righteous is the fact that he seeks out the wayfarer and stranger. Abraham actively purses those lost in the desert to give them water, food and shelter. Wherever Abraham goes he plants an oak tree.

In legends about Abraham, he seeks out the wayfarer and stranger. The midrash tells us that Abraham’s tent was open at both sides so that he could see visitors coming from any direction (Genesis Rabbah 48:9 411). “The heat of the day” refers to noon, when the sun and the shade are equally hot (Genesis Rabbah 48:8 410). Why did not Abraham remain within the relative coolness of his tent? The Talmud explains (B. Talmud Baba Metzia 86a):
The Holy One, Blessed be He, came to enquire after Abraham’s health; moreover, he drew the sun out of its sheath so that the righteous man (who is Abraham) should not be troubled with wayfarers. Abraham sent [his servant] Eliezer out to seek travelers, but Eliezer found none. Abraham said, “I do not believe you.” So Abraham himself went out, and saw the Holy One, blessed be He, standing at the door, thus it is written, “Pass not away, I pray you, from your servant.” But on seeing Abraham tying and untying the bandages of his circumcision, the Lord said, “It is not well that I stand here;” Hence it is written, And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him, and when he saw them, he ran to meet them.

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