家長們迷信「贏在起跑線」，把子女的時間填滿，課餘「押送」他們補習，參加不同的訓練班和比賽，累積厚厚的「佳績」，以應付面試。他日進入名校，扶搖直上大學，畢業後出人頭地，有如探囊取物！殊不知這樣做，扼殺了子女的童真，迫他們變成考試機器，變成了一個待人接物殘廢的人！付出的代價何其沉重！
理論上，富人容易進入天國，因為他們不愁衣食，並且有充裕的金錢、健康、時間和知識，可以找到最有效率的人際網絡，按耶穌基督的教訓，施捨窮人，以達至「成全」。但耶穌卻說：「富人難進天國…駱駝穿過針孔，比富人進天國還容易。」（瑪19:23b-24）為甚麼呢？
原來富人迷信「窮者越窮，富者越富」的宿命。為了保証自己站在有利的增值位置，手上的財富不會流失，惟有用它來不斷投資，有如雪球一樣，滾動出更豐厚的財富，使自己站在更能增值的位置上。結果財富並不幫助富人進入天國，反而成了進入天國的負累，因為捨棄一百幾十容易，捨棄一百幾十萬艱難！富有的人在起跑線上已經輸了；同樣望子成龍，強迫兒女累積厚厚佳績的父母，在起跑線上已經輸了！
門徒們太容易投降了！「這樣，誰還能得救呢？」（19:25）難道真是宿命嗎？難道在起跑線上佔了一個有利位置，就必定會勝出嗎？窮人的子女，一定上不了大學；富有的人，一定進不了天國嗎？感謝天父，感謝耶穌基督，是沒有宿命的！富人可以入天國，窮家孩子可以入大學，大部份時間處於劣勢中仍可取勝！秘訣在於找個可信的顧問，指導你投資的方向。這顧問是誰？人人都應當知道的。
聖父啊！一切為祢都是可能的，可以不飲苦杯而成功嗎？不要照我所願意的，而要照祢所願意的。亞孟。
The Fallacy of "Winning at the Balk Line" (Matthew 19:23-30)
Many parents believe in "winning at the balk line". They fill up the schedule of their children and escort them to tuition classes, training classes and competitions in order to build up a thick portfolio for interviews. When they are enrolled in elite schools, entering universities and landing in a good career shall be a piece of cake. Unbeknown to them, they kill the innocence of their children and force them into becoming examination machines and handicaps in interpersonal relationships. What a heavy price to pay!
Theoretically speaking, it is easier for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven because they don't have to worry about making a livelihood. They have abundant money, health, time, knowledge and the most efficient social networks to follow Jesus' teachings, to give to the poor and attain perfection. But Jesus says, "It will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven ... it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:23b-24) Why?
It is because the rich believe in the fate that "the poor shall be poorer and the rich richer". In order to ensure that they are standing in an advantageous value-adding position so that their wealth will never depreciate, the only way is to continue investing. Like a snowball, more wealth will be accumulated to make them stand in a more value-adding position. Consequently, wealth does not help the rich enter the Kingdom of Heaven but becomes a burden. It is because it is easy to abandon a few hundred dollars but difficult to forsake hundreds of millions. The rich have already failed at the balk line. Similarly, parents who force their children to build up a thick portfolio have also failed at the starting line!
The disciples surrendered too easily! "Who then can be saved?" (19:25) Is there really fate? Does standing in an advantageous position at the balk line guarantee victory? Do children of the poor never enter universities; and the rich never enter the Kingdom of God? Thank God, thank Jesus, there is no fate! The rich can enter heaven and poor children universities. Even underdogs can win! The secret is to hire a trustworthy expert to advise your investment. Who is this expert? Everybody should know.
Holy Father! Everything is possible for You. Can we not drink this cup and yet win? Not what I will but what You will! Amen.
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