Camels, Needles, Riches, and Heaven...

What do you think Jesus meant by it being easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a rich man to enter Heaven means? Probably not what you think. If you take it at face value you’d probably think the rich can’t enter Heaven. Why? Because a camel can’t fit through the small opening of a needle. This simply isn’t the meaning. A rich person has comfort and familiarity with living a certain lifestyle. Their money affords them the option to say “NO” to God. The thought of Heaven scares them. They don’t live a life trying to follow God, so the guilt or shame clouds their view of Heaven, or even their view of Hell. So life here on earth is all they know. They like it, are comfortable with it, and don’t want to give it up or leave. They don’t pursue Salvation because they think Heaven is right here and now. For the poor and down-troddened, Heaven is way better than life here on earth. The pain and suffering, sickness and disease, and consequences of sin are too much. They think, “anything is better than this”. So they strive to pursue the things of God and salvation. The story of the rich man here clearly demonstrates this truth. The thought of leaving behind all of his treasures devastated him. He went away sad because he knew the truth. He loved his riches more than he loved God. So what do we take away from this passage? No matter how good or how bad we have it here on earth, Heaven will be better. It will be far beyond our “best” day here on earth. Heaven means we will be with God. His presence is the best we will ever have. We should strive for salvation, and once gained, live it out exactly the way God intends it to be lived out. There’s no amount of comfort on earth that riches can bring that will fulfill our purpose in life. Riches and things are no substitute for God. And when we focus our affections on earthly things, we lose our spiritual sight. I don’t want to be spiritually blind and miss out on all that God has for me. Do you?

Someone came to Jesus with this question: “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?”17 “Why ask Me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. But to answer your question–if you want to receive eternal life, keep the commandments.”18 “Which ones?” the man asked.And Jesus replied: “ ‘You must not murder. You must not commit adultery. You must not steal. You must not testify falsely. 19 Honor your father and mother. Love your neighbor as yourself.’”20 “I’ve obeyed all these commandments,” the young man replied. “What else must I do?”21 Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”22 But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions.23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. 24 I’ll say it again–it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”25 The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”27 Then Peter said to Him, “We’ve given up everything to follow You. What will we get?”28 Jesus replied, “I assure you that when the world is made new and the Son of Man sits upon His glorious throne, you who have been My followers will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for My sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.30 But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. Matthew 19:16-30