Again I tell you, 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.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
The prevailing belief in the days of Jesus amongst the Jewish people was that if God was pleased with you, then He would bless your business. To see someone with wealth meant to see someone with whom God was pleased and had determined to bless. In this cultural dynamic, followers of God desired wealth as a symbol of right standing with God. Though John the Baptist had little and was largely seen as a holy man, he was an exception to the rule and did not demolish it. To the disciples, the words of Jesus that a rich person could have difficulty entering into the kingdom of God challenged their entire belief construct.*
If rich people, who were presumed to be in good standing with God, could only enter the kingdom of God with difficulty, what did that mean for the poor? What did that mean for the disciples who gave all they had away to follow Christ?* What hope could they have?
This mentality does not seem to escape our American Christian culture. While God can and does cause businesses and finances to prosper for His purposes, financial security, material abundance, and success do not equate to right standing with God. In fact, Jesus turns the cultural beliefs of His time upside down by saying that those with much need extra help getting into heaven. Why?
Entrance into the kingdom of God is impossible for all. None can earn it. All who would enter need to rely wholly on Christ for salvation. Christ is sharing that those who have much have much to set aside in their hearts if they are to trust on God fully; this is not easy task. The poor have little to lean on for comfort, safety, or pleasure. Why would Jesus focus on wealth as stumbling block when other stumbling blocks can exist? Because that was the one in this young man’s life, and Jesus was addressing him in his journey. What does God want to address in us?
In our day and age, Americans, even those who do not seem to have much, are some of the richest in the history of the world.* We cannot earn our way into the kingdom, and giving away all we have will not pay for admission in His presence. God calls us all to be willing to set all aside if He asks; God calls us to rely totally on Him. Jesus is to be our Lord.
What are you holding onto today that you would say, “I cannot give that up!” This thing that you hold so closely to may stand in the way of serving Him; it may even be an idol in your life. He may not ask you to give it to Him, but He is asking you to be willing to.
Following Jesus may not feel easy. It can feel as difficult as giving up those things most dear to you. Jesus tells us though that the treasures awaiting those who give all for Him far outweigh what we have experienced here on earth.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to evaluate what you hold most dear. Perhaps God is asking you to release something or someone to Him. Maybe today it’s time to say, “I surrender all.”
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 492–497, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 19:23–30) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).