Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle
than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
(Mark 10:24-25 NIV)
There are some things in the Bible that are just hard to hear, like John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble,” and Philippians 1:29, “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.” And then there’s that all-time “favorite,” “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” (Mark 10:25) Lovely. Who wants to hear that they will have suffering and trouble in this world? And, who wants to hear that only poor people get to heaven? I would expect that, no matter your personal financial status, if you are reading an email or blog post on a smartphone, computer, or tablet, by the world’s standards you cannot be considered “poor.” So, what hope is there for any of us?
If we only looked at these three verses without their context or an understanding of their culture, we might miss what God is saying. We are told there will be trouble and suffering in this world because the enemy of our souls influences our physical, spiritual, emotional, and relational lives in order to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10). If you only look at this “promise” of suffering, that’s a pretty awful place to be. BUT GOD. God also promises never to leave us or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6-8). He says that he has “overcome the world” (John 16:33). And over and over and over he talks about how he loves us, is present with us, and wants to bless us. Context matters. If you only read and internalize the warnings of trouble and hardship you miss the gifts and grace that God gives us to deal with the troubles and hardship.
But back to that pesky camel.
When you think of a camel going through the eye of a sewing needle, that sounds perfectly impossible. Seriously, without breaking that camel down almost into its molecular parts, how would you ever get it through the eye of a needle? Impossible! Just like when we think about our sinful nature and how we could never be perfect and holy enough to be with God and in his presence. BUT GOD. God provided a way for us to receive salvation through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And when you think about that camel, there’s good news.
Our pastor recently explained that ancient cities would have walls that had large gates open during the day for trade and commerce, but closed at night. However, there would be a much smaller “eye of a needle” doorway where after-hour travelers could still enter the city. When Jesus said, “How hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God,” he was referring to this doorway – an image his disciples would have recognized. The trick for the camel, though, was that it had to be unloaded and be down on its knees to fit through the doorway.
The Bible is not against wealth or money; in fact Deuteronomy 8:18 tells us that it’s God who gives us the ability to produce wealth. We are expected, then, to use our wealth to bless others. When the love of money – not the money itself – corrupts us (1 Timothy 6:10), that’s when we get into trouble. The rich man couldn’t fit through that “eye of a needle” because he was loaded down with the things of this world. He wasn’t able to fully trust God. He wasn’t able to “unload” and really seek God’s purpose, destiny, and abundant life through the spiritual doorway of Jesus Christ. He wasn’t turned away because he had earthly wealth, he chose his earthly life over the Abundant Life Jesus offered him (John 10:10). He couldn’t or wouldn’t “unload” his love of stuff so that he could have greater love for God.
Who can be saved by their own work or efforts? No one. What camel could fit through that doorway without being unloaded? None. Which of us can experience the fullness of God without being “unloaded?” No one.
What must you and I “unload” in order to have the Abundant Life God wants us to fully experience?
God,
Thank you for your Word which gives us what we need for dealing with the world we live in and so we can be in full relationship with you. Help us to study, internalize, and live out of your Word in all we do. Thank you that you have given us the ability to produce wealth and the calling to use that wealth to bless others. Help us to guard our hearts from the love of money and other things that load us down. We know that there are many, many things that can keep us from fully loving you – our own pride, unforgiveness, distractions, idols, unwillingness to trust, anger, and so much more. Create in us clean hearts and renew right spirits within us so that we may be cleansed of all that inhibits us from being with you, our pure and holy God. Show us what we need to unload, give us courage and strength to do that, and then show us and help us embrace the Abundant Life we are gaining. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.
“But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth” (Deuteronomy 8:18)
“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” (1 Timothy 6:10 NIV)
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10 NKJV)
“I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!” (John 16:33 NRSV)
“For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well….” (Philippians 1:29 NRSV)
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:1 NRSV)
“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:6-8 NKJV)
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”
“Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.
Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”
The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:17-27 NIV)