Wealth and the Kingdom of God

Matthew 19:23-26 (NLT)

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. 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!”  The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.  Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

Years ago a good friend asked to speak with me.  He was an executive of a small company that had been purchased by a larger company.  My friend became a multimillionaire overnight.  Obviously, he was delighted, but also concerned that because he now was so rich, his ability to please the Lord was jeopardized because of verses like the above. 

Jesus responded to a “rich young man” who had asked Jesus what was needed to inherit eternal life.  Jesus replied that he should keep the commandments and the man replied that indeed he had.  Then Jesus told the man that “if you want to be perfect, go and sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven……”.  The rich young man was unwilling to do this and then Jesus spoke these words in Matthew 19:23-26.  This story also is found in Mark 10:24-25 and Luke 18:24-25. 

Who is a rich person?  Who is Jesus talking about?  We don’t know the degree of wealth of the rich man to whom Jesus is speaking although verse 22 says that “he had great possessions”.  However, Jesus always knows the heart of a person.  He knew that this young man, while obedient in most respects to the great commandments, was focused on himself more than he was on others.  He may have loved God because of his obedience to God’s commandments, but he did not love his neighbor as he loved himself. 

Jesus’ words about the camel and the eye of a needle raises several questions.  Is He being humorous?  Was He talking about a real sewing needle?  Was there a gate in Jerusalem called “Needles Eye” that was too small for a camel to pass through unless you could convince the camel to crawl on its knees?  Was there some other passageway in these ancient places where it was practically impossible for a camel to pass through?  We truly don’t know.  Scholars write that there is no archaeological or historical evidence for any natural passageway that Jesus was referring to.     

A person who is rich in worldly possessions will have great challenges to live a life as Christ’s disciple.  Jesus said in Luke 14:33 that if you wish to be His disciple you have to give up all of your possessions.  To a wealthy person who wishes to be a disciple of Christ, how do you respond to a command like this?  Personally, I struggle with this verse perhaps more than any other in the Bible. 

I don’t believe that it is any more difficult for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than a poor person.  Indeed, when Jesus made these statements, His disciples were astounded…..were they rich?  Most likely not, they were poor, yet they were still astounded and then asked the question, “who in the world can be saved?”  Perhaps the main thrust of this passage is not Jesus’ words about the rich man and the Kingdom of God, but His words that with God everything is possible.   That’s the real amazing grace of God, that it is through His love, grace and mercy that anyone who believes in God and in Jesus as Savior can enter the Kingdom of God.      

Being wealthy can certainly adversely affect your position in the Kingdom of God.  Wealth can cause self-sufficiency, that you don’t need a Savior, that you can handle everything life throws at you because you have many resources.  Wealth might also produce poor character such as pride, arrogance, and selfishness.  Yet, if God has blessed you with wealth, you can use your wealth for so many wonderful purposes.  Think of all the giving wealthy Christians have done to build hospitals, nursing homes, churches, missions, and the financial support of countless charitable programs. 

Wealth itself can be a blessing or a curse depending how whether it controls you or you control.  Remember that you cannot serve both God and mammon.  Which do you choose?    

“Since much wealth too often proves a snare and an encumbrance in the Christian's race, let him lighten the weight by 'dispersing abroad and giving to the poor'; whereby he will both soften the pilgrimage of his fellow travelers, and speed his own way the faster.” - Augustus Toplady