The Downside to Wealth

“Then said Jesus unto His disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.  And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”  Matthew 19:23-24

In speaking to His disciples, Jesus told them that it was very difficult for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.  In fact, it was so difficult that Jesus reinforced His truth by adding an illustration that would amaze His disciples.  He said that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven”.  This is impossible for men.  No man can shove a big camel through the eye of a tiny sewing needle.  Bible commentators have tried to water this analogy down to make it more palatable to the reader.  What?  Have they never heard of hyperbole?  Jesus exaggerated for effect several times in His parables and illustrations.  We use hyperbole all the time:  “I have worn that outfit a million times”.  I doubt that.  One would have to wear an outfit every day for over 2,700 years to have worn it a million times!

Some commentators have stated that the needle was actually a small gate within a larger gate.  The man could get off the camel and go through the small gate leaving the camel and its load to enter the larger gate.  Others say that the camel could only go through the small gate called “the needle” if it left its load behind and got down on its knees.  There are others still who believe Jesus said “cable” instead of “camel”.  Perhaps these folks are just making an earnest, but misguided attempt at making Jesus’ statement a little less restrictive or narrow to make it more acceptable.  However, the way into the kingdom of God is a narrow way.  For man to try and minimize the criteria for obtaining eternal life gives man the idea that he can do something to earn salvation, but this is not what Jesus meant.

Jesus’ disciples understood that Jesus was talking about an impossible situation, in so much that they were amazed and asked Him, “Who then can be saved?”  The twelve of them looked on wealth as a sign of God’s favor, thus, according to Jesus’ statement, a wealthy man’s chances of making it into the kingdom of God were slim and none.  So where did that leave everyone else?  They began to wonder:   why was it so difficult for a rich man to be saved?  Aren’t there rich people who love God and serve Him?  What about Abraham, David, and Solomon?  They were all extremely wealthy men, yet they trusted God.  It is true that there have been, are, and will be wealthy folks who put God first.  However, they are very few and far between.  Matthew Henry wrote, “It is very rare for a man to be rich and not to set his heart upon his riches; and it is utterly impossible for a man that sets his heart upon his riches, to get to heaven; for ‘if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him’ (I John 2:15)”.

Jesus was using hyperbole in this illustration, but He was not exaggerating when it came to obstacles that men allow to keep themselves from honoring and serving the living God.  A person who is materially rich can very easily succumb to the false idea that money can satisfy their every need and desire.  They become dependent upon their wealth, never considering that it was God who allowed them to receive that wealth.  Paul asked in I Corinthians 4:7, “…and what do you have that you did not receive, and if you received it, why do you glory as if you had not received it?”  Many wealthy people try to take all the credit for their wealth:  “I pulled myself up by my bootstraps”, or “I am a self-made man”.  Some rich folks never consider that all their wealth could be gone in a flash.  There were men who committed suicide when the Great Depression hit causing them to lose their fortunes.

Wealth gives many a false confidence that they do not need God.  Without dependence upon and trust in God, they will have no access into God’s kingdom.  Some who are extremely wealthy do give away large sums to various causes perhaps thinking that this will buy them some favor with God or at least some positive affirmation or recognition with the public.  It’s not just the rich who put other things before God.  Anyone, poor, middle class, or rich can hinder themselves from entering God’s kingdom.  One of the main barriers to a relationship with Christ is pride.  All people are born with a sin nature, are selfish, and determined to be their own ruler.  It’s no wonder the disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?”  It would seem like man is hopelessly lost forever.  However, Jesus looked at His disciples with eyes of love and said, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible”.

It’s good to know that something we could never earn can be given to us as a gift.  Salvation and eternal life are offered to all, rich and poor.  Man cannot purge himself of pride, greed, and self-centeredness.  Only God can take a prideful sinner and make him into a saint.