God, Camels, and Wealth: Matthew 19:16-30
Focus Passage: Matthew 19:16-30 (NCV)
There is a proverbial “elephant in the room” that faces us every time we read this passage, and up to this point, we have ignored it. However, in this passage’s case, the “elephant” is not an actual elephant, but a “camel”.
While teaching on the challenges those who are rich face, Jesus makes this startling statement in verse 24: “I tell you that 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.”
Regardless of whether Jesus was talking about a literal needle (something that is used in sewing), or a human sized opening in the wall of Jerusalem, the reaction to Jesus’ words tells us what we need to know: “When Jesus’ followers heard this, they were very surprised and asked, ‘Then who can be saved?’” (v. 25)
This leads me to believe that the context for Jesus’ words suggests the more impossible of the two options, but it is only impossible when looking from one perspective. Jesus quickly follows up with another profound statement in verse 26: “For people this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”
These verses that surround this event say two big things: It is impossible for anyone (especially someone who is rich) to enter God’s kingdom on their own, but God can make impossible things possible for those who place their trust in Him.
While the context of this event has wealth as a key theme, money is not the reason that makes salvation impossible for some while possible for others. Wealth brings with it a new level of temptation, and that temptation centers around trusting the money over trusting God. The more money one has, the more tempted they are to think their money or ingenuity is a safe place to lean. The temptation of wealth is to look to the wealth and not to God.
But God isn’t willing to abandon those who are rich. He doesn’t abandon anyone who is honestly seeking Him and wanting to place their trust in Him. In this event, Jesus points out that for many who are rich, the decision to follow Him is a much harder decision to make, because of the things we own.
In our world today, everyone looks at wealth as a relative thing. Perhaps only a handful of people actually think they are “rich”. In society, “rich” is a moving target. We base wealth on what we own: someone who has 50% more than you is “rich”, while someone who has 50% less than you is “poor”. The fallacy here is that the poorest of people living in one country could be richer than 95% of those living in another.
I honestly don’t see God looking down and categorizing people based on wealth. Instead, I believe He is looking for those who are willing to trust Him with their lives. For this group, God makes a way for them to enter His Kingdom. Wealth isn’t even an issue in God’s eyes. What matters is where we place our focus.
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