Shall we discuss a touchy subject today?
“Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God,’” (Matthew 19:23, 24).
How do we live for the Kingdom, for if we’re born again that’s where we come from and those are the standards, social values and rules by which we should live? To proof how serious the Lord is about this, we can read on in this passage.
“When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’ Peter answered him, ‘We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first,’” (Verses 25-30).
Are you astonished as well? What have we heard all our lives in church? Do these words of Jesus come as a shock to us? Have you seen the twelve disciples’ rewards because they gave up everything for the Kingdom’s sake?
In the walls of Jerusalem, next to each gate, was a hole in the wall where people could access the city when the gates were closed at night, called the eye of the needle (see picture). A camel couldn’t go through it unless it’s unpacked and gets onto its knees. Apparently the gates differed in size.
Why is it more difficult for a rich man to get to heaven? It’s simply because rich people rely on their money rather than on the Lord, spending more time making money, thinking about investing it, protecting it than thinking about and focusing on what is important to the Lord. We can’t serve both God and Mammon (money), Jesus said (Matthew 6:24). If rich people get rid of what they rely on (unpack the camel) and get on their knees (rely on the Lord) they’ll get through the needle – the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13, 14 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%207:13-14&version=NIV1984).
Is Jesus talking about the rich unsaved or the rich Christians? He’s talking about those who rely on their money to bless them, those who use their money to increase their earthly comfort, status and feelings of contentment. If rich Christians increase their own comfort with the excess money that the Lord blesses them with, they sin and are liable to miss the Kingdom of God.
Jesus said in our passage above that those who leave these things for Christ sake will be abundantly blessed. If we live for the Kingdom our treasure should be in heaven (Matthew 6:19, 20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:19-20&version=NIV1984). Our ability to make money should be for the benefit of the Kingdom of God, i.e. money should go through our hands and not into our earthly treasures. We should draw a circle around our needs, and any money that’s more than we need should bless God’s Kingdom. George Muller handled millions of pounds for the sake of God’s Kingdom in his lifetime, but died owning only the basics. Imagine his heavenly treasure. Those Christians gifted to make money received the motivational gift of giving (Romans 12:8 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=romans%2012:6-8&version=NIV1984) and the intention of God’s blessing is not our own comfort, pleasure and social standing, but His work on earth.
Lord, I’d like to enter your Kingdom. Show me what I can leave for your sake.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
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