Luke 18:24-27 24And seeing that he had become sad, Jesus said, “With such difficulty those who have wealth enter the kingdom of God! 25For 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.” 26And those who were listening said, “And who can be saved?” 27But he said, “What is impossible with people is possible with God.”
The rich young ruler could not count the cost of commitment to Jesus and kingdom values. His wealth was too important to him. He was blinded by the false promises of happiness that wealth and material things give. Jesus’ response to the young man is a powerful lesson for us today and the key point of the story. Wealth can be a major block to entering God’s kingdom. Wealth should not be used for selfish pursuits but to serve God by providing for those in need. Many wealthy people waste money on material goods like mansions and expensive cars, but not on God’s priorities. Wealth can be a great benefit to God’s kingdom by providing resources for mission work, local church ministries, and compassionate outreach.
One of the best known statements from Jesus is found in verse 25. This verse is an overstatement to make a clear point. There has been debate and discussion over the years about if Jesus is being literal and describing one of the gates of Jerusalem or hyperbolic by referring to the largest animal of that time and location compared to the smallest object common to most households. We can imagine a big animal trying to be squeezed through the tiny opening of a needle. It is funny to consider and impossible to happen, which is the point of the saying. For the most part, rich people have a hard time consecrating all because they have become too attached to their wealth. In many cases, they earned their wealth through hard work. They view their wealth as theirs. The lusts of the flesh soon take over can confuse people’s priorities.
The people listening in had their worldviews shaken up. They valued wealth. They thought wealth was a blessing from God, and so those who were rich were closer to God. Just like today, most people throughout time have sought to obtain more. Those with wealth are often the power holders of a culture. They are patrons who hand out goods and services to the rest of culture. Wealth is a relative term. One one person may consider normal may be viewed as wealthy to another. Even people who may seem poor can be envied by those who are even poorer. One does not need to be a millionaire to struggle with possessions and worldly goods. If the rich cannot be saved because of their wealth, then no one can be.
Wealth can be a blessing or a curse. It can be used to further God’s kingdom or keep people from it. Wealth in itself is not the issue but what a person does with his or her resources. Verse 27 reminds us that everyone is saved by God’s grace and not human effort, including having wealth, power, or position. It is impossible to buy our way into heaven. Wealth can be a great blessing when used for God’s glory, but it can also be a great hindrance if it becomes an idol.
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