It is Hard for Rich People to Enter the Kingdom of God
In the United States of America we are all rich when we compare our lifestyle with the rest of the world and with all of the people who ever lived before us. We enjoy so much material prosperity. However, our wealth makes it very difficult for people to come to know Christ as Lord and Savior.(Matthew 19:24) Again, Jesus said it, not me. In fact, Jesus said it twice, and He drove home His point with an analogy.
Over the years I have heard various interpretations of what Jesus meant by a camel going through an eye of a needle. Let me just say that whatever He was saying, the disciples knew that He was meaning that it was very difficult if not impossible for that to happen. That is why Jesus had to assure them that with God all things are possible, even a rich person being saved. However, let's not miss the point by over analyzing the analogy. We are in serious trouble when it comes to being saved. We must renounce our dependence on riches and the feelings that we are able to take care of ourselves before we can ever fully surrender our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior. No one can be saved without doing that.
Remember, Jesus said this right after the rich young ruler went away unsaved and sad, because he had much wealth or property. Jesus told him that He could not work his way to heaven by being good, but he had to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. Why did Jesus tell this man such an extreme command? I believe He knew that he could not give his life completely to Jesus, until his riches were gone, and he had to totally depend on Jesus for everything. We don't have to sell it all, but we still have to come to the place where we depend on Christ for everything. That is saving faith.(Luke 9:23; 14:26-33)
Maybe this explains why we see great awakenings and church planting movements around the world, except in the rich parts. Maybe it would be better for us to have a huge financial collapse, so that many could be prepared for heaven, instead of going down the road to hell rich. In any case let's all pray that God would work the miracle of salvation in the hearts of multitudes of rich people, so they can enter the kingdom of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 22-25.
Over the years I have heard various interpretations of what Jesus meant by a camel going through an eye of a needle. Let me just say that whatever He was saying, the disciples knew that He was meaning that it was very difficult if not impossible for that to happen. That is why Jesus had to assure them that with God all things are possible, even a rich person being saved. However, let's not miss the point by over analyzing the analogy. We are in serious trouble when it comes to being saved. We must renounce our dependence on riches and the feelings that we are able to take care of ourselves before we can ever fully surrender our lives to Jesus as Lord and Savior. No one can be saved without doing that.
Remember, Jesus said this right after the rich young ruler went away unsaved and sad, because he had much wealth or property. Jesus told him that He could not work his way to heaven by being good, but he had to sell his possessions, give the money to the poor, and follow Him. Why did Jesus tell this man such an extreme command? I believe He knew that he could not give his life completely to Jesus, until his riches were gone, and he had to totally depend on Jesus for everything. We don't have to sell it all, but we still have to come to the place where we depend on Christ for everything. That is saving faith.(Luke 9:23; 14:26-33)
Maybe this explains why we see great awakenings and church planting movements around the world, except in the rich parts. Maybe it would be better for us to have a huge financial collapse, so that many could be prepared for heaven, instead of going down the road to hell rich. In any case let's all pray that God would work the miracle of salvation in the hearts of multitudes of rich people, so they can enter the kingdom of God.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Matthew 22-25.