Eye of The Needle

A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”“Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.”“All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said.When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was very wealthy. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”Peter said to him, “We have left all we had to follow you!”“Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.” Luke 18:18-30

There was a common belief among the religious Jews that each person had one specific work he must do to guarantee eternal life. The pompous and self-righteous took great pride in itemizing their deeds and totalling their points. By this time in Jesus' ministry, He had become widely known as a healer and teacher. The Pharisees and lawyers had dogged His every step, commenting, questioning, debating, trying to trip Him up in His doctrine. This one may have been more sincerely seeking, in the sense of not wanting to leave anything important undone. Hence, his question: "what must I do?" Addressed, not to "Lord," but to "good teacher." This self-assured legalist wanted confirmation of his own worthiness.

Jesus noted that the man called Him good, but only God is good, so of course the term was just for flattery. The rulers were quite practiced in such tactics. Jesus' challenge to him was: how do you think you're doing? The specific commandments Jesus mentioned all have to do with outward behaviors toward other people. The ones not mentioned have to do with inner, spiritual condition and attitude. Relationship with God. Well, Ruler was confident he checked out in all those mentioned, "from my youth." Jesus didn't correct him and didn't commend him, but simply said there's more that a truly committed, obedient child of God could do, if he wanted to identify with the kingdom: get rid of all the baggage that keeps you preoccupied with worldly riches. Give it to people who need it and come with me. Your heavenly treasure will be much more than you have here. "How badly do you want it, Ruler?"

Ruler couldn't even reply. He was stunned by the suggestion that he give up his wealth. We don't know where he went from here, but at that moment Jesus' challenge to him did not compute. That's why Jesus said it is almost impossible for the rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. It is not because it is sinful to be rich, but because rich men are often blinded to their own spiritual poverty. Riches hinder by distraction. Riches must be protected, attended to, invested, accounted for. Being rich is a way of life, not usually compatible with spiritual sanctification and growth to maturity. But there is a clause: nothing is impossible with God. Even a rich man, who believes and receives the atonement of Jesus Christ for his sins, will be saved. And anything that is left behind in order to seek and serve the kingdom of God will be more than compensated for now and in eternity. We who are rich in the fellowship of like-minded believers have long since learned that, and we cherish the relationship we have with Christ and our fellow believers as we navigate the pitfalls of this earthly pilgrimage. Those riches are much more precious than gold.