Entering the eye of the needle

Entering the eye of the needle

Scripture:-

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich 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 someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

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, “Truly I tell you, 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 wife 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. Matthew 19:23-30

Observation:-

Imagine! A camel squeezing through the eye of a needle! It seems just too impossible to comprehend. However, that was exactly the degree of difficulty that the Lord wished to express regarding the way for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. For the poor man who has little, he believes easily for he really has nothing to lose. Little children enter Heaven easily for they come honestly and happily to the Lord. They do not have any baggage or possessions or wealth to bog them down. Ultimately, the typical rich man defines himself by the vastness of his wealth and treasures. He ties himself down with many pleasures, and to give so much up to follow Jesus just seems impossible. The money and possessions are symbolized in the camel. We just can’t bring this camel if we are to enter the narrow door of salvation. Again, this does not mean that we are all called to sell all our possessions. Rather, we are to recognize that all these is only temporary, and we who have such abundant wealth should endeavor to exchange it gradually rather to bless others, and so use temporary wealth to gain permanent wealth.

Impossible! “Who then can be saved?” protest the disciples who have high regard for rich. The Lord then reminds them “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible!” God created all things and is able to save anyone!

Peter then asks “How about us, Lord? We have left everything to follow you!” And here the Lord declares to His disciples how at the renewal of all things, His disciples will sit on twelve thrones and judge the twelve tribes of Israel. We are reminded here of how the Lord will make everything new when he comes again, and we are given a clue to future government whereby each of the Lord’s disciples will have authority over one tribe of Israel. The Lord also further explains how everyone who has left houses or families or fields for His sake will receive a 100 times as much and will inherit eternal life! However, many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. While many, like the rich young man lived life being superior to others in wealth and prosperity, the time will come when they will be last, for they hoarded wealth for themselves and were not generous to God or their fellow men. This warning is a stark reminder for all of us concerning our future accountability to the Lord.

Application:-

Again, we must remind ourselves that wealth is only temporal, and we must not become attached to it. Following the Lord may mean having to give up everything, especially in the last days, when the Anti-Christ rules the earth for a season. Sacrificing our temporal wealth for the Lord is no loss indeed, for we will gain a 100-fold according to His promise and most important of all gain eternal life! The world is short term in thinking, seeking gratification of the flesh and accumulation of wealth as a symbol or pride and power. The Lord’s way is different, looking ahead beyond this life, instead making the priority His will and His kingdom.

Prayer:-

We thank You, Father God, that nothing is impossible for You, and even the hardest sinner can still be saved. We come before You O Lord, asking Your forgiveness where we have made wealth and money too important. We thank You that in You, we have all we need, and we do not need to prioritize pursuit of wealth which is a chasing after the wind. Where you have given us the ability to attain wealth, help us use it wisely for the extension of your kingdom and blessing the poor. Let us always have Your kingdom viewpoint in the way we live our lives. In Jesus name, Amen.

Labor not to be rich

Labor not to be rich 
Scripture: Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Proverbs 23:4

Observation: This Proverb tells us not to do two things – do not labor to be rich, and cease from your own wisdom. At first glance, the first part of the proverb seems to contradict Proverbs 6 which exhorts us to be like the ant that is hardworking and not like the sluggard which folds his hands to sleep all the time.

However, it is not our labor that is wrong, it is the motive of our labor. There is nothing wrong with working hard to provide for our family to give them good things in life. However, the warning is for those whose motive is to accumulate more and more, to become richer and richer at whatever the cost, even when they already have enough. Jesus said “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet lose his soul?”

The desire to be rich continues to cloud the hearts of men. The deceitfulness of wealth is one of the 3 things Jesus said will choke the Word, making it unfruitful. It blinds good men and greed has become the downfall of so many throughout history. Jesus said “No one can have two masters. You cannot serve both God and mammon”. Mammon means money. Does money serve us or do we serve money? The person who labors to be rich is serving mammon.  

Tithing and giving is a good test of our hearts. How easily we give to God and to others also tests how attached we are to money. When we don’t have enough, tithing is a test of faith. When we already have much more than we need, tithing is a test of greed. In fact, the rich should give much more than 10% but many can’t even give 10% because money blinds them. The rich man who labors not to be rich but to serve God has this thought in his heart “how will I earn more that I may bless others more?” Consider the example of Pastor Rick Warren who became mega-rich through his PDL books. He refused to change his lifestyle, and only keep 10% of his income while giving the rest away to worthy causes.

Now moving on to the second part: cease from thy own wisdom. We have two choices in our thinking. Do it independently in our own mind only or consider God. An excellent and famous Proverb reads “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own outstanding. Consider the Lord in all your ways and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 We are called to always consider the Lord in our thoughts and decisions, and seek His counsel and blessing.

Application: Labor, but not to be rich, but to serve God and bless others. Consider the Lord in all that we think and plan.

Prayer: Lord, lead me away from the temptation of riches, but teach me to work hard and bless others with what You bless me. Help me consider Your ways in all that I do and think. In Jesus name, Amen.