The Camel, The Needle and The Rich Man

The kingdom of God is in danger, financial danger and in this case, it's not due to the lack of money that some churches are experiencing, but due to the ungodly exchange of God's spiritual wealth for this world's natural wealth. Many of us are being deceived into believing that the two can coexist in our hearts, the excuse being that we need money to survive and thrive in this life and that we can use that money to

upbuild God's kingdom. But are we inadvertently convincing ourselves that we can somehow be lovers of God and money? If so, we could be killing our calling and the Church. Surely the teachings of our Messiah shed light on what to do in such adverse times within the Kingdom of Heaven.

What does Jesus teach us about earthly riches?

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. ~ Mark 10:25 (KJV)

Admittedly, this one verse has caused me much confusion and concern over the years since coming to Christ. It's not that I had any real aspirations of becoming rich and famous or even any real love for money. Though I'm sure, like many well-meaning people I always wanted to be able to have ample money in order to buy what I wanted when I wanted it without the struggle, unease, or even embarrassment of wondering if I had enough to buy even the simplest of things. I wanted to be able to buy a house for me and my family, to be able to help out those close to me, those that I care about, and of course to give to those in need. But after reading this verse I quickly grew afraid and weary of having such wealth, that somehow having a lot of money meant that I wouldn't make it into heaven.

Living in today's world where "money is king" and the love of money is apparent, seemingly around every corner, in nearly every song, and on every TV station, it's vitally important to understand what God is teaching about earthly wealth. It's likewise important to cast out any fears and remedy any misunderstanding regarding riches that would hinder living a fulfilling life in Christ on this side of eternity. Let's take a closer look, therefore, at the text and see what our Wonderful God is really teaching us.

So, what was Jesus really saying when he gave this warning? What wisdom was He imparting? Taking a look at other verses of Scripture, when Jesus spoke to His disciples regarding what they were to set their eyes and hearts on he concluded that "No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon" (Matthew 6:24). Mammon is money and what's more the riches of this world. Jesus is saying we cannot serve or bow down to the riches of this world; becoming a lover of them in place of God. Jesus is saying that it won't work because we can't have both; we will either love one master and hate the other or hold tightly to one and despise the other. Jesus is telling us about the true nature of things and the true nature of our hearts. It is impossible for us to be in love with money and the riches of this world and also be loving faithful servants of God.

Is earthly wealth really that dangerous?

To further illustrate this truth, 1 Timothy 6:9 plainly tells us, "But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." Here we have not just a stern warning but one of love and concern. To be rich here on earth is a difficult thing to endure, we expose ourselves to many more adverse temptations and traps intended to take us off the straight and narrow way that leads to life and heaven and onto the crooked and wide way that leads us straight to death and hell. The life of a rich person is wrought with foolish (pointless, aimless, vain) and painful lusts. And all these things overwhelm us and can ultimately destroy us here on earth and ruin our eternal future.

With a warning like that it's no wonder I became weary of my desire to have money. But recently I have come to realize how blessed I am to have received this warning because it is coming from God's compassionate heart of mercy, and the fear that I have regarding wealth is being driven out. God's intention is to help us know what way to take in life, to warn us that what looks good to the world, in reality, is a deadly trap to many who find themselves ensnared.

So, I am left with a greater understanding, greater appreciation and adoration for the love of my heavenly Father and my Lord Jesus Christ, for caring so much about me and of course for all His children to teach us and warn us of such potentially terrible danger. But I was also left with one last question. Is it wrong for God's people to be rich or have money here on earth?

In the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 16 verse 9 says this, "And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." (KJV) and verse 11 says, "If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?" (KJV). These beautiful portions of the Holy Scriptures answer my question perfectly. Wealth here on earth is not innately wrong for Christians to have, but in actuality, being wise in how we handle our finances will help us navigate necessary earthly affairs, including dealings with the people of this world who live around us; who are so often driven by their love for money and other earthly riches and who are able and willing to help those who have good financial standing with them. Using money as a God-given means to purchase the things we need for ourselves and others, making prudent preparations for ourselves for when we inevitably run into financial difficulty, making sure we have or will have the needed funds to see our godly¹ pursuits come to fruition, and making ourselves to be financially "valuable" in our earthly dealings with the people of this world are the ways Jesus teaches us to see money's value. In following His teaching, we are preparing ourselves for and showing ourselves trustworthy to receive the true wealth that is heavenly riches awaiting us on the other side of eternity with our Messiah.

Image by Wisdom Hunters via Worldly Wealth or True Riches - Wisdom Hunters

Let's sum it up and apply it!

Tying it all together, Jesus warns us that the love of money is dangerous, even deadly, and that it puts us at odds with God and exposes us to all manner of troubles in this life. But then He also teaches us that we are to take care and be good stewards of money here on earth; a sort of insurance policy in our dealings with people in this world who are lovers of money. The wealth here on earth is of nearly no value in God's Kingdom, its only value is in how we, citizens of God's Kingdom use it. If we can show God that we are generous and responsible with earthly wealth, then we show by some measure that we can be trusted with heavenly wealth which is of exceedingly greater value. So, let's show ourselves to be good stewards of the money we receive here on earth, buying what we need, giving to those in need, preparing for rainy days, ensuring the financial ability to succeed at our godly pursuits, and being trustworthy financial friends with the people of this world without making the mistake of loving and serving the money in place of God. And let us see all of this as training, even as preparation for when we receive the true riches that await us in Heaven.

Glory to our God who sits high and looks low; for He cares so much about us, His little children that He teaches us how to live and even thrive in all of life's situations and that he warns us of every danger if we have the ears to hear Him and the heart to listen. May God continuously bless us to hear and adhere to His word and trust in His unfailing love!

Be blessed, beloved!

Footnote:

¹godly doesn't mean doing things in the name of the Lord according to our own thinking or agenda, but doing what God wants us to do, based on what He tells us according to His perfect and pleasing will. To do this, we must sincerely and continuously seek to spend time with Him in order to hear His voice over our own and everyone else's.

Please, look up these passages of Scripture, from which much of the wisdom of this article has been sourced, and taste and see for yourselves that the Lord our God is good. The Parable of The Good Samaritan - Luke 10:29-37 A Parable About Money Management - Luke 14:28-30 The Parable of The Shrewd Manager - Luke 16:1-13