HOW HARD WOULD IT BE TO GET THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE

 I tell you the truth; it is hard for a rich man 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 a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. But unfortunately, power and wealth often breed complacency and a reluctance to practice self-denial.

Jesus' message "was no one can be saved on their own merits. Since wealth was seen as proof of God's love, the rabbis commonly taught that rich people were blessed by God and were, therefore, the most likely candidates for heaven, so not true. Jesus destroyed that notion, and along with it, the idea that anyone can earn eternal life. His disciples had the appropriate response to this startling statement. They were utterly amazed and asked, "Who then can be saved?" If the wealthy among them, including the super-spiritual Pharisees and scribes, were unworthy of heaven, what hope for a poor man was there? We are not saved by our wealth are condemned for it because if Christ resides in us, then no matter rich or poor, we will be submissive to the Word and inherit the right to be His children.

Father, we know "some things are impossible with a man, but not with You; all things are possible. Lord, we are saved through our Father's gifts of grace, mercy, and faith; nothing we do earns salvation for us. Father, the Word tells us, "It is the poor in spirit who inherits Your Kingdom. Father, give us eyes that see, so we can recognize our spiritual poverty and our utter inability to do anything to justify ourselves to You. Lord, let not the rich be blind to their spiritual poverty; let them not be proud of their accomplishments or content themselves with their wealth. Father, keep us humble, relatively rich or poor, so You can use us to lift up others and build up Your Kingdom, in Jesus' name, Amen.