Then Jesus said to his disciples, "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." 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." - Matthew 19:23-26

In Jesus’ time the camel was the largest animal that people saw day to day; the eye of a needle was the smallest hole.  Jesus describes a human impossibility and uses it to teach an important lesson on how salvation is gained. 

The simple truth is that salvation from the destruction of eternal death comes by setting our hearts on God alone and relying completely on the work of his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus warns about material wealth because we can so easily fall into the temptation to love riches more than God.  Money. More Money. And more of the things money can buy and provide.  These thoughts can overtake our hearts to the point that temporal treasure becomes our god. 

The danger is real.  Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money” (Matthew 6:24).   The Bible also warns: People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:9-10).

The disciples were amazed at Jesus’ words that “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.”  They knew human nature and the discontent of the heart and unholy desires to want more and more. Imbedded in all of our hearts is that kind of attention on material riches. So “who then can be saved?" 

God has the solution to the human impossibility of salvation and life with him forever in heaven.  Our salvation is based upon miracle after miracle: the virgin birth of Jesus, his life of complete innocence – never falling to any temptation of greed or pride, his bitter sufferings and death through which God reconciled us to himself, the resurrection of our Lord from death and his gracious and benevolent rule now in heavenly glory. 

Faith, which the Holy Spirit works in our hearts through the good news message of Jesus, grabs hold of these miracles for life with God forever.  The solution to the impossibility of gaining salvation is Jesus.  He did it all.  And he accomplished it for you!

Prayer:
Jesus, rule in my heart by faith.  Keep me from setting my desires on worldly wealth.  Instead, lead me to thank you for the material blessings that you give to me, and most importantly, to praise you for the gift of salvation. Amen.

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