Of Needles, Camels, Rich men and Heaven

Of Needles, Camels, Rich men and Heaven


"Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life ?” 
“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” 
“Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
“All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” 
Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. 
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.” 
Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 
Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, 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 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 19:16-30

Here we have a rich young man that comes to Jesus and asks how to inherit eternal life.
Jesus knew this man believed in God so he says,
“‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’” 
Note these are laws that deal with one’s relationship with one’s fellow man. The Talmud states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?”  Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual?  “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”
This is essentially what Jesus is saying.
The man replies that he has done this all his life. So Jesus tests his faith. He says
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
He wants to see where the man’s faith truly is.
It’s easy to have faith if you lack nothing. If you have plenty of money and possessions.
It’s much harder if you have nothing and have to rely on God for your day to day existence. That takes true faith.
Jesus said,
“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.” 
It’s not that the rich can’t get to heaven. And there’s nothing wrong with being rich it’s all about where the person’s hart is.
Jesus said,
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
                                                               Matthew 6:19-21.
Jesus assures his disciples that those who follow him, who put their faith in him and give up everything will be rewarded he states,
“And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”  
Matthew 19:29
Please note Jesus is not referring to things in this life necessarily. There are many in the name it claim it crowd that would say by following Jesus we will become rich in this world. These verses do not mean this.
They refer to rewards in heaven.
Jesus also goes on to say,
“But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.” 
                                                                                                       Matthew 19:30.
Think about it.