25 Indeed, 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.”
Some things are impossible for humans. Only God can accomplish them on our behalf. Entering God’s kingdom is one of those tasks. This is a God-sized task. It is utterly impossible for any human to do. That is the point of this simple illustration. The largest animal of that part of the world cannot fit through the eye of a sewing needle. It just can’t happen. Jesus is not trying to tell us that God can make a camel go through the eye of a needle, but that for humans, it is impossible. Only God is in the salvation business. Getting right with God is impossible for us to accomplish in ourselves. It is God’s work. Just as wealth can get in the way of our earthly journey, so we must be willing to let God do the God-sized projects in our lives and salvation is one of those projects. All we can do is yield to His work in us. It is His work from beginning to end. There is nothing that we can do to enhance what He is doing. The book of Romans words it “from faith to faith.” Everything about God’s work in our lives is His work. Wealth does not secure our status in heaven. Wealth is not a sign of God’s blessing in our lives. If we are poor, that does not mean God has turned His back on us. If we are rich, that does not mean God has looked with favor on our activities. Wealth has nothing to do with God’s blessing. Wealth often gets in the way of our communion with God. We get focused on maintaining our wealth instead of focusing on submitting to God. Wealth can become an obstacle for us in our walk with God. Wealth ties us down to place and space. It can prevent us from being able to move as God desires. There will be some rich people in heaven because getting to heaven is a God-sized task, and God will accomplish that task for some rich people. But even God won’t force anyone to yield to His direction, and the rich have more that seems to get in the way of that direction.
The Arnold Journey 