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Mark 10:23-31
The rich young ruler (Mark 10:17-22) went away from Jesus sad because he had his focus on his possessions instead of God – God was not his first priority. In Mark 10:23 (NKJV)
Jesus says to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” In Mark 10:24-25 Jesus clarifies His statement for better understanding as He reiterates, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” I must clarify here that some believe this to be a reference to the gate leading into the city of Jerusalem that is called “the needle gate” but is a misunderstanding of God’s Word as Jesus was intending to relay that for man it is impossible to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus’ disciples reacted properly to Jesus’ comments as the Bible teaches us in Mark 10:26, “26And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus then gives the moral of His teaching in Mark 10:27, “27But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” The point Jesus was trying to make with His disciples is that they cannot get to heaven by their own merit or by their own good deeds apart from realizing their need for God to save them from the sins of this world that prevent everyone from being righteous in the eyes of God. For man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
This is a promise and example that a person cannot get to heaven by believing in the security of riches or any other means outside of the grace of God and putting Him first in our lives above everything else.
Jesus is, in this passage of Mark 10:23-27, in no way condemning all wealthy/rich people from entering heaven, but that one’s attitude in being wealthy/rich is the key as one must put God first in their life to enter the kingdom of God. It is a lesson to not believe that money can buy you anything as money cannot buy your way into heaven. Being wealthy/rich is very powerful in this world, but you cannot take your money to heaven with you when you die; what matters to God is where your heart is in your relationship with Him. Jesus ends this conversation with His disciples by stating in Mark 10:31, “31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” In this world, many of those who are first because of being wealthy/rich will be last in the kingdom of God as they will receive the same treatment as those who are being left out by them in this world but have their hearts right with God.
Dear LORD,
I can only imagine of being wealthy/rich and of how easy it must be for one to fall into the trap of believing in oneself because of having financial security in this world. Please help us all to realize and understand that salvation is not found in wealth/riches but is only found by putting our faith in You and seeking Your will for our lives over our own will for our lives. Being wealthy/rich must be a great feeling in this world, but help all those who are to govern their riches by seeking Your will through salvation in Christ Jesus as He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to You LORD except through Him (John 14:6). In Jesus name I pray, amen.