Matthew 19:24–Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”Matthew 5:3–“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

It’s hard to convince people to believe they are “rich” in our country, unless you have seen “dirt poor”.  Maybe among other Americans we may be poor or may have lived poor, so I am not dismissing the strain of that financial/social condition.  However when we consider how Jesus contrast the meaning of rich and poor, He is showing us that when we are rich, we are tempted to be confident in what we materially possess and focus on that.  But when we are truly poor we see what we have as not enough, and begin to realize our desperate need…
Now that is not to say that when we are poor, we don’t seek to find our confidence in riches as the answer to our poverty, many people do that.  But when the rich young ruler turned away Jesus, because He asked him to sell his possessions and follow Him.  The young ruler had his heart and confidence in what in had, because he was rich!  So Jesus concluded that it is hard for a rich man to enter heaven, and then compares that to a camel going through the eye of a needle, which is impossible! (Matthew 19:21)
So the disciples in hearing this wondered who can be saved?  Jesus then goes onto say, “that with man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible?”  In other words, it takes God miraculously turning the heart of an individual, to want Him over the riches of this world.  So if we consider the lack of desire to be obedient and follow Jesus, how much of that mentality is from our desire to be rich or preserve riches?  Now you may say I’m not rich, but if finances and following Jesus is hindered because of our fear of losing our possessions, than we are no different than the rich young ruler…(Matthew 19:25, Psalm 52:7)
Jesus’ says there is nothing wrong with being rich, it just makes it harder to enter the Kingdom of heaven, why?  Because like the rich young ruler, we are tempted to love our possessions and what we can get with money, more than Jesus!  So to love Jesus more than money, is not a skill we acquire, it is a miracle of grace in the heart, to have confidence in God and not money!  When the “rich” prove to love God more than money, the witness of Jesus shines even brighter because there is no “worldly answer” to why you would, it is a miracle from God! (1 Timothy 6:17)
Which is why I included Matthew 5:3, because Jesus says the poor in spirit are blessed!  That you can be filthy rich in possessions, but poor in spirit, and find your motivation for living in Jesus Christ and His Kingdom!  To be poor in spirit, is to know that no matter how much materials I own, the void in my soul/spirit is what desperately needs to be fulfilled.  That void is only fulfilled by a miracle from God.  So challenge yourself, that instead of being frustrated with not being financially “where you want to be”, maybe it is a blessing from God not to be tempted to leave Him?  So we can embrace the treasure and miracle of salvation/eternal life, and being rich towards God. (Luke 8:14, Luke 12:13-21)
In His Love, Ld