Of Camels, Needles, and the Kingdom of God

“It is hard,” said Jesus, “for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.” How hard?

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24 (NIV)

Maybe someone told you that Jesus’ saying has to do with a camel having to be unloaded to enter Jerusalem through a gate so narrow that it was called the eye of a needle. That myth has been busted. There is no evidence of such a gate. Before Jesus, a rabbi in Babylon used a similar expression about something impossible: “easier for an elephant to go through the eye of a needle . . .”

Jesus is talking about a real, live camel, 300-600 kg and 2 m, (6’6”) tall, going through the tiny, little hole in a sewing needle. Simply put, it’s impossible. It would take a miracle.

Same thing with someone who is rich entering the kingdom of God. It’s impossible. Humanly speaking, a rich person can’t enter the kingdom of God. No wonder the disciples were greatly astonished.

Maybe you’re surprised too. Hasn’t Jesus been proclaiming the kingdom of heaven throughout Matthew’s gospel; and telling people that they are near the kingdom of heaven?

Yet a rich person entering the kingdom is impossible. At least, that’s Jesus’ conclusion after talking to a young man. This guy asked Jesus what he had to do to get eternal life. It seems he’s on the right path. He’s a guy you want in your dorm, the kind of guy that you want your sister to date. Not only does he have great wealth, he keeps God’s commandments, at least, those Jesus listed quickly:

6th You shall not murder,

7th you shall not commit adultery,

8th you shall not steal,

9th you shall not give false testimony,

5th honor your father and mother,’

and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 19:18b–19 (NIV)

The young man confidently says he’s kept all these. Jesus doesn’t push further loving his neighbour.

This young man’s problem is loving God as #1 in his life.

He has trouble w/ the 1st table of the law.

Are you familiar with the 10 Commandments?

Second table deals w/ horizontal relationships: how we love other people. It’s summed up by the command, “love your neighbour as yourself.”

First table deals w/ vertical relationship: loving God.

1. You shall have no other gods before me.

2. You shall not make an image to worship.

3. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord.

4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.

It’s a question of priorities and values. Is God #1 in your life?

Think about your priorities for a moment: If you listed the most important relationships in your life, would God make the list? Would the Creator of the world make the top 10? Would your Saviour and the HS make the top 3?

Does anything need to change to make God #1?

For this young man, comfort and security was an obstacle to having God as #1 in his life b/c he had great wealth.

He didn’t live paycheque to paycheque. He enjoyed all kinds of perks and privileges. This guy had money to spend and wealth enough to keep him comfortable for the rest of his life. It gave him a sense of security and well-being.

The idea of selling his possessions and giving to the poor was a shock. Just the thought was like a punch to the gut. Even with eternal life on the line, this rich young guy wasn’t willing to do it. He’d rather walk away from the kingdom of heaven than give up his possessions.

It's a challenge for most of us too. Not all of you are wealthy by North American standards. Although compared to most people in the world, most of us are in the top 25%.

Are you willing to do a brief mental experiment? What would it look like to sell even half of your possessions and give to the poor and then devote the rest of your life to following Jesus?

Maybe it gives you a joyful thrill – what a life of freedom!

If the idea of giving half your wealth to the poor makes your palms sweat and your stomach flip-flop, it might be time to have an honest talk with God about what gives you security.

Maybe it’s helpful to chew on God’s word to the church in Philippi. The Apostle Paul writes,

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV)

See, the key take-away from this passage – and all God’s promises is – the Lord’s invitation for you to trust him. Trust him 100%. Put all your hopes in God. Find your security in God’s love for you. And finally, trust the Lord to do what you cannot possibly do: to bring you into the kingdom of heaven as a citizen, a member of God’s family.

Jesus says, “With God, all things are possible.”

That’s enormously encouraging b/c when we consider how high the bar is for perfect obedience to the 10 commandments. Judge your success for yourself; but I’m forced to admit: I can’t do it. Even on my good days, I fall short of 100% obedience.

B/c God rules with justice and holiness, he can’t ignore his own commandments. It’s a call to holiness and life from the OT book of Leviticus:

You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God. Keep my decrees and laws, for the person who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. Leviticus 18:4–5 (NIV)

Obeying the Lord’s command leads to life. If you don’t obey God’s law 100%, you face death, just as our first parent – Adam & Eve – were warned. This wealthy young man, could not get eternal life w/o radical change to his values, priorities, and faith in God. Humanly speaking, that leaves him outside the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus tells the disciples, “With man this is impossible but with God all things are possible.”

God makes it possible for rich folk and poor to enter the kingdom of God, but only through Jesus’ sacrifice.

By his death on the cross, God the Son pays the debt of obedience we owe to God. Jesus takes the punishment we deserve. Jesus, b/c he is 100% obedient as a human and b/c he is God, he offers the miracle of forgiveness of sins. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus does the impossible and opens the way for you and me to enter the kingdom of heaven. He makes it possible for the whole world to be transformed and all human culture to be characterized by love for God and love for neighbour! Jesus answers our prayer: “your kingdom come and your will be done.”

B/c of Jesus, you are invited to stop trusting your own efforts to do good things as a way to get eternal life. You’re invited to trust that Jesus did everything necessary for you to enter his kingdom. You’re invited to find your security, your comfort, your hope in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.

Jesus’ resurrection from the grave is the miracle that assures you of eternal life. You have to admit, it is easier for a moose to go through the eye of a needle than for a man to rise from the grave after he dies and lies buried for 3 days! It’s impossible for humans “but with God all things are possible.”

And with his resurrection from the grave, Jesus makes all things new. He gives eternal life to all who trust in him instead of in themselves. His resurrection is just the beginning. God is making all things new!

So, life as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven is not just a beautiful retirement package for people after they die. Life in the kingdom of heaven starts now. It’s a life in which we trust God and the HS works in our hearts and minds to free us from pride, greed, and to prevent us from declaring our independence from God’s promises and gifts.

Now, to be clear, Jesus’ instructions for this young man to “sell his possessions and give to the poor” is a specific prescription for a specific diagnosis. Jesus identified the spiritual illness of this young man and prescribed the cure. Not everyone is called to swallow the same medicine. Not everyone is called to sell their possessions and give to the poor.

Although . . . it’s one of the remarkable things that happened in the early church after Jesus died, arose, and ascended into heaven. You can read about it in the book of Acts:

God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:33b–35 (NIV)

As a congregation, you know something of this kind of generosity and helping the needy among us. The diaconal fund is well supplied with the money the deacons need to be generous. Last year again, all of Crosspoint’s expenses were covered by donations. Thank you.

But the question of where you find your security might be something to ponder. As we heard in this conversation with the wealthy young man, Jesus is not opposed to radical steps towards discipleship. Selling possessions and giving to the poor and then, following Jesus is a radical step.

Jesus suggests something even more radical in Mt 18:

If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. Matthew 18:8–9 (NIV)

Please don’t cut off your hand or foot or gouge out your eye. Jesus exaggerates to make a point: endure a small loss now to avoid death and hellfire later.

Many people make radical decisions to give up good things now to be a faithful disciple of Jesus:

Some give up alcohol, drugs, or a party lifestyle

Some give up home Wi-Fi and data to avoid pornography

Some step away from a lucrative career to serve God and people, as a nurse, a volunteer

I went to college with Larry who quit job as a lawyer

Here’s the call: don’t let anything stand in the way of saying “yes” to God. Any sacrifice for eternal life with God & for God!

The sad thing about with Jesus’ talk w/ this man is that the wealthy young man wasn’t willing to give up privileges and his sense of security, not even when Jesus answered his question by saying selling his possession and giving was what he could do to get eternal life. The young man sadly walked away from everything Jesus offered. He missed out on the impossible future that God makes possible.