“23 Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 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.”

26 So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”

27 Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

28 Peter began to tell Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

29 “I assure you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel, 30 who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time — houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions — and eternal life in the age to come. 31 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.””

Mark 10:24-31

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This is one of those passages of Scripture that is so familiar, in regards to the upside down kingdom, but still requires us to change how we think, how we live, and how we see the world around us. We all know the general assumption that rich people have an easier life, that they spend their days in ease without worries. But that is no more a reality than a camel going through the eye of a needle. 

In regards to what Jesus said, about riches being a distraction, the evidence for that is all too obvious in our world today. Especially here in Western culture where our idea of rich and poor is totally different than the global understanding of rich and poor. Our distractions or mostly caused by our affluence. We have so much to do, so many things at our disposal, so much unnecessary fluff that fills our time, yet because of our affluence, those things seem like a priority. And because of that misguided priority system, we find ourselves occupied and relying on those things and lifestyles that we have surround ourselves with.

It’s easy to read a passage about rich people, and think about it applying to people who are more wealthy than we are, but we cannot avoid the personal application here. Most people living in Western culture have so much, yet take most of it for granted. We are so affluent, and have so much at our disposal, that we lost all perspective on just how wealthy we are. And this constant surrounding by wealth, and possessions, has created an environment of “safety” that keeps us from relying on God as we should.

So the warning that Jesus issues to his disciples, about rich people and needles and camels, is a warning that we should all listen to today. Don’t get caught up in things and possessions and wealth. Instead, Focus your eyes and your heart and your desires on the things of God. There are very few tangible things that are worth our time, and our attention. We must be good stewards, helping and serving others and ignoring most of our own desires. We simply do not need most of what we have. And the world cannot afford for us to be so dedicated to self rather than follow the commission to GoLove and to carry the gospel message. The more we give, the more we serve, the more we die to self, the more obvious Christ becomes in us and through us to world needs Him so desperately.