Have You Heard The One About The Camel?

Matthew 19:16-26. “Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.’ ‘Which ones?’ the man inquired. Jesus replied, ‘‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’’ ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus answered, ‘If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, 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.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

"It's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle," never say God doesn't have a sense of humor. But what He was trying to convey is vital in all our lives, not just the wealthy man. This young man ran up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” He wasn't satisfied with wealth and power, he felt that there was something missing.He was sincere in his request. He knelt before Jesus and asked what good thing he could do to gain eternal life. Now it's not quite often people just run up to you and ask this question. But Jesus didn't say just believe in me and say the sinners prayer. He knew the man's heart. He knew the man felt pious in his wealth and knowledge of the Law.

So Jesus tells him to keep the commandments and begins to list them. However He skips over one on purpose; not to covet. The man says that he has kept them all since his youth. Jesus was testing to see if he realized where his heart was. So Jesus then tells him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." At this point the man walks away. Jesus did not stop him or run after him, Why? This man already had another God in his life; wealth. Jesus knew this and is why he didn't pursue him. Jesus said, “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” (Matthew 6:24)

To this man wealth meant more than an eternity with God. It was to hard of a choice for him to make.
It is easier for poor people to follow Jesus than for rich people. The reason is simple. A rich person has something they think they can trust to provide all their needs: Money. It is harder for them to stop trusting money and start trusting God. The point of the camel through the needle parable is that it is impossible for anyone to earn salvation. What we couldn’t do for ourselves, God did for us. When Jesus died on the cross He was taking my sin and failures upon Himself. I’m the one who should have been tortured and crucified–I’m guilty of sin. But the only sinless One who ever walked this planet took my place.

Are you really living? Can you say, “This is the life!”? You won’t find it in wealth, morality, or religion. The only place you’ll find eternal life is in a personal relationship with Jesus. Is there anything in your life that has become an idol? Is there something you could not live without if you were required to give up for Christ? It’s impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, but it’s a miracle for God to take you through the door of salvation!