Through the Eye of the Needle

Everyone has heard that the economy is in a slump and on the verge of recession, if not already there. The volatility of the markets around the world is making it evident that there is little to no certainty in accumulating wealth because the next thing you know *poof* your investment is gone. It's interesting how many of us associate security and stability with the condition of our finances.

Jesus tells a story about a guy that has a lot of money and asks how he can go to heaven (Matthew 19:16-26). Jesus responds by telling the guy to follow the commandments, which the rich guy says he has and then asks Jesus what else he must do. The response that comes out of Jesus' mouth blows the guy away and leaves him dismayed. Jesus tells the man to sell all of his possessions, give his money to the poor and then follow him. Notice the guy's response in verse 22, "When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth."

Here we see an exchange between Jesus and someone who has obviously accumulated a lot of wealth with the misconception that it would somehow provide him stability, security and a future. Jesus turns this guy's world upside down by pointing out that one cannot pursue eternity by chasing after things that are temporary and remembering Jesus' words, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."