The Eye Of A Needle

The Eye of a Needle Rock Formation, Sylvan Lake, South Dakota

'What do you have that God hasn't given you? And if everything you have is from God, why boast as though it were not a gift?' 1 Corinthians 4:7 (NLT)

'But who am I and who are my people, that we could give anything to you? Everything we have has come from you, and we give you only what you first gave us!' 1 Chronicles 29:14

He was a young entrepreneur, a self-made billionaire, a very confident upstart. On hearing of a preacher of the same age attracting crowds in his home town, the rich young man approached Jesus, with some audacity, to ask whether he would qualify for eternal life. Firstly, Jesus told this man to keep the commandments, to which the smug gentleman proclaimed that he had kept all the commandments and almost boasted then what more was needed. Then, Jesus went for the weak spot, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me."

This encounter was recorded for us in Matthew 19:16-24. It did not have a happy ending for the young man rejected the chance of a life-time to follow Jesus and  went away sad because he had great wealth. Bishop Solomon in his book 'Practical Christianity' concluded, "He was, unfortunately, a prisoner of his wealth and his greed that lay behind its accumulation."

The Eye of a Needle Gate

Referring to the Needle's Eye or  the smaller doorway of a Riad, the rest station of the caravans that prevents camels and other animals from entering, Jesus said

'I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I'll say it again - 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 19:23-24 (NLT)

This young and rich man had a choice to make, God or Money and he chose money. He could not afford to part with his money so he parted with God.

To be sure not all wealthy people are like that young man. Many are very good people who are very humanitarian in nature. Many are philanthropists, very generous with their wealth, giving to the poor, supporting missions and social concerns projects. But wealth has its downsides, although many will not admit it.

Why did the rich young ruler walk away? Why can't the wealthy part with their money? The problem was not wealth per se but the insatiable accumulation of money and possessions leading to avarice, greed and selfishness. The Apostle James wrote of this, rather forcefully, in his epistle, James 5:1-6 

Money corrupts:

• The Encumbrance. The rich young man not only wanted to get to heaven but he also wanted to bring along all his hoarding and riches with him. He wanted to secure his future not only spiritually but materialistically. That hoard weighed him down, encumbered him and he is trapped, never free, 

'You have hoarded wealth in the last days' James 5:3b 

• The Excessive Greed. Despite the hoarding and accumulation of money, it is never enough. The Bishop Robert Solomon commented, 'Such greed can never satisfy. Like drinking sea water when one is dying of thirst, it will only make matters worse and finally destroy the greedy.' 

'You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves for the days of slaughter.' James 5:5 

• The Exploitation. The hoarding and greed for money can create in the wealthy, an insensitivity for the needs of others, an antipathy to the poor. Apostle James said that there is exploitation of workers by the wealthy, robbing them of just wages.

'Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your field are crying out against you.' James 5:4    

How do we deal with the problem of money? Jesus told the rich young man to sell all his goods and give to the poor. Jesus was saying that the wealthy should empathize with the poor and needy, to share their wealth. The wealthy is expected to give generously, Jesus is making a case for Radical Generosity, not just a trifle giving. Why?

• Our money belongs to God. Timothy Keller stated 'While secular individualism says that your money belongs to you, and socialism says your money belongs to the State, the Bible says that all your money belongs to God, who then entrusts it to you.' 

'Everything comes from You and we have given You only what comes from Your hand.' 1 Chronicles 29:14b

 

 'What do you have that God hasn't given to you. And if everything you have come from God, why boast as though it were not a gift.' 1 Corinthians 4:7b (NLT)

• Our money does not last. We may think money and possessions bring honour, prestige and fame. But these things are merely temporal, they do not have everlasting value. These material and lavish things cannot guarantee our future. Jesus said

'Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal.' Matthew 6:19 (NLT)

• Our money should be generously donated. The type of giving amounting to Radical Generosity is described in two verses of the Bible

'One person gives freely and gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty.' Proverbs 11:24 (NLT)

'They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor.' Psalms 112:9a (NLT)

In the Hebrew text, the meaning and nuances of the type of giving found in these two verses describe Radical Generosity. We are used to understand Biblical giving as Tithes, Offerings and Sacrifices. But the meaning in the above verses convey an exuberance, excessive, lavish almost wanton way of giving, a fourth type -  Shock Giving.

In amount the giving here is described as shocking, unbelievably large. In attitude the giving here is described as throwing it away; giving and forgetting that one had given. Once given, there is no need to control the use of the gift. It described the way the Jewish farmers would sow their crops, scattering liberally, extensively and freely on the ground.

'The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and who ever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must decide in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.' 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 (ESV)

So give cheerfully, after all that money you give away really belongs to God. There is a hymn often sung after during the offering in church, 'We Give Thee But Thine Own.' 

We give Thee but Thine own,

Whate'er the gift may be;

All that we have is Thine alone,

A trust, O Lord, from Thee.

May we Thy bounties thus

As stewards true receive,

And gladly, as Thou blessest us,

To Thee our firstfruits give.

O hearts are bruised and dead,

And homes are bare and cold,

And lambs for whom the Shepherd bled

Are straying from the fold.

To comfort and to bless,

To find a balm for woe,

To tend the lone and fatherless

Is angels' work below.

The captive to release,

To God the lost to bring,

To teach the way of life and peace-

It is a Christ-like thing.

And we believe Thy Word,

Though dim our faith may be;

Whate'er for Thine we do, O Lord,

We do it unto Thee.

Lionel  

Ref 1: Bishop Emeritus Robert Solomon. Practical Christianity Chap 12: A Warning to the Wealthy. Cru Asia Ltd, IMprint Edition, 2022 

Ref 2: Tim Keller on Justice in the Bible

https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/justice-in-the-bible/