The Needle's Eye

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You know what the difference is with self-help books and the Bible? The Bible doesn’t major on building up self. It points to a Savior that tells you that to find life you must lose yours. 

The Bible also contains curious phrases such as, ‘It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’ - found in Luke 18, Mark 10, and Matthew 19. 

Don’t we value wealth highly in this world? We celebrate security and pensions and healthy stock portfolios. That is good to have. Poverty is bad. Yet, Jesus tells us another curious thing in the Bible - that the blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven 

(Matthew 5:3).

The poor in spirit are those that recognize they are in need of God’s help. It’s that simple. In our daily tasks and errands in life when we get in a new vehicle we feel comforted by the stability of that vehicle to get us from point A to point B. What about the person who enters a vehicle with oil leaks and a squeaking timing belt? I am sure that they are less confident when they travel. 

With sufficient wealth you can make the decisions you want to without pausing to consider whether or not you should. But should we always pause and ask because in Matthew 18:3 this other curious phrase appears, “...and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven”. 

A child is unable to advance their cause without help. It goes against our mature, natural inclinations to feel vulnerable in life. I know I battle with this yet I want to enter that kingdom.

“Dear Heavenly Father, grant that I may be humble and feel the need to seek You. May I pause and ask. Thank you for the pathway to You through Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior”

“The Lord is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

  The Lord is good to all,

and his mercy is over all that he has made.

All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,

and all your saints shall bless you!

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom

and tell of your power,

 to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,

and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.”

Psalm 145:8-13