Luke 18:
24Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! 25Indeed, 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."
2006-11-07 03:38:09 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
First, this is in answer to a specific question regarding the heart of the rich person. Jesus told him to sell everything he had and follow Jesus. Jesus said this because He knew the young man's heart was with his riches.
Second, they 'eye of the needle' was an opening in the outer defensive wall of Jerusalem. When the main gates were closed, to enter the city, a camel had to be unpacked and led through the opening on it's knees. Difficult, but not impossible.
Third, over 99 per cent of the people living in the United States are in the top 5 per cent of wealth when considered world wide.
2006-11-07 03:47:33 · answer #1 · answered by padwinlearner 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
In the context of the rest of the Bible, Jesus isn't saying you can't be rich. Just that you can't love money to the point that you worship it over God, and hurt others to get it.
Because there are rich Christians according to Paul the Apostle. And Abraham, a man that is the example of faith for Christians, was also a rich man. Jesus was buried in the tomb of a rich believer in Him.
So it isn't the amount of money you have. It is whether you love it more than God, and hurt others to get more and more.
2006-11-07 11:40:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm pretty sure Jesus asked all his followers to give up their earthly possessions if they wanted into his Kingdom of Heaven. Haven't seen any Christians do that lately - most love their possessions as much, or more than, their god.
2006-11-07 11:42:18 · answer #3 · answered by Michael 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
This is a good question - at one time in America - if you made over 13,000 dollars per year - the law considered you rich. So all these people who want to TAX the RICH are actually TAXING themselves - brilliant!
When you have enough money to play GOD - you are rich!
2006-11-07 11:43:10 · answer #4 · answered by Gladiator 5 · 0⤊ 3⤋
"rich" means "greed" in this case
what the bible states is that regardless if u are rich or poor u can go to heaven
but most people become rich because they are stingy cheats and so on
and these ppl who do this are considered sinners
being greedy is wanting something a lot of something such as money
and in the bible the "rich" refers to those who are greedy and not literally rich
2006-11-07 11:50:02 · answer #5 · answered by x040493t 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There are those that are rich that are very self indulgent, it is not whether you are rich or not, it is how you use the money that you have to glorify God.
2006-11-07 12:20:42 · answer #6 · answered by judy_derr38565 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I believe if you are "rich" in greed, then yeah, your chances of entering such a place are slim to none.
2006-11-07 11:41:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
jesus said if you're a commie, you're rich. jesus was a pinko
2006-11-07 11:39:15 · answer #8 · answered by schattmann03 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋