Can you be wealthy and truly be a devout Christian?

Question

It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24)

Your thoughts?

Contrary to popular belief, the explanatin that the "Eye of the Needle" was a passageway to Jerusalem has been exposed as a fabrication. There was never such a passageway and the hyperbole was never intended to be interpreted that way, either.

Answer 1

"To whom much is given much will be expected." Remember the story of the poor woman at the Temple who gave her last two pennies? Her contribution counted far more than the huge donations of the wealthy men. Also, we are told, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be." Finally, Jesus says "the gate is small, and the way is narrow that leads to life, and few are those that find it."

So my take on it? VERY hard for wealthy people to get into heaven. My reasoning is that these people are unwilling to give away their wealth to those who need it. When they have the means, they turn their back on the poor. Yes, I know that frequently the wealthy give huge sums to Church or charity, but this is very little compared to what they posess. Jesus told the wealthy man - who, remember, was a good Jew who kept the Commandments - to sell off everything he owned and give the proceeds to the poor. People who cannot do that to the extent that they are still living in luxary are attempting to serve two masters, which is impossible.

Answer 2

It is absolutely possible. The danger is in wealth becoming a person's "god", but some people don't lose sight of what really matters.

Just a note for those who don't know: Needle in this context does not mean a sewing needle...that would be *impossible* for a camel to get through. "Needle" also means an opening in the wall around a city (something not so common nowadays), that a man can get through and that a camel can squeeze through. That way, a person can still get in if the city gates are closed, but it would make it difficult for an army to quickly sneak in to attack the city.

Answer 3

If you look carefully at what Jesus is saying, He is NOT saying it is impossible for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God. Jesus is saying you have to have your priorities in order. The Three Wise Men were rich, and they were invited to the Stable too.

The "Eye of the Needle" was the name of a narrow passageway into the outer Temple in Jerusalem, and the only way to get through was to strip your camel of its burdens and carry them in by hand. Then it would be easier for the camel. Get it?

The Temple is a forshadow of the kingdom of God.

Answer 4

If you know that everything you have is from above and you use your riches to bless others that is beautiful. Money and prosperity are not bad they ONLY are bad if they take the place of God God is to be first. I know wealthy Christians who are humble and kind and have helped me in my time of need and some day if I ever get wealthy I would love to be able to give to those that don't have.
You can be a devout Christian and have money. Money is a tool to help us manage our affairs and we are NOT owners of anything we are stewards and if one keeps that mindset God will always be first in their lives. See James 1:17

Answer 5

I don't know if its the same for Christians, but Muslims believe that you can be wealthy and still be a devout Muslim - it strengthens your religion with your position and ability to help the community. It's fine and dandy being devout and poor - but who would benefit people more?

Also, in Islam, there's a concept of giving a percentage of money yearly to those who need it - and if you fulfilled that - you can be as rich as you'd like, so long as you don't neglect that.

Point is - Money MAGNIFIES what's in your heart. If you're God conscious, the money will just reflect that, and if you're not, then it'll reflect that too.

Cheers!

Answer 6

as you don't covet the money but rather God. That you serve God and not mammon,
Matthew 6:24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Malachi 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.

Answer 7

I don't think it was because the rich man was wealthy that he couldn't enter the kingdom of God I think it was because he loved money more than God. So I guess you can be wealthy and be a Christian so long as you don't let your money come in between you and God.

Answer 8

No! I'm not a Christian, although my parents raised me as one. I do know however, that materialism and spirituality will NEVER go together. They were never meant to.

Weren't we told that JC himself ran amok in the temple thrwoing aside the stalls of the tradespeople there?

It speaks volumes to me that the pope and his cohorts are sitting on a massive amount of wealth in the vatican city whilst Christians are living in poverty in the real world. If "he" came back tomorrow, what do you think Jesus would say to the people in the Vatican city? That they had done a 'good job'? I think not!

Answer 9

There's nothing to suggest that having wealth in and of itself is wrong, in fact, reading other verses suggests that God wants us to have wealth, so we won't have the burden of debt. Look at King Solomon, the wealthiest man to ever live. His downfall wasn't wealth, but idolatry. He had 700 wives, and allowed them to bring their idols with them, which corrupted the Jews. So, wealth obviously isn't bad, in fact, if you have wealth, you need to be a good steward and make good investments to grow it, and use some of it to do God's work.

If wealth were bad, the new Jerusalem wouldn't have streets of gold, and God wouldn't be sitting on a sapphire throne.

Answer 10

There are actually many saints who were kings quenns and wealthy people. It is not your station in life it is how you live your life. If bill gates gives most of his wealth away to charity(not the spca) for those less fortunate, then he may stand a good chance...money is power and power corrupts..so that is what makes it difficut.