How hard would it be for a rich man to get into heaven?

Question

Would it be as hard as an elephant going through the eye of a needle? Or a giraffe or behemoth or something else?

Answer 1

as hard as getting through a camels hm hmmm!

Answer 2

Riches are not the problem. There are a number of places in scripture in which the rich person is not condemned. In the Old Testament the theology is that if you obey God's commandments and are faithful you will be rewarded with riches. ( ex.Job 42:10).

Scripture says that it is the "love of money which is the root of all evil" In those days, tax collectors were rich but hated because they were corrupt. Christ may well have been talking about HOW one accumulates wealth. We know that Jesus was not opposed to wealth itself, nor was he opposed to the wealthy. He had many friends who were well-to-do. His warning was restating words from the Old Testament, "Better is a poor man who walks in his INTEGRITY, than a rich man who is PERVERSE in his ways. ( Prov. 28:6) That could easily be reversed, and still mean the same, (Better is the rich man who walks in his integrity than a poor man who is perverse in his ways.)

BTW. Rich is a relative term. If one wishes just to use money as the standard, then consider this. A person who makes $25,000/yr. is in the top 10% of wealthiest people in the world. To see how rich you are try this site: http://www.globalrichlist.com/

Side note:
The allusion you refer to about a large animal going through the eye of a needle, (Matt 19:23) has some theologians thinking that the "eye of a needle" refers to the Needle Gate, a small door in Jerusalem through which a person may pass when the larger massive gates are closed for the night. This gate, is about a foot off the ground and is a bit smaller than one of our doors, making the scenario for the camel awkward, comical, but not impossible.

Answer 3

The point of the story is that a rich man cares too much about his riches, The bottom line is "Through God, all things are possible" Even the camel through the eye of the needle.

Answer 4

Jesus said that it is easier to get a camel through the eye of a needle than it is to get a rich man into heaven.

Answer 5

As hard as getting a camel through the eye of a needle.

Answer 6

The rich man should open his eyes & realize that his riches here on earth will be the closest he'll ever get to heaven.

A religion which champions the weak and poor has it's reasons why it preaches this pathetic doctrine:

What a better way to keep it's people in submission then to strip them of their riches & comfort them by telling them "God" likes them this way.

None of these simpletons want to burn in hell - and so they give.

The selling of a spiritual pipe dream - one of the best scams mankind has ever pulled.

Answer 7

Well you sure can't buy your way into heaven that is for sure. Nor can you take your material possessions with you. But you can take your treasured memories with you.

Money is not everything. Surely happiness is more important. And of course, loving-kindess, empathy and compassion towards other people.

"Go with the flow in the river of life." And be good!

Blessings x

Answer 8

It is impossible for a rich man to get into heaven. It is also impossible for a poor man to get into heaven.

On their own merits.

But with God, all things are possible.

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Answer 9

It is all about intent.

Bill Gates _used_ to do all those "good" things for the tax rightoff. He's now doing it because he honestly enjoys it. His intent has changed.

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Answer 10

What the Lord is telling us here is that rich people tend to place their faith in their riches rather than the lord Himself. It is not wrong to be rich. It is wrong when we place our riches before the Lord.