The USA is a land of great riches. Compared to the rest of the world, we are all very rich. A rich person entering the kingdom of God is like a camel going through the eye of a needle. Impossible with men, but possible with God. How so? When riches own us, then we are outside of the kingdom. When God has done such a work in us that He owns us and all of our riches, then it is possible to thread the needle. It is not easy because of the radical self-denial that is required. The test is how tightly we hold on to our money and how tightly it holds us.
“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, ‘Then who can be saved?’ But Jesus looked at them and said, ‘For mortals it is impossible, but for God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:23-26 (NRSV)
