Week 19 - Who Says A Camel Can't Go Through The Eye Of A Needle?

“What is impossible with men is possible with God.” (Luke 18:27)

Jesus told a rich ruler to “sell everything… and give to the poor” (Luke 18:22 ). He then went on to say that “it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (Luke 18:25 ). These are difficult words to swallow even for a camel. Would you be discouraged if you were that rich ruler?

Some people jump to the conclusion that Jesus is discouraging people from getting rich. But it seems to me that Jesus was testing the genuineness of the rich ruler in following Him. If the rich ruler had to decide between giving up his wealth and following Jesus, which would he choose? That is the litmus test. To the rich ruler, it was his wealth that was hindering him from following Jesus. For us, it may be something else other than wealth. Perhaps it is our preoccupation with our personal needs or some unresolved issues that we are facing.

To the rich ruler, his wealth was an obstacle, like a camel in the eye of a needle, to following Jesus. What’s your “camel”?

I believe we can understand Jesus’ remark to the rich ruler better if we pay careful attention to what He said in verse 27, “What is impossible with men is possible for God.” We may find it hard to surrender our lives to God but God can work even in the heart of the most resistant person.

Zacchaeus

In the next chapter (Luke 19:1-10 ), we find Jesus face to face with another rich man by the name of Zacchaeus who pledged to give half of his wealth to the poor and return four-fold what he had cheated. After fulfilling his pledge, I think, he probably did not have much left, if anything at all. Jesus then declared that salvation had come upon him. Zacchaeus became the first man in history to “go through the eye of a needle.” Yes, with man it is impossible but with God everything is possible. Our God specialises in the impossible.

Seek and Save

Notice the contrast between the rich ruler and Zacchaeus. The former came running to Jesus but ended up leaving in disappointment whereas the latter met Jesus while sitting still (up on a sycamore tree) and then found joy and salvation in his house with Jesus as his guest. The former was asked to give up what he had whereas the later volunteered to do so.

The obstacles that prevent people from coming to Christ are many. It could be due to busyness, career, ambition, pastimes, etc. In fact, anything that consumes our undivided attention can serve as an obstacle in following Christ. Let us not allow the things of this world to distract us from becoming a disciple of Christ.

Have you passed through the eye of a needle yet? Why not?

In Luke 19:10 , Jesus summed up His earthly mission saying, “I came to seek and save what was lost.” Today, this same mission of Jesus is still in full swing. He has given the mandate of seek-and-save to his disciples, to the church, to you and to me.

This week, I read about the story of Private John Simpson, a member of the ANZAC force, who was among the first to land in Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. As I type, the news is being reported about the memorial service in Gallipoli (Turkey) to commemorate the ninetieth anniversary of the campaign. John served as a stretcher-bearer and helped to save almost three hundred lives. He was killed on his twenty-fourth day of duty at age 22. On his tombstone are written these words: “He died that others may live.”

The apostle Paul wrote about another man who gave up His life so that others may live. He wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:15 , “And he [Jesus Christ] died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” Let us spread the news that there is a way “through the eye of a needle,” through Jesus Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.