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"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) Does this mean that Bill Gates will probably wind up in hell?
The Eye of the Needle was a very small gate in the city wall. Camels had to be unpacked then get down on their knees and scoot through. Difficult, but not impossible.
No, it is not right to say a person will probably go to hell because they have alot of money.
Don't forget too, that in the case of Bill Gates, he gives zillions to charity.
"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) Does this mean that Bill Gates will probably wind up in hell?
The only way Bill Gates will end up in hell is if he doesn't accept Jesus as his savior and hold true to John 14: 1-6
1"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. 2In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus the Way to the Father
5Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
6Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I think the verse in Matthew is an analogy to warn people of holding money out as a god and keeping that as a barrier between you and a right relationship with God.
I think I understand this verse a little better these days than I did when I was younger.
Speaking for myself--having grown up poor--I've found that when I have a decent sum of money at my disposal, I tend to be more self-sufficient, more pround of what I have done, and sometimes (shamefully enough), a bit more selfish about it.
Contrarywise, when I'm struggling to make ends meet (which is the vast majority of the time), I worry about whether or not we'll have enough food for the month, if we can pay the necessary bills, the future of my kids, etc. I find that I don't have the means to change my situation myself, and therefore my hope turns to God. And He has always come through for me, one way or another.
So I think that money--in and of itself--isn't a problem. It's how do we view ourselves, view God, and view our relationship with God that has the potential to be a problem.
Is He still our provider, or did we do it "on our own?"
The Eye of the Needle was a very small gate in the city wall. Camels had to be unpacked then get down on their knees and scoot through. Difficult, but not impossible.
I'm not sure that you can say this is what Jesus was refering to for sure.
The chances of Bill Gates ending up in Hell are as good as your own chances. It is not the money, it is the love of money, that is the root involved, Rich and poor alike can go to Heaven, what matters is not their pocketbook, but what is written in the Book of Life (their life) in regards to their salvation.
But that is not what the Bible quote says. It says "rich" not "love of money".
We need to read verses in the Bible in there context. Let me point out the previous verses.
Matthew 19:21-24
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, 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.”
The man was sad because he loved his money and he did not want to give it up. He chose his money instead of following Jesus.
Some of you have the wrong idea. What Jesus was trying to say was that the rich people had more things to distract them. Such as (nowadays): More Computers, bad books, TV shows, other optional accessories that the poorer people may not of had. All of these things can be negative. In which case, if you did not have these things (or have access to these things), you would not have the authorization of viewing or receiving such material. Therefor making it, in turn, harder.
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