[rr man]

"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?

[RickJ]

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 a lot of money.

Don't forget too, that in the case of Bill Gates, he gives zillions to charity.

[mountain_man]

"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.

[kindj]

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 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?"

DK

[Capuchin]

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 referring to for sure.

And anyway, it's been done ;)

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[shygrneyzs]

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.

[NeedKarma]

It is not the money, it is the love of money, that is the root involved,

But that is not what the Bible quote says. It says "rich" not "love of money".

[RickJ]

I'm not sure that you can say this is what Jesus was refering to for sure.

True we cannot be sure. For those of you interested in reading more of this possibility, see here: The camel and the eye of the needle, Hebrew NT Application - Biblical Hebrew

[fallen2grace]

Yes. Exactly. You need Jesus to get to Heven.

[Wangdoodle]

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.

[Will00]

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.

[N0help4u]

It's a matter of where your heart is.
IF you can be rich and still focus on your heart being in the right place then money is not a problem.
IF you put your greed before others need then there lies the root of the evil of money!

[Tj3]

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.

That is correct. The problem with money is that often it becomes a distraction in and of itself. I heard an interview a while back with a wealthy person - cannot remember who - but a comment was made that once you have money, it is never enough, you want more. So the accumulation of wealth becomes a goal in and of itself, and that is where, I believe, that the line is crossed.

It is this temptation or distraction that money causes which can make it more difficult for a rich man to enter heaven. It is not having the money itself but how it affects us. The key problem here again is that the money is not ours but Gods, and when the accumulation of money becomes our life's goal, we have in fact taken the focus away from where our focus should rightly be placed and that is on God.

[s_cianci]

Probably.

[biorig]

"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?

rr man, those who are blessed with money usually pledge allegiance to the money and are most likely not able to submit to God and make it to the Kingdom of God

[inthebox]

Great replies from you all.


From Proverbs 30:

7 "Two things I ask of you, O LORD;
Do not refuse me before I die:

8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
But give me only my daily bread.

9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
And say, 'Who is the LORD ?'
Or I may become poor and steal,
And so dishonor the name of my God.






Grace and Peace

[fallen2grace]

He is the way the truth and the light. You can't get to heven without Jesus. He died for your sins. He died for everyone's sins. It doesn't matter if your rich or poor etc. But you must choose to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

[paraclete]

"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?

Possibly but we cannot judge these things. The Bible (Jesus) says it is hard for a rich man to be saved because riches are decieptfull they allow a person to think that they have everything. Jesus said everything is possible with God, so it would be possible for Bill gates to be saved just as it is possible for everyone else.

Be careful to read the whole of every teaching and not just take part of it as you have done here

[silentrascal]

"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?

It is not impossible for those who are materially rich to inherit God's Kingdom (whether by being a part of the small group to be granted heavenly life or by being part of the much larger group that will enjoy eternal life right here on earth in perfection), but it certainly is much more difficult for them.

Between our own inherited imperfection and fleshly desires, the constant influence around us pushing us to have the latest and the best of everything, and the on-going devotion most people today have for the "almighty dollar", the wealthy have a hard time putting spiritual interests ahead of material. Those who are striving to be wealthy expend much energy and time in keeping up with what they have or in trying to get more (or better) things for themselves, with little time for anything else. Some say people like this are trying for their own little "kingdom on earth" and give no consideration to their responsibilities toward God. That's not to say that EVERY wealthy person will have this difficulty. Some are wealthy because of being fortunate or having inherited it from elsewhere, and may not have the frame of mind in which they have to show off what they have or get caught up in the "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality of the world in general.

[beatlejuice]

"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?

When you Quote the Bible be sure not to just quote one verse without reading the context. When jesus said this, a rich man had asked him how he can inherit the kningdom of God and Jesus replied that he should sell all his belonging and give the money to the poor and follow Him. The rich man refused to do such a thing and that is when Jesus said this statement. Jesus was just trying to say to if you want to follow him you must be willing to give up the things which are near and dear to you. And if you read other verses "the kingdom of God" is not Heaven. The Kingdom of God is not a Place but a disposition. The bible says in Romans 14,17 the Kingdom of God is Rightiousnes Peace and Joy in the Holy spirit. Jesus was just making a comment on How this rich man was not willing to give up his wealth to follow God.