"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” (ESV)
I've heard a couple approaches to this verse. I was once taught that there was actually a gate in Jerusalem or somewhere at the time that was known as "the eye of a needle" or something to that effect, but it was very low for some reason and it was near impossible to get a camel through it. The camel had to be shoved through while on it's knees. Some people take it literally and just assume it mean's an the eye of an actual sowing needle.
Regardless of whether the verse means that it's impossible for a rich man to get into heaven, or just really really hard, I think we can all agree the direction in which this verse is pointing.
It's all throughout the bible. The parable of the guy who stores up a bunch of stuff in a barn and then dies the night he upgrades, and many other of Jesus' teachings. In one of the church letters in Revelation, Jesus comments to the church that He "sees their poverty", then in brackets says "(but you are rich!)". They had no money, but were rich because they had Him.
For the sake of illustrating what I see in the bible I will quote some more verses you may remember.
Matthew 6:19-21
19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
Matthew 6:24
No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.
And one that I think is particularly relevant to our time and culture:
Mark 4:19 (parable of the farmer scattering seed)
But the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
I heard someone say this week that it was up to the millionaires of the world to help out, we already do enough. (We was a specific group of people in the conversation, but editing that out)
But I don't really agree. As I've been thinking about this, one of the verses that keeps coming back to me is:
Luke16:10
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much."
You can take this verse for what it's worth - as in whether you consider yourself to have very little, and whether you're faithful with it - I'll leave that up to yourself and God.
But I find myself continually challenged. Sometimes I feel like I'm a little kid with a huge sack of candy after Halloween, and the bible and the Spirit are just constantly poking me to share, and I sort of wait to reluctantly give away piece by piece, each time I'm nagged.
I don't think this should feel like nagging though. And I know I'm not alone in feeling this. Any time you talk about money in a Christian circle people are defensive. It's annoying to us. Can't this guy see I'm already doing my part? Shut up and let me save up for my new car already.
Maybe it's not that blatant, but the resistance is there. I've sat through a lot of sermons on giving, and some people joke about it, "Oh it's 'money week' again. Buckle up your consciences and do your best to be distracted or you may feel convicted." And it's funny because that really is the reaction sometimes. On money week the congregation has this inaudible groan.
Why are we apologetic about this? Why are we annoyed by this? I'm going to stop myself from trying to claim that everyone's guilty feelings are from God because I don't think that's true at all. The devil loves us to feel guilty and often tries to panic us. He wants us to feel anxiety and just look for a quick fix answer to make us feel like we're still saved. To be clear, that groan inside of you on money week could very well just be the devil - because he knows you will feel scared about your salvation when you think you aren't giving enough. All I'm asking is to consider the idea that maybe we groan because we're scared to actually give generously.
Consider what the bible is saying regarding all of this (including verses like when Paul says "I don't mean 'make life hard for yourself and easy for others" regarding giving, because that's important as well). Consider what you believe about who God is and what He promised us. Jesus warned us a ton of times about trusting in money and getting caught up with temporary stuff in the world. It's not that it's 100% bad, in fact I do believe Jesus wants us to enjoy life - but from what I can tell, He warns us about being caught up in these things a lot because it's dangerous.
I struggle with this just as much as everyone else. I want things, and if someone asks me for money, the first thing that goes through my head is that Jesus told us to give to those who ask of us. That's all He said. He didn't give a percentage, a list of circumstances. He's saying just give to them, and trust that God has your back (verse quoted below).
Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
If we really believed the God that created the universe loved us and promised that He would care for us - our minds wouldn't be worrying about the number in the bank account when we feel like we should give. Why is that new computer, that new car, that new toy even on our minds in this circumstance?
A pastor, on "money week" once told us a story of when he basically gave the last cent he had away when he really needed it, and God gave him all the money he needed within an hour of doing that. He finished his sermon by saying "you can't out give God". And that really resonated with me. How could we ever out-give God?
What is God going to say?
Ah, sorry Jacob. You were only supposed to give 15% of your income this week. Not the 20% you gave. You can't eat this week. There's nothing I can do.
It's a matter of faith. It doesn't do anyone any good for me to simply say "guys you should believe this". But perhaps it is at least something for you to chew on for me to say - look anywhere around you at any given time and think about how that came to be, and then consider the idea that God made that. Could you ever be generous enough that God couldn't provide for your needs? Don't let the fear of maybe not being able to buy that boat ever get in the way of that.
I want to finish by saying that I do truly believe it is possible to give self-righteously, and if you read this and are considering emptying your entire bank account so your conscience will shut up, you probably shouldn't do that either. Also note that I have considered doing that many times and always found it just to be anxiety. God doesn't speak in panic mode. Giving should be done because you really feel like you want to. Even if it's hard. It's about God using and calling us as He would - not uncovering a mystical cookie cutter for us to fit into.
It's not just something "nice to do", in fact. The bible seems to portray giving and riches as pretty fundamental, something we should be careful of. So whether you're broke, rich, feeling called to give more, or annoyed that you even read this far because you already feel like you're giving enough - just listen to God and think about what the bible says. Stop looking to fit "donations" in a yearly budget that also allows you to buy everything you want - take it day by day and if God wants you to give stuff then just give it and trust that He knows what He's doing.
The more we think to ourselves "nah we already do enough" I think the more close minded we become to the opportunity for God to work through us in our giving, and also even strengthen our faith. If God calls you to give until you're broke, sometimes seeing the way He works in those times when you feel there's no way out is an incredible encouragement.
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