by Ethan Park

Created on: January 07, 2007   Last Updated: May 11, 2007

As souls in this world, we all constantly worry about whether or not we are going to make it into the kingdom of heaven. So we accept Jesus as our Lord, we act kindly to our friends,and we follow the Ten Commandments. Should we ever sin, we pray to God for His forgiveness and mercy.

As Christians, we are also called to imitate Christ. Christ was born into poverty, was brought up into poverty as he had to run from one place to another, and died in poverty. Does this mean we as Christians should also lead a life of poverty? Absolutely not, but to take on a life of being rich with many treasures and luxuries is almost an abomination compared to those with live in Africa with AIDS with no medication to help fight it, or compared to those all around the world who have to steal or kill just for a piece of bread.

Taking this, and the story of the Young Rich Man from Matthew 19. He came up to Jesus and asked

"Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

17"Why do you ask me about what is good?" Jesus replied. "There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments."

18"Which ones?" the man inquired.

Jesus replied, " 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother,'[d] and 'love your neighbor as yourself.'[e]"

20"All these I have kept," the young man said. "What do I still lack?"

21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

22When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24Again I tell 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."

25When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" *

This is a question many have asked them self. Am I saved? The answer:

26Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."*

At some point in our life, when we look at the celebrities on TV, or that one big house with the tall maple trees in town, we all wonder what it would be like to be rich. But alas, Jesus tells us that it would be easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle. Now, unless you have a very large needle, or a shrinking machine for the camel, I very highly doubt you are going to fit a camel through a needle's eye.

So how is it that these televangelists can go on TV, in their fancy suits and big fancy churches, and preach the Word of God as if they have no fault themselves? I'm sure there is no easy answer to this question, but that when it comes to our own wealth, we should watch how much we get attached to our material possessions, when its between the choice of wealth on a mortal Earth, or an amazing life in Heaven for eternity .

*-cited from Matthew 19 of the New International Version of the Bible

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