Camels, Needles, and the Kingdom of God

By Danny Saavedra

“Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, ‘Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?’ ‘Why do you ask me about what is good?’ Jesus replied. ‘There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.’ ‘Which ones?’ he inquired. Jesus replied, ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.’’ ‘All these I have kept,’ the young man said. ‘What do I still lack?’ Jesus 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.’ When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.’”—Matthew 19:16–24 (NIV)

There’s so much to unpack here in these nine verses! So, what’s happening? One day after teaching the crowds, Jesus was stopped on the road by a young man who was extremely wealthy. In Mark 10:17 (NIV), we’re told he ran up to Him and fell on his knees before asking “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

Jesus responds in a seemingly odd way: “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only One who is good.” Why did Jesus respond like this? Essentially, He’s saying, “You know what you’re acknowledging, right? That I’m the Son of God, the Messiah.” And if He is indeed good, if He is the Messiah, then only He has the answers of eternal life—and whatever His answer is it must be obeyed! Jesus is establishing all of this before answering the question.

His answer directs the man to the Ten Commandments. But notice that He deliberately lists the commandments that pertain to man’s behavior towards others and not about man’s relationship with God.

And the man’s response was basically, “Easy. Nailed it. What else?” Mark 10:21 (NIV) tells us that at this, “Jesus looked at him and loved him.” One commentator explained, “Jesus was filled with loving compassion for this man because his life was so empty.” Empty? Yes! Even if he was as close to perfect in all these areas, he lacked the one thing we truly need for eternal life: a right relationship with God!

So, Jesus moves in on what would make him right with Him: whole-life worship and surrender to the Lord. I know it doesn’t say that verbatim as Jesus talks about selling possessions. But His response wasn’t truly about the possessions, it was about what prevents us from truly worshiping God and being Jesus’ disciple. For this man, it was the idol of his earthly wealth and possessions (which was evident in his reaction), but that’s not necessarily true across the board.

Jesus is saying, “Give God His rightful place in your life. Loving Him above all is how you get right with Him.” This is why Jesus then tells us it’s “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Why? Because when you have everything you want, you rarely see your true need, and you’re even less likely to know what must be done in order to meet that need. Spiritual poverty (Matthew 5:3) is hard to grasp for those who lack nothing.

Friends, the same is true for us. If this were written today, I honestly think Jesus would say, “It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone from the west—from America, from Canada, western Europe, people who have more attachments and wealth than many kings of old did—to enter the kingdom of God.”

That may sound harsh, but it’s 100% true! Why is it easier for people in China, Africa, the middle East, Cuba, and other impoverished, war-torn, oppressed countries to joyfully give up their hope, trust, and lives to follow Jesus? I hear all the time about believers in these areas actually feeling pity for and praying for us in the west. Why? Because when we have nothing, it’s often more tangible and clearer that Jesus is all we need; it’s easier to give it all up for Him and to know that ONLY in Christ, our Good Shepherd, can we then say, “I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1)! When we have every comfort, distraction, temptation, power, influence, and security, it’s much harder to see our need for Him and even harder to give it all up and discover that security, comfort, power, joy, and life are only found in Him!

To summarize, what I’m telling you is that to be Jesus’ disciple and to be given the right and privilege to be called “children of God” and to be given eternal life in heaven, we have to be willing to give up any and everything to follow Him. Why? Because Jesus gave up everything to save us!

Pause: What was the real issue in this man’s life? What form does idolatry take in your life, and how can you counter it?

Practice: Reflect on all that you have and hold dear. Then, invite the Holy Spirit to audit these things and to search your heart for anything else you may be placing above God.

Pray: Jesus, thank You for humbling Yourself and being obedient to death on a cross. Thank You for giving up everything so I can find everything I need in You. Forgive me for placing anything above You in my life. Help me to trust You every day and follow You closely in every moment. In Your beautiful name, I pray. Amen.