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Welcome
being poor or being rich?
The Path
“Truly, I say to you, it will be hard for a rich man 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 a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
I Believe
The Lord's disciples asked, “Who then can be saved?” This means Jesus’ teaching was not directed at only the very wealthy members of society but to everyone. In ancient Judaism wealth was considered a sign of spiritual blessing (see Deuteronomy 8:18), so if even those who had found favor with God could not attain heaven, what hope was there for ordinary people? Jesus’ answer to the disciples clears the matter up: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matt. 19:26).
Overcome the Danger of Wealth
Rich people can attain heaven, and the Bible records several wealthy people who found favor with God. These include Abraham, Job, and even Joseph of Arimathea, who was wealthy enough to afford a rock tomb for Jesus’ burial.
But, as we’ve seen, wealth can lead to the temptation to idolize money, and so it is a spiritual danger for God’s children. Jesus said a person could not serve both God and money lest he ends up loving one and despising the other (see Matthew 6:24). St. Paul included in his list of vices that can prevent someone from entering the kingdom of God “thievery” “robbery” and “greed” (1 Cor. 6:10).