Should Christians be rich?

[NathanH83]

Solomon was very wealthy. And the Bible doesn’t condemn him for that. Abraham was very wealthy. God made Jacob wealthy while living under Laban.

But then Jesus said that it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

How do we solve this supposed contradiction?

 

[Lamb]

God can provide wealth but that doesn't mean all believers will be rich. Jesus spoke out against the rich because the rich in those cases had made their wealth into a false god that they worshiped.

 

[Andrew]

Solomon was very wealthy. And the Bible doesn’t condemn him for that. Abraham was very wealthy. God made Jacob wealthy while living under Laban.

But then Jesus said that it’s hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

How do we solve this supposed contradiction?

The "eye of the needle" line did not mean that it is impossible for a rich man to get into Heaven. The phrase actually refers to the narrow gate into the city, the camals entering in literally had to kneel down to enter in... im sure someone else can explain it way better than I did lol but it meant that the rich man has to be humble to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

 

[Lanman87]

The "eye of the needle" line did not mean that it is impossible for a rich man to get into Heaven. The phrase actually refers to the narrow gate into the city, the camals entering in literally had to kneel down to enter in... im sure someone else can explain it way better than I did lol but it meant that the rich man has to be humble to enter the kingdom of Heaven.

That is actually a myth (that I was taught in Sunday school). There is no biblical or historical evidence that any such gate existed.

Reformed Baptist Pastor John MacArthur puts is this way:

"There is no evidence that such a gate ever existed. Nor would any person with common sense have attempted to force a camel through such a small gate even if one had existed; they would simply have brought their camel into the city through a larger gate"

and here is a website that explains it

Myths About the Bible: Was the Eye of the Needle a Gate? - Recognizing Christ

 

[Andrew]

That is actually a myth (that I was taught in Sunday school). There is no biblical or historical evidence that any such gate existed.

Reformed Baptist Pastor John MacArthur puts is this way:

"There is no evidence that such a gate ever existed. Nor would any person with common sense have attempted to force a camel through such a small gate even if one had existed; they would simply have brought their camel into the city through a larger gate"

and here is a website that explains it

Myths About the Bible: Was the Eye of the Needle a Gate? - Recognizing Christ

Ok but if this article is true, then why did Jesus single out the "rich" when what he really meant was everyone?

 

[Lanman87]

Ok but if this article is true, then why did Jesus single out the "rich" when what he really meant was everyone?

Jesus explains, "With God, all things are possible". What seems impossible for us, even something as absurd as a camel going through the eye of a needle is possible with God. If you viewed rich people as greedy, self centered, selfish, and mean then you would be think it is impossible for them to "enter the Kingdom of God". Jesus seems to be confirming that thought. However, then He drops the hammer and says ""With God, all things are possible". Basically, even these rich people, who are cheating you and extorting you and treating you like a second class citizen, can be saved. God's grace and gifts even extend to them.

This is not about excluding rich people, it is about how even the rich (who even today are vilified) can be saved. The Gospel is for all people, the rich, the poor, and everyone in between.