“And Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.’” – Matthew 19:23
As you begin to reflect on this verse, first realize that by the historical and global norms of the earth, you’re probably a rich person. If you have reliable shelter from the outdoors, adequate clothing for the season, access to transportation, some amount of education, reliable communication, and you know where your next couple of meals are coming from, then you’re vastly richer than the overwhelming majority of all people who’ve ever lived!
So, why would Jesus say that it’s so difficult for us to enter the kingdom of heaven??? There are several reasons. One is that the more stuff (money, possessions, toys) we have, the more our stuff tends to have us. We tend to grow strongly attached to our wealth, whether it be large or small. We become emotional about it, defend it, rationalize it, define ourselves by it, and let it guide and direct our time, energy, and emotion. Without realizing it, we ground our identity, well-being, and emotional state in our possessions. The correct word for such grounding is worship, though we hate to admit that we easily worship the false gods of wealth.
Another reason is that the more stuff we have, the more stuff we want or believe we need. We tend to develop an insatiable desire for “just a little more.” We often believe that true security, comfort, and satisfaction will be ours if we just had a bit more than we currently have. That’s a mirage that leaves us more focused on stuff than on pursuing God’s will.
Finally, of course, is that nobody (rich or poor) can enter God’s Kingdom on their own. We can’t ever earn or buy our way there, though the more we have, the more we tend to try. As imperfect people, we can never work our way into the perfect kingdom of our perfect God. We can only enter God’s Kingdom through humble faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who died as a sacrifice on our behalf and victoriously rose from death. Do we have the humility to admit our need for a Savior and trust in Jesus? Or will our worldly accomplishments, credentials, comforts, and possessions keep us from submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ?