Jesus said, "Do you have any idea how difficult it is for the rich to enter God's kingdom? Let me tell you, it's easier to gallop a camel through a needle's eye than for the rich to enter God's kingdom." (Matthew 19:23-24, The Message) Armentrout, Raymond and Armentrout, Theresa

It isn't the wealth itself that causes a problem, but the selfishness it leads to. Everything God gives us is for us to share with others. So in the passage above, Jesus urges the rich man to share what he has with the poor. The man can't bring himself to do it. It's as if the wealth has poisoned his heart. perform luck european roulette online win constantly

He has been doing the right things on the outside but inside his heart is not right. He's clinging on to the luxuries he thinks will give him a good life. Yet Jesus says true life comes from a relationship with himself (John 5:40). "What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself?" (Matthew 16:26)

In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells a story of a rich man who is eternally tormented because he kept his wealth for himself without doing anything to help the beggar at his gate. This is a severe warning about blatantly ignoring those in need around us.

The early church carried on this teaching. The new believers shared everything they had (Acts 4:32) and caring for the poor was something they strongly encouraged (Galatians 2:10).

God's advice is summed up in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: