DeVoTiOn

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. (Mark 10:25 *NKJV )

This verse has been misunderstood by many people throughout history. Many even falsely believe that being successful is a sin. Well, they could not be further from the truth, for it is written; Beloved, I pray that you may prosper and that all may go well with, you, even as your soul prospers. ( 3 John 2 )

What Jesus was referring to in the top verse was a person who loved their money more than they loved their Heavenly Father. For you see in Jesus' time, just as today, many people were very unscrupulous, and their money came from all-gotten gain! After all it is written; For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from thefaith in their greediness, and pierced them-selves through with many sorrows. ( 1 Timothy 6:10 )

The other thing people often do not understand is the "Eye of the Needle." Also in Jesus' time all villages were surrounded by a wall for protection from their enemies. So each village had a main gate that was open only in the daytime, and a small side gate for night entry. This small gate was called the "needle," and when open it was not very high..

Now those with stolen goods would try to sneak them into town at night through this small side gate. One problem they had was a camel could not walk through this small gate with a full load on its back, so the load often had to be removed. Then the poor camel would still have to walk on its knees to enter through the gate. Not an easy task to say the least, especially for the poor camel!

Know in your heart that as long as you keep God Number One in your life, you may prosper, and be successful on Earth and still enter the Kingdom of God as well! For it is written; "May they prosper wholove you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces." Amen. ( Psalms 122:6-7 )