Can You Squeeze through the Needle’s Eye?

I would like to take this opportunity to wish each and every one of you a happy New Year (even if I am a little late in doing it). I am filled with optimism and unbridled enthusiasm as I look toward the future, a time I believe is filled with endless possibilities for each and every one of us. We launch into 2009 in the midst of a major worldwide recession, and yet my hope is undaunted. Some of the most successful businesses of the last century were started during years of economic downturn. There are niches and opportunities for entrepreneurs to grab hold of, and prosper from, especially if they are backed by the full force and anointing of Jehovah Jireh, our Great and Mighty Provider.

I plan on spending some time over the next few weeks analyzing some of those successful businesses, as well as some of the niches in today’s marketplace that could bring prosperity and abundance to those who seize it. God has blessed his children in the midst of famine and prosperity in the past, and I believe he is poised to do it once again. However, before I dive into that meaty subject, I would ask for you to bear with me as I take one more blog post to finish up my series on “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse”. The most important aspect of analyzing Matthew 19:24 has yet to be touched upon, and I believe it’s important that we take a closer look at it.

“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." (Matthew 19:24, NIV)

If someone were to read verse 24 by itself, and go no further in the story, it is very easy to see how they could be led to the false assumption that God wants his people to abandon the notion of prosperity and live their lives in poverty and lack. However, when you take the time to read the next 2 verses, and consider verse 24 within the context of the conversation, you will come to a far different conclusion.

Many believers hate the idea of context, because it prevents them from manipulating Scripture to say what they want it to say. But shouldn’t our ultimate goal be to seek out what God is trying to say, rather than distorting the words of the Holy Writ to push forward our own agenda and/or belief system? Let’s check out verse 24 one more time, but now in the perspective within which it rightly belongs.

“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. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’ Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:24-26, NIV. Emphasis added)

To fully understand why the disciples were “greatly astonished” at Jesus’ words, you must have an understanding of more than just the literary context, but the historical context as well. During the time of Jesus’ life on earth, material wealth was considered a sign of God’s favor. Of course, there were some wealthy and influential people who were revealed by Jesus to be a “brood of vipers” and a stench in the nostrils of God. However, there were also many known by the disciples to be faithful followers of Christ who were blessed with great wealth and abundance. If these God-fearing men were unable to get into the kingdom of God, then the question must be asked, “Who then can be saved?” (Verse 25)

Jesus immediately clarifies his position with his next statement, “With man this (“this” being a rich man getting into heaven) is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Verse 26) Jesus knew the disciples’ hearts, and was encouraging them not to let their hearts be troubled over these great men of God who were rich in this present world. Faithful servants of Christ like Joseph of Arimathea (who would eventually provide Jesus’ burial tomb) and Zacchaeus (who had been radically converted), both men of great wealth, still had a place in His Kingdom because “with God” all things are possible.

The absolute life changing phrase here is “with God.” There are a lot of things that happen “with God” that wouldn’t otherwise take place. Jesus used the illustration regarding the eye of the needle to once again illustrate the awesome power of God to transform the heart of mankind. If a person’s heart & life are entangled in this world ruled by the prince of darkness and his minions, it will certainly keep them from taking up residence in Heaven. Riches often become a god to the lost and have the tendency to bring out the worst in mankind; greed, materialism, and corruption. Many become consumed with the idea of making more and building their own personal kingdoms on earth. Worldly possessions become their focus and the thirst for “More, Bigger, and Better” can never be quenched.

However “with God”, and his transforming power, the impossible now becomes possible. Those with wealth are not consumed by it, but rather use it for the good of those around them. Their financial independence affords them the opportunity to donate their time to a local church or ministry (Ephesians 4:12), give to missions and fund ministries (Phil 4:15-17), take care of the poor, orphans & widows (Acts 4:34, 35; James 1:27), provide for their own families (1 Tim 5:8), and leave an inheritance for their children’s children (Prov. 13:22). “With God” our hearts are changed and we are transformed by the renewing of our minds. “With God” there is new vision, new purpose, and new direction in our lives. “With God” money is no longer something that defiles and corrupts, but rather a tool that is used for the purposes of God and his Kingdom. With God, with God, with God!!!! Hallelujah!!!

That’s what Jesus was saying! That’s the power of context! How much clearer could Jesus be in this passage of Scripture? And yet many Christians have excused their own poverty for years by standing on verse 24 alone, as if it’s some kind of badge of honor to be broke, busted and disgusted.

That’s why I believe this is by far one of the devil’s favorite Bible verses. He probably has a cross-stitched version of the verse framed over his rocking chair in Hell. He would love for us to believe that God wants us poor. The emptier our wallets are, the more effective his kingdom of darkness remains. The wealth of the wicked may very well be laid up for the righteous, but if the devil can keep us from taking action to lay hold of it, he has that much more money to do his evil bidding.

For this new year of 2009, I pray now more than ever that God would give you a healthy view of wealth, prosperity, and abundance. I believe that a mighty deluge of His “power to create wealth” will overtake you this year! I pray that your mind and spirit will receive numerous God ideas and inventions, as well as the creativity and ingenuity to market and sell them for profit. I pray that the business idea that has been placed inside of you, that may have become dormant in recent years, COME ALIVE IN JESUS’ HOLY NAME!

I promise to continue doing my part to inspire, motivate, and equip you in the coming year to pursue your God-given dreams and visions. I look forward to the stream of testimonials that will flow into my e-mail box in the coming months. Until next week, be blessed…

Satan's Favorite Bible Verse, Part 2

“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." (Matthew 19:24, NIV)

As I discussed in part 1 of this series, the passage found in Matthew 19:24 is one of the most misused and misunderstood statements that Jesus made during his time on Planet Earth. The notion that God wants his people to suffer or to live in poverty is not only contrary to the scriptures as a whole, but also a complete misapplication of Jesus’ “eye of the needle” statement and his subsequent explanation to the disciples. As a result, it has also become one of the devil’s favorite and most-quoted verses of the Bible. It has helped to keep Christians underfunded and ineffective in their plight to spread the good news of Christ & His love, severely crippling one of the biggest threats to his demonic kingdom.

(If you haven’t had a chance to read last week’s blog post, take a minute and review the first 2 points by scrolling down to part 1 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse”)

#3 - The Definition of “Rich”

Does God truly refuse to allow entry into Heaven for those who are considered “rich” in the present world? If so, I guess it would be pretty important for us as believers to come up with an exact definition of what “rich” truly is, so as to ensure that we stay far away from that dreadful number. So, let me ask you, how do you define rich? Is there a number in your head? Perhaps the more poignant question might be, “What do you think is the number in someone else’s head?” Isn’t it possible that the answers are numerous & varied, with nearly every person thinking of a different number or amount altogether? Not only is it possible, but also highly probably, because an individual’s definition of “rich” is most certainly shaped by their own personal circumstances.

When most people come up with an income number for “rich” or a net worth number for “wealthy”, it’s nearly always a number much higher than what they currently have or earn right now. For me personally, when I was making $30,000 a year, I thought that $100,000 was rich. However, when I was making $100,000 a year, suddenly it didn’t feel very “rich” anymore. This mindset is just as prevalent in the top 1-2% of Americans as it is in everyday folks, with a recent survey revealing that only 8% of all millionaires consider themselves to be “very rich”. Regardless of our current income, nearly all of us consider “rich” something to be attained, a far-off destination that we are striving for, not a present reality.

Another defining factor for the term “rich” would need to include the area of the country or world in which a person resides. Earning $100,000 a year in a small Midwestern town may make your life pretty comfortable, filling your days with luxury and convenience. However, that same $100,000 in New York City or London has you living in a cramped studio apartment barely larger than most master bedroom closets. On a global scale, the differences are even more dramatic.

In the United States, we consider our “poor” to be those who make less than $20,000 or so per year (depending on the number of people in the household). However, in many parts of Africa, running water and electricity are considered a luxury to be experienced only by the social elite. Seeing through the eyes and paradigm of the impoverished in 3rd world countries would put just about everyone in the United States in the “rich” category and, according to many in the church, would have us all destined to a fiery grave.

The term “rich” is obviously a very relative term, with the definition based primarily on one’s own perspective. So it stands to reason that the perspective or definition of “rich” that we should most be concerned with is God Almighty’s. In the world’s economy, Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are 2 of its wealthiest inhabitants, but in Heaven’s economy they are just above the poverty line. How is “rich” defined by someone who paves his streets with gold and has designed and prepared a mansion for each and every one of his followers? Is God pleased if you make $30k, $60k, or even $100k/year? If so, what is the yearly income number at which his pleasure turns into divine dismay and unrelenting wrath? What happens if you are successful in utilizing your God-given gifts and talents and, heaven forbid, get a raise to $150k/year? Is that a sentence to eternal damnation? Obviously I speak in jest, but there are many in our churches today who actually believe that!

With so many definitions of the word “rich”, wouldn’t it make sense for God to spend his time judging the heart, rather than the size of someone’s pocketbook? Wasn’t that the whole point of the Sermon on the Mount? The root problem with the rich young ruler wasn’t his riches, but rather his attachment to, and unwillingness to let go of those riches. He gave lip service to the cause of Christ, but he was unwilling to let go of his worldly possessions to truly “take up his cross” & follow. Jesus saw right through to the heart and put this young man to the test, one that he miserably failed.

Compare that to the Biblical account of Zacchaeus, a tax collector in Jericho:

“But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." (Luke 19:8-10, NIV, emphasis added)

Notice that Zacchaeus only offered to give up half of his possessions in a show of repentance, while Jesus commanded everything of the rich young ruler. Regardless of how you define wealthy in today’s economy (1 Million, 5 Million, 10 Million), if you start off wealthy and give up only half, how much does that leave you with? Quite a bit! So why did Zacchaeus get off so cheap? Why was he allowed to keep a substantial portion of his net worth, while the rich, young ruler had to abandon it all? Because again, it has absolutely nothing to do with the AMOUNT, and EVERYTHING to do with the HEART! Zacchaeus had already been convicted of his greed and materialism and he came to Jesus with a penitent heart, ready to humbly obey as his master commanded. Zacchaeus’ heart was pure in the presence of God, so there was no need for Jesus to call him to the same radical abandonment of wealth as he did the rich, young ruler.

For some people it takes giving up everything to break their idolatry of money, to some it’s half, and to some it’s none at all. God is not in the “robin hood” business of taking from the rich and giving to the poor. He is in the “Jehovah Jireh” business of blessing his saints abundantly that they may in turn bless the poor, their families, and the needy ministries in the Church. It’s not about dollars and cents to God. It’s about who (or what) is guiding your heart and your decisions. Your commitment to Christ is measured by how much of your cross you have taken up, not by how much of your money you have laid down. Poor people can be just as worldy and uncommitted to Christ as rich people, but God is calling us all to follow him without restrictions, conditions, or limitations.

When we come to this type of unconditional surrender, it is then that the windows of heaven can truly open up and God can abundantly bless the works of our hands. He is scanning the earth for those who are being faithful with what they have, so that he can bless them abundantly, in full confidence that they will put it to good use in spreading the gospel of His dear Son (while also taking care of their families as they are commanded in 1 Timothy 5:8). As we stay diligent and faithful to our divine calling, keeping money in its proper place in our lives, there is truly nothing that can keep us from success and prosperity as we live out our days here on earth.

Stay safe, be blessed, and if you see my wife today, wish her a happy 27th birthday!

(Stay tuned for part 3 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse” when we talk about the most important part of reading this or any Biblical passage…CONTEXT!!)

Satan's Favorite Bible Verse, Part 1

“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." (Matthew 19:24, NIV)

All of us have a favorite Bible verse or verses. For some it’s Jeremiah 29:11 and its promise of hope, for others it’s the strength we draw from God in Philippians 4:13, and for still others it is Proverbs 3:5, 6 and the knowledge that God is continually directing our paths. In stark contrast to those uplifting and encouraging messages, I firmly believe that one of satan’s favorite verses is found in Matthew 19:24. For centuries the devil has watched this one verse be repeatedly taken out of context and effectively used to keep God’s people marginalized & impoverished, unable to finance any type of lasting and effective missions or evangelistic outreach.

The devil has a variety of tactics and creative strategies to accomplish his goal of destroying mankind. However, one of his very favorites is using God’s Word and His people against themselves, rendering them ineffective in accomplishing their great commission. He tried the same thing against Jesus, though unsuccessfully, during His time of testing in the desert (See Matthew Chapter 4). Satan had the audacity to use scripture to try and deceive Jesus into cancelling his mission on earth and forfeiting his throne in Heaven. If he would try it on the Son of God Himself, why would we be surprised when he uses the same tactic on us?

When it becomes apparent to the devil that he will be unable to drag you into a lifestyle of sin, debauchery, and rebellion, he changes his focus to simply try to neutralize you, preventing you from doing any further damage to the kingdom of darkness. It’s called devil damage control or lucipher loss mitigation, if you will. By taking Matthew 19:24 out of context, and manipulating Christ’s followers into doing the same, satan has been successful in keeping Christians poverty-minded & consuming their time with making ends meet rather than preaching the good news to a lost generation. His minions continue to make billions of dollars to finance the moral destruction of humanity, while our missionaries spend more time itinerating than “seeking and saving”, because most of their donors can barely afford a few dollars per month.

When it comes to the topic of God’s will to bless his people and my blog subscribers, I know I run the risk of “preaching to the choir.” However, even those who believe God wants them to prosper still have a tough time explaining the meaning of this verse to others, not to mention to themselves. The “eye of the needle” concept, though completely misused and misunderstood, has become so deeply rooted in the hearts and minds of believers, that many times they will subconsciously sabotage their own success in fear that wealth will somehow keep them from God. Therefore, I want to help shed some light on the subject so that you can move forward in confidence that God truly wants to see you succeed.

#1 – The Preponderance of Evidence.

To rule on the side of the prosecution in a criminal trial, a jury must believe guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt”; however in a civil trial the burden of proof is simply “the preponderance of the evidence.” Once all the facts are gathered and analyzed, they are laid on the scales of justice and whichever way it tips determines the ultimate verdict. In the Bible, there are literally hundreds of verses that declare God’s will and desire to bless his people abundantly in regards to wealth and prosperity. There are a couple, literally 3 or 4, that when taken out of context could be used as an argument to the contrary. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how many believers will hold fast to the one or two misunderstood verses, while ignoring “the preponderance of the evidence” that illustrates our loving Father’s desire to give good gifts to his children.

#2 – Guidance from the Apostle Paul

The Apostle Paul was one of the most radical followers of Christ to ever walk the face of the earth. He was the driving force of the rapid, exponential growth of the 1st century church and was eventually martyred for the cause of Christ. His zeal, passion, and unwavering adherence to the directives of the Lord were unmatched by any person of his generation. If Jesus’ advice to the rich young ruler was intended to create church doctrine and a fundamental belief system, wouldn’t Paul have been the first to admonish the church to flee from wealth and economic prosperity? Yet we find Paul repeatedly speaking of wealth and riches in a positive light

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9)

“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (2 Corinthian 9:10-12, emphasis added, NIV)

In 2 Corinthians 8:9, the word that is translated as “rich” is the Greek word “ploutizo”. The root word “ploutos” is actually defined as “riches, wealth, and an abundance of external possessions.” Paul’s statement that Christ died in poverty to make us “rich” refers to literal, physical riches, not just a spiritual blessing. As hard as it may be for poverty-minded people to accept, Christ’s death on the cross accomplished a lot more than just salvation for the lost. For those who are willing to receive it, Christ’s shed blood brings healing to the spirit, the body, the mind, and the pocketbook. Praise God!

In fact, the only time in the New Testament that Paul refers to riches in a negative way is in 1 Timothy 6:9 when he states, “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.” Notice that the warning is to those who “want to get rich”, not to those who are rich or become rich. Paul was speaking to the attitude of want, greed or the “love of money”. However when extracted from the rest of Paul’s writings and taken out of context, this verse may lead some to believe that Paul was advocating against wealth & prosperity in the church. But when you read just a few verses later in the same letter to Timothy, you see him giving guidance to his young apprentice in the faith on how to advise those who are “rich in this present world.”

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6: 17-19, NIV)

It is obvious from his writings, which make up the majority of the New Testament, that Paul felt money could be used as a powerful tool for meeting the needs of Christians and providing the means necessary to continue the church’s evangelistic work. When combined with the hundreds of other verses throughout scripture, both Old and New Testament, it’s unmistakably apparent that in regards to His children, God’s very nature is one of abundant provision and blessing. The harvest is ripe and plentiful, but the Lord needs laborers who are well-financed and focused on the mission at hand, not on how they will pay this month’s mortgage payment. The truth of God’s Word, and his desire to bless you financially, needs to be fully assimilated into your spirit so that you will never hesitate in your entrepreneurial pursuits. It is then that we will begin to see the wealth of the wicked laid up and taken hold of by the righteous, and used to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and hasten the return of our Lord. Amen!

(This blog post was originally intended to be just one part, but as I began writing the content expanded beyond my control. Therefore, I will continue next week with part 2 of “Satan’s Favorite Bible Verse” when we examine the context of Jesus’ statement in Matthew 19:24, as well as God’s definition of what “rich” truly is. Until then, have a blessed and prosperous week!)