The Astonishing Attributes of Camels

I think the point being made in those passages is that camels, unlike any other creatures, are unusually adept at passing through small holes. I really don't think too much more has to be read into it. :-)

The context of those passages was with respect to the "Rich Ruler," and it's interesting to note that this is not a parable. The Bible presents this as a historical reading of the events as they happened. The rich man asks how he can be assured of eternal life. Jesus clicks off five of the ten commandments.

Note: Why not all ten? Why not the all important 1st Commandment? I don't know. :-)

The rich man says he's done all of those since he was a young man. Now we know from other passages that Jesus read these commandments with a broader interpretation. (Murder -- not just the physical act of killing, but even being angry with one's brother [Matthew 5:22]; Adultery -- not just the physical act of sex outside marriage, but even looking at another woman with lust in the heart [Matthew 5:28].) So it's likely the claim by the rich man to have fully abided by the commandments was received with some skepticism on Jesus's part.

The line about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God is intended, I think, to drive home a critical point about the way we view our relationship with God. The Bible is fairly clear -- and this passage reinforces the point -- that we are utterly dependent upon God for all things, most critically our salvation. There is a real temptation to believe that we are self-sufficient in many areas of our lives. This is particularly true when we are affluent, and the necessities of life -- food, clothing, shelter -- come easily based on our wealth. But to come to a point of true repentance, and in turn an acceptance of Christ's atoning work as the only way to achieve eternal life, requires a humbling of oneself. A difficult thing for any person; very difficult for someone of wealth, means, power and status.

That's my reading of this passage -- not that wealth is itself an inhibitor to eternal salvation, but that wealth is something that hinders our ability to truly be humble and submit ourselves to the Lordship of Christ. I write this from personal experience. Not that I am a man of great means, but I clearly do not worry about my daily bread. Do I really think that I am utterly dependent upon God? No. Shamefully, no.

The other side of this issue is that wealth tends to become a person's idol -- their false god. How many relatively well-off people do you know that strive to acquire even more? "No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." (Matthew 16:13)

So what should one do who is relatively wealthy? Give it all away and become poor as a means to achieve salvation? I don't personally think the Bible is making that claim. Perhaps if money truly is causing one to sin, then getting rid of the money might be called for. But if one is able to see money as blessing from God, to be enjoyed humbly and shared with others, then there's nothing wrong with it. But when it serves to block one's understanding of their own hopeless inability to be justified before God, then it's a problem. And the love and devotion of money is a difficult thing to overcome. Indeed, it's easier for a camel ...