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MAKING A POINT 1 -THREADING THE CAMEL (MATTHEW 19:16-26)

“Making a point from the nature of a camel” is the theme for our reflection. Jesus used the imagery of a needle and threading the camel to reveal an eternal truth. Threading the camel is a figure of speech, precisely a hyperbole or a metaphor which Jesus used to communicate the lesson that a camel has the possibility of entering through the tiny hole of a sewing needle than a materialistic person who is obsessed with money and wealth entering the gates of heaven. Literally, the eye of needles is tiny therefore it is only a thread that can pass through it. Anything bigger than a thread can never pass through it but Jesus employs the metaphor or hyperbole of threading the camel to teach us the lesson of faith, obedience and Salvation. We shall reflect on the fact that just as it is metaphorically easy to thread the camel, salvation comes to those who trust and obey Jesus Christ rather than their riches and wealth.

Dear friend it is impossible to attain salvation without following Jesus Christ and believing Him as our Lord and Saviour. The rich young man was granted the grace to be saved when Jesus tested his faith and faithfulness to God. Jesus said to Him “If you would be perfect, go sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me” But “when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:21-24) Dear friend, there are many interpretations given to this text but I humbly invite you to dive a bit deeper with me. We shall recall that the camel is a huge but calm and obedient animal. It is an animal owned by rich merchants or traders to transport goods and valuables. No matter how loaded the camel is with goods, it trusts and obeys its owner or rider. Comparatively, unlike the camel, a person who is obsessed with riches, wealth or materialism finds it difficult to trust and obey our Master and Saviour Jesus Christ. No wonder Jesus comparatively concludes that “…it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:24). Obviously, the camel is more likely to be humble, trust and be obedient to the owner than some rich persons would humble, trust and be obedient to God. It is for this reason we are told in Matthew 19:22 that “when the young man heard this (his call to lose his wealth and come follow Jesus) he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions” In other words, he was obsessed with his possessions and was not ready to lose them by trusting and obeying Jesus. An invitation that will lead him to the Kingdom of God he so desired. Dear friend, like a camel, no matter how big and loaded we are with wealth and possessions we must be ready to obey and have faith in Jesus our Master and Saviour if we want to enter the gates of Heaven and have eternal life. Let us remember that it is not Jesus’ intention to impoverish anyone who desires to trust and obey Him. “Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35). For us to be saved, Jesus requires our total allegiance, love, commitment, passion, sacrifice faithfulness and obedience. It is for this reason that Paul admonishes, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God —this is your true and proper worship.” (Roman 12:1)

We cannot attain salvation with our self-righteousness and obsession with the things of the world. It is impossible! Jesus, however greatly assures us that “with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible…everyone one who has left house or brother or sister or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:26, 29). In other words, “for God’s so love the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

Beloved in the Lord, like the camel, we must be obedient and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ for us to enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus again reminds us that “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…”No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money “(Matthew 6:21,24). My dear friend, we are greatly admonished by Jesus that “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” (Mark 8:35-36). To trust and obey Jesus with our wealth and be saved, Paul admonishes us through His letter to Timothy when he wrote, “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. Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith. Grace be with you all ” (1 Timothy 6:17-21). Beloved in the Lord, what is your attitude towards wealth or possessions as believers? In recent times, we have seen how some greedy and corrupt African leaders and politicians who identify themselves as Christians, hoard millions and billions of dollars and other foreign currencies at their residences while the masses suffer and die as a result of diseases, poverty, bad roads and lack of other basic amenities. When we have followed Jesus’ instructions by trusting, obeying and serving Him with our wealth and possessions then it will be easy for us to enter the Kingdom of Heaven as the camel will enter the eye of the needle.

In conclusion, we have reflected on the theme “threading the camel” We have been reminded that just as it is metaphorically easy to thread the camel, salvation comes to those who trust and obey Jesus Christ rather than their riches and wealth. Shalom.

PRAYER
1. Let us pray against the spirit of materialism and obsession with things of this world to the detriment of our salvation.
2. Let us pray for our hearts to be filled with the unconditional love of Christ so that we will continually share our possessions or wealth with the most vulnerable and needy in our society.
3. Let us pray for peace in areas of the world where natural resources and wealth have become the source of conflict and destruction of lives and properties.

Holy Spirit, please teach and guide us to always trust and obey the Creator of the universe and the Giver of life. May we not be obsessed and influenced by His creation, wealth and possession but remain focused on our salvation and eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen.