The Eye of a Needle

The Eye of a Needle

“And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.” …Matthew 19:24

Maybe because it’s the season of Lent I started thinking about today’s world. But it doesn’t matter whether you’re a Christian or not, Jesus was a great teacher whose profound teachings can help us all live a better life and build a better and more equitable world.

Jesus’ famous quote about a camel and the eye of a needle isn’t just an ancient proverb; it’s a stark reflection of our time and our current obsession with possessions and wealth. The idea of a massive camel trying to squeeze through the eye of a needle? That’s Jesus’ way of saying, that hoarding riches and truly living a life of spiritual purpose are fundamentally incompatible.

Look around. We live in a world where “more” is the mantra. We’re told happiness will come with the next big purchase, the upgraded lifestyle, the ever-increasing bank balance. But Jesus casts truth into that narrative. He asks us, pointedly, if this relentless pursuit of money and things is stealing our joy, our sense of meaning, our connection to something bigger than ourselves.

This isn’t just about owning a lot of things. It’s about how consumerism has warped our values. We’re constantly bombarded with the idea that our worth is tied to what we possess. The latest gadgets, and designer labels – become markers of success, and we’re trapped in an endless cycle of wanting more, leaving us feeling empty despite it all.

And it’s not just personal. Wealth creates walls. In a world where some have unimaginable riches while others struggle to survive, that wealth comes at a cost. The wealthy could do a lot to feed the poor but many of the wealthy seem to focus on accumulating more rather than using their wealth to build a better world.  

The wealthy make the rules to keep themselves at the top, pushing those at the bottom further behind. They make the rules by donating tremendous sums to politicians of all parties to ensure that tax breaks for the rich and weakened social safety nets remain unchanged and ensure a system that favors the ultra-wealthy, not the common good.

Jesus teaches us to see these injustices and to use our resources to build a more equitable world. This is not an easy task when the levers of power seem to always be in the hands of the ultra-wealthy.

The “eye of the needle” isn’t just about money; it’s also about the pressure society puts on us and the pressure we put on ourselves. The relentless drive to climb the ladder, to amass wealth as a measure of our worth leads to burnout, disconnection, a ultimately a feeling of emptiness.

We’re taught to chase wealth and success, but Jesus asks us to stop and reflect. What if success meant helping others,  living with purpose, and compassion, and having a connection to something deeper?

The internet makes wealth and superficiality seem even more desirable. Social media paints a glossy picture of beauty, wealth, and success, fueling envy and the desire for more and more.

Social Media and the internet show us curated lives, perfect vacations, and luxury goods, and we feel like we’re missing out, failing, and falling behind. We can end up feeling even worth less and worthless. Social media gives a megaphone to the ignorant and cruel who seem to speak the loudest but without anything worthwhile to say.

This constant exposure to wealth and “nice things” intensifies the pressure on us to accumulate, making that “eye of the needle” even smaller and more difficult to pass through.

Ultimately, Jesus’ message is a challenge. It’s a call to examine our infatuation with wealth, to prioritize our spiritual well-being over material gain, and to use what we have to help others. In a world obsessed with things and status, He reminds us that true fulfillment isn’t found in what we own, but in a life lived with faith, humility, and a desire to help others.

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21