May 16 2025

Friday May 16

Luke 18:24-33 – What is Your Source of Security?

24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 For 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." 26 And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?" 27 But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God." 28 Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You." 29 So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, 30 who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life." 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

Today, we will continue looking at the story of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus looking for salvation. He came running, knelt before Jesus, asked the right question, and came to the right person—all the right things. Matthew’s gospel calls him “young” twice, emphasizing he also came at the right time of life. That’s a good time to give your heart to Christ, but it’s never too late. As long as you have breath in your lungs, a beating heart, and a thinking mind, it’s time to come to Jesus.

Jesus told him to give everything he had, because he was rich, and give to the poor. The Bible says when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich. Jesus saw he was sorrowful and said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God. It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” Those who heard it said, “Who then can be saved?” But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” 

Peter said, “We have left all and followed you.” Jesus replied, “Assuredly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children for the sake of the kingdom of God who shall not receive many times more in this present time and in the age to come eternal life.”

When Jesus saw the man was sorrowful, He said it’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. I’ve heard, from my many visits to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, that the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem has a small door you can barely get through. They made these doors small so raiders on animals couldn’t invade the church where everyone might be taking shelter. A camel couldn’t get through the door with a person with any burden of wealth on it. The door was like the eye of a needle, very small making it hard for anything to get through it.  I’m not sure all that it meant, but Jesus was saying that for a rich person, the problem is they believe that their wealth gives them their security.

I read years ago, and never forgot it, that whatever becomes our source of security becomes our idol, our God that we worship. It might be a person, a job, or money. And most often it is our money—our job, savings account, or retirement plan. If that becomes our source of security, it becomes our God, our idol. Jesus said it’s hard for a person to give up that source of security. Jesus made it clear elsewhere you can’t serve God and mammon.

You either serve the Lord God, finding your security in Him and your relationship with Jesus Christ, or you trust in your wealth. Money can go away, people die, everything can change, but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). The real source of security for eternity is Jesus and your relationship with Him.

Jesus finishes this passage by taking the twelve aside, saying, “We’re going up to Jerusalem. All the things written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. He’ll be delivered to the Gentiles, mocked, insulted, spit upon, scourged, and killed, and the third day He will rise again.” Jesus pointed them to the cross. My friend, that’s how you come to Christ—you come to the cross, to the suffering of the cross.

What’s impossible with men is possible with God. Salvation can take place when you come to the cross, and your life can be totally changed. No matter how wealthy, poor, sinful, wicked, evil, or good you are. You can come to the cross and be saved.

Today, come to the cross of Jesus.

God bless!