I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the

The words of Jesus Christ—“I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to 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 man to enter the kingdom of heaven.”—strike like thunder upon the heart of ambition. In this teaching, Christ reveals the peril of wealth, not because coins of gold are cursed, but because the soul that clings to them becomes ensnared. The image of the camel and the needle’s eye is not meant as idle exaggeration, but as a living parable: wealth swells the ego, burdens the spirit, and makes humility—the gateway to heaven—difficult to attain.

The origin of this saying lies in Christ’s encounter with the rich young ruler, who asked what he must do to inherit eternal life. Though the man had kept commandments and honored the law, he could not surrender his possessions when asked to follow Christ. In this moment, Jesus unveiled the deeper truth: possessions are not the problem in themselves, but attachment to them blinds the eyes and hardens the heart. The kingdom of heaven cannot be bought, cannot be bargained for—it can only be entered by those who are free from bondage to earthly treasure.

History gives us vivid illustrations. Consider the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the son of a wealthy merchant, born into comfort and prosperity. Yet he abandoned his riches, clothed himself in poverty, and embraced the poor and the outcast. By renouncing wealth, he gained a freedom far greater than gold could ever purchase, and his life of simplicity became a radiant beacon of divine joy. He chose the narrow way, where camels must shed their burdens to pass through. In his poverty, he discovered the richness of heaven.

But contrast this with the fate of many rulers who clung to their wealth. The Roman Emperor Nero, surrounded by opulence, grew blind to justice, deaf to mercy, and enslaved by fear. His wealth did not save him; it destroyed him. His story proves Christ’s teaching: riches without humility corrupt, and abundance without compassion damns. Wealth may provide ease for the body, but it often builds walls around the heart, walls too thick to allow the soul to pass through the narrow gate of eternity.

Yet the teaching is not condemnation, but invitation. Jesus does not declare that no rich man may enter, but that it is hard. Why hard? Because it requires the rich man to do what is most unnatural to his position: to surrender, to give freely, to recognize that his treasure does not belong to him but to God. Zacchaeus the tax collector, when touched by Christ’s presence, gave half his wealth to the poor and restored fourfold what he had taken unjustly. And in that moment, Christ declared salvation had come to his house. The burden was lifted, and the eye of the needle widened through repentance and love.

The lesson is clear for all generations: do not place your hope in wealth, nor measure your worth by possessions. Treasure is fleeting, but the soul is eternal. Ask yourself daily: does what I own serve me, or do I serve it? Do my riches build walls, or do they build bridges? If you cannot give freely, then you are not the master of your wealth—it is the master of you.

Therefore, take these actions: practice generosity, even in small things. Give without expecting return. Guard your heart against the illusion that security lies in riches, for true security lies in love, in justice, in humility before God. When you prosper, use your abundance to lift others, not to imprison yourself in luxury. For as Christ teaches, the path to the kingdom is narrow, but with God all things are possible. Let your treasure be light, your heart unburdened, so that you may pass through the eye of the needle into the everlasting joy of heaven.