Our featured verse today follows an interaction Jesus had with a rich, young ruler who asked him what he must do to be saved. When Jesus told him to obey all the commandments, his response was that he had followed these since he was a child. Jesus then told him there was one thing he lacked. He said to him, “If you would be perfected, go, sell all you possess and give to the poor, then you will have treasures in Heaven. Then you shall come and follow me” (Matthew 19:21). The scripture tells us the young man went away in sorrow, because he had great possessions. We are not told whether he obeyed and returned.

Jesus told his disciples that it would be difficult for a wealthy person to enter Heaven, stating that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:24). This confused them and they asked, “Who then can be saved?” And in his response, Jesus said that it is impossible with man, but not with God.

The eye of a needle was a narrow gate into Jerusalem. When a camel, loaded down with supplies, would come to the narrow eye of the needle gate, he would have to offload all those possessions, the wide and heavy loads, in order to pass through. 

Likewise, Jesus was saying that the wealth of the rich young ruler would have to be offloaded to free him up so he could walk the narrow way, follow Jesus, and enter Heaven.

Certainly, this would have brought sorrow to the young man, because he valued all he had. Jesus was testing his heart to see what he valued most, his worldly treasures or the treasures of Heaven. What about you? What do you need to give up so that you may follow him through the narrow gate?

Dear Heavenly Father,

In giving Your only Son for me, You gave up Your most prized possession. So surely, I can walk away from all that I should, so that I may walk through the narrow gate and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. I ask for Your wisdom and strength that there may be nothing in my life that keeps me from You. I long to give You my all, and that includes anything I hold dear, if that is what it takes to be Your true follower. Please give me Your divine power to answer the call and become an example for others who may follow through the narrow gate. I will be careful to give You all the glory, honor and praise. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

What is Jesus asking you to give up so that you can follow him with your whole heart? Is it riches, a job, friends, some leisure time, worldly lusts, the private sin you keep hidden, addictions, or something else very personal to you? You may feel it is impossible to let go, but as Jesus said to the disciples, He says to you, “With man it is impossible, but with God, all things are possible.” Press into him and receive the strength and wisdom you need, so that you can give up all that keeps you from walking through the narrow gate with Him.