“Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. "And again I say to 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 God."  When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be aved?"” (Matt 19:23-25).  The disciple’ reaction was amazement.  Some translations say astonished, bewildered, or astounded.  What did Jesus mean?  What was he saying to them?  If they took his statement literally, it would be impossible for a rich man to be saved.  If the rich are excluded, what hope does a poor man have?
 
                                                    WHAT DID JESUS MEAN?
 
The context explains His statement. Our Lord had been talking with the rich young ruler, who loved his riches too much to make the sacrifice of his wealth Jesus required, and "he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions"(Matt. 19:22). It was in this setting Jesus observed, "How hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!" (Mark 10:24). The problem with the young man was not riches, but trusting in riches. Paul urges Timothy to "charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy"(l Tim. 6:17). It is foolish to place our trust in anything as uncertain as riches. Solomon gives wise advise, saying, "Labor not to be rich; cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven"(Prov. 23:4-5). A covetous man is an idolater because he makes money his god (Col. 3:5). Riches are deceitful and can destroy our spiritual growth and development. Jesus tells us, "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful" (Matt. 13:22).
 
                                                    WHO THEN WILL BE SAVED?
 
Being rich does not of itself mean that one will be lost, nor does being poor assure one's hope of heaven. Attitude toward God and money is the determining factor. Make money your god and heaven will never be your home. Trusting in poverty is as wrong as trusting in riches. There are many opinions regarding the important question, Who then will be saved? The universalist says all men will be saved. Universalist think God will not punish the wicked. They tell us the grace of God has appeared to all men and therefore, all will be saved (Titus 2:11). However, they fail to tell us that those who want to enter heaven must deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, live sober, righteous and godly lives in this world, if they are to have any hope of eternal bliss (Titus 2:12-13). They also fail to recognize that the same passage of scripture that promises eternal life to the righteous clearly promises the wicked everlasting punishment (Matt. 25:46). It also is true that the same Greek word that describes the duration of eternal life, also tells us that the punishment is everlasting. The moralist says all good men will be saved. This teaching relies upon the false assumption that human righteousness will save without obedience to the gospel. This would be salvation based on human merit. It makes void the gospel, the blood of Christ, and the church. Cornelius, the devout centurion, who feared God, prayed, and gave alms, was a good man.  He was also a sinner, "for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). He was good and lost! If being good saves, the angel presence made a serious mistake when he told Cornelius to "send men to Joppa, and call for simon, whose surname is Peter; Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved" (Acts
11:13-14). Most denominations teach salvation is by grace alone though faith only. Denominationalists quote verses of scripture affirming salvation by faith, and misconstrue them to mean faith only. The doctrine of justification by grace through faith alone is a flat contradiction of the word of God. James wrote, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only" (James 2:24). Those who teach salvation by faith only say
love for God and repentance are necessary to salvation, which is not faith only but faith plus love and repentance. They exclude baptism, which the Lord joined with faith and repentance (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38). The Bible teaches God saves the obedient believer. The scriptures teach that faith includes works, or it is dead. "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:26). Conversely, a faith that works through love is a living, and therefore a saving, faith. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). The Captain of our salvation is the author of eternal life to all who obey Him (Heb. 5:9).
 
The problem with the young man was not riches, but trusting in riches.   Moreover, it is required that a saved person be faithful. Salvation is not a one-time event, but is a process. We grow in grace and knowledge, or we perish (2 Peter 3:18). "For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:20-22). "Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life" (Rev. 2:10).