[FreeKeys]

The eye of the needle was the security door/gate in the wall of Jerusalem, that was guarded and left open for night travelers. It wasn't big enough for a camel to get through, unless he was unpacked and crawled through on his knees.

So, the way I take it, the admonition was NOT against getting rich; it was against getting rich by taking advantage of people without their permission (i.e., by extortion, theft or fraud instead of by trade in beneficial, wanted goods and services).

"It is truly a triumph of rhetoric over reality when people can believe that going into politics is 'public service,' but that producing food, shelter, transportation, or medical care is not." -- Thomas Sowell, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Economics, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University

[MsLady]

It's putting money before God. Or making money your idol. God isn't against money, or us having it. Poverty is not from God and it's a curse. Jesus parable is showing that you have to take everything off the camel before you enter the gate. When you come through the gate you come empty handed. That is a picture of total surrender to God. You are willing to give up everything for Him. Once your heart is in the right place He allows you to retrieve your earthly treasures, because now they are in their proper place.

I hope I explained that well. Sometimes I know it in my heart but, explaining it is a bit tricky :)