Why do you want to make it so hard on yourself?

Matthew 19:23-26 NLT

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!”
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked.
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”

---

Everyone wants to be rich!  But riches are a snare, and a distraction. Almost everyone in the USA and the UK / Europe who will read this is rich. Compared to the rest of the world or compared to your ancestors, you are very rich.
Some of you will protest and think you are poor but you really know very little about real poverty.

Still the bible is replete with warnings against seeking wealth. God does not want you to be wealthy in this world's terms as any kind of life goal. If you made a new years resolution to earn more, live better, invest more, or raise your standard of living then you may be at odds with God's plan for you.

King David was pretty well off, but he writes that if he gets too rich be may forget God and if he gets too poor he may fall in to stealing.  He asks God to just meet his needs.

Your needs are nearly always far less than your desires.

God expects us to share our wealth not store it up. Our retirement plan is supposed to be a trust in God. (Ask me in fifteen or twenty years how that's worked out)

I'm not blowing this out of proportion,  notice the disciples reaction. "If that's the way it is, Jesus, no one is going to make it into your Kingdom." See they knew that every one trusts wealth before God. Nearly everyone would rather be rich than righteous. And nearly everyone according to Jesus is wrong.

Don't want to be rich.

So is it impossible to be righteous and rich?

Only by a miracle of God, but if Jesus was standing before you right now and he said you can have me and my Kingdom or wealth right now.  Most would foolishly turn down Jesus and take the riches. Do you still think money will make life better,  easier, safer? Are you willing to believe what Jesus said or are you convinced you know better?

So what will it be your money or your life?