The rich young ruler of Matthew 19:16-22 was a sincere, respectful, eager seeker who ran to Christ, knelt, and asked how to gain eternal life, an unusual concern for someone young and wealthy. Jesus pointed him to the commandments, listing the six dealing with human relationships, and did not dispute his claim to have kept them since youth. His question "What do I still lack?" hints at self-righteousness, so Christ went straight to the root problem, his love of the world, and told him to sell his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man's money pulled harder on his heart than Christ did, and he went away sorrowful, though to his credit he did not pretend otherwise. Wealth itself is not sinful, as Abraham, Job, and David show; the problem is attachment to it. Jesus' camel-and-needle saying is hyperbole for sheer impossibility, not a reference to a literal gate or a mistranslation. Riches are one hindrance among many, including drink, food, and television, and poverty confers no piety. Anyone who loves the world, rich or poor, cannot enter the Kingdom. Salvation is impossible by human effort and comes only by God's grace, though we still have our part and are rewarded for our works (Romans 2:6-7).

The rich young ruler could have been a disciple, but he rejected his calling because he could not give up his wealth (Mark 10:17-23). He should not be condemned, because anyone can make the same mistake by chasing false riches without realizing it. Wealth in itself is not evil, since the patriarchs, David, Solomon, Barnabas, and Joseph of Arimathea were rich, but the Bible warns repeatedly against setting the mind on material wealth. Money can become a snare and a root of evil, and Jesus says no one can serve both God and money. The cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word of God and make a person unfruitful. The ruler's failure shows the danger of valuing temporary riches over true riches. God wants His people to be rich, but in His way: rich in knowledge of God, in faith, in good works, and in liberality. Those who give up what they have to follow Christ receive a hundredfold, rulership in His Kingdom, and eternal life.

Beginning with the New Testament, prosperity is no longer a sign of spiritual blessing and righteousness, and it can insulate a person from the more important demand of seeking first the Kingdom of God. The rich young man of Mark 10 is not automatically righteous, and he fails the test, unlike the disciples. He runs to Jesus asking how to inherit eternal life and claims to have kept the commandments from his youth. Jesus looks at him with love and tells him he lacks one thing: he must sell what he has, give to the poor, take up the cross, and follow Christ. The young man goes away sorrowful because he has great possessions. Jesus then says it is hard for those who trust in riches to enter the Kingdom, and easier for a camel to pass through a needle's eye. The disciples rightly conclude that all men share this besetting sin, and Christ answers that with men it is impossible but with God all things are possible, since God alone can change the heart. Attitude toward prosperity is therefore an indicator of commitment to God. Wealth itself is a blessing from God, but trusting in it, hoarding it, or making it the center of interest turns it into a god.