Read Luke 18:18-30

THE RICH YOUNG MAN
This leader sought reassurance, some way of knowing for sure that he had eternal life. He wanted Jesus to measure and grade his qualifications, or to give him some task he could do to assure his own immortality. So Jesus gave him a task: the one thing the rich man knew he could not do, give up his wealth.
“Then who in the world can be saved?” the bystanders asked. “No one can, by his/her achievements,” Jesus’ answer implied. “What is impossible from a human perspective is possible with God.” Salvation cannot be earned: it is God’s gift.
Jesus’ question to the leader who came and called Him “Good Teacher,” was, in essence, “Do you know who I am?” Undoubtedly the young man did not catch the implications of Jesus’ reply; that the man was right in calling him good because Jesus truly is God.
This man’s wealth made his life comfortable and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security and identity. The man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth.
Jesus does not ask believers to sell everything they have, although this may be His will for some. He does ask you, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important in your life than God. If your possessions take first place in your life, it would be better for you to get rid them.
Because money represents power, authority, and success, often it is difficult for wealthy people to realize their need and their powerlessness to save themselves. The rich in talent and intelligence suffer the same difficulty. Unless God reaches down into their lives, they will not come to Him. Jesus surprised some of his hearers by offering salvation to the poor; He may surprise some people today by offering it to the rich. It is difficult for a self-sufficient person to realize his/her need and come to Jesus.
The “eye of the needle” was a term used for a small opening in the wall of a city. For a camel to go through it, the owner would have to unload all the burden that the camel was carrying, then have the camel get down on its knees and basically crawl through the opening. When a person comes to Christ he/she must unload all that was keeping him/her from coming to Christ and humble themselves before Him. Something the rich young man refused to do.
Any believer who has had to give up something to follow Christ will be paid back in this life as well as in the next. For example, if you must give up a secure job, you will find God offers a secure relationship with Himself now and forever. If you must give up your family’s approval, you will gain the love of the family of God. Don’t dwell on what you have given up; think about what you have gained and give thanks for it. You can never outgive God.