Josh, good thinking. You’re thinking is going in the right direction. Here comes the response to your thoughts and mine combined. I know I haven’t seen you in a while bro and Boltie too so please hit me back if you’re not happy with anything.
I’m thankful that you found those verses, the first two I mean. I was thinking about the whole eye of the needle thing today! Crazy!
I was thinking about how when I first read that verse and took it literally, like a real size camel fitting through a needle which just isn’t possible. Chuckle chuckle. But then someone graciously explained to me that the eye of a needle in Bible times is the gap in the wall that people used trade through and sometimes take a camel through, however it was a VERY hard task. So after with more discussion it turns out that everyone seems to know this fact, well everyone in the western church. We don’t really know much about the culture is Israel 2000 years ago to be honest but ironically everyone seems to know this fact regarding wealth. It’s almost as if people are trying to justify themselves being rich. Why would you even worry about that fact if you didn’t have an inkling that we are rich? It seems more and more that it is becoming the western church’s get out clause with a mind-set of, “well it is possible somehow, so I guess I’m in that group”. Irony, yes, that this one of the few bits of knowledge every rich person seems to have.

I love what you say about being rich in spirit, it’s so true! Jesus says “you must lose your life to find it”, many people have little hope and way out of poverty but they truly do have wealth in spirit. In Brazil I’ve seen beggers share all that they have and no words will ever describe the joy on their faces as they share what they have. The world says something and the spirit is opposite. World says physical wealth and greed and the spirit says GIVE GIVE GIVE! We know that there is worldly and spiritual conflict all over because Paul describes it in Galatians, I can’t remember the exact verse at the moment.
It’s true that the love of money is the problem. But I will never believe it possible for a Christian or a human being not to hold on to money or possession (ie love of money). If a Christian even slightly holds on their wealth then that’s evidence they love it and that’s very very bad. It’s not possible for a human, in our fallen state to be rich and not love what they have. Impossible, we are all fallen.

Quote from your blog Josh “In the bible we see Abraham, Issac, Jacob, King David, Solomon, and Boaz to name a few. All were blessed with wealth.

"Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them, and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil—this is the gift of God." Ecclesiastes 5:19

Great verses but they are all from the old testament. I realise that the whole old testament is not invalid at all but Jesus came and turned our world and thinking upside down. Throughout the whole old testament we see God’s people forgetting their blessing and crushing the poor into the dust. “You have crushed the dust into the dust” and I mentioned other verses in a blog about Amos. As humans, they were blessed and forgot the blessing and also forgot the character of the God that created them, one of LOVE. They turned their backs on God and God abandoned them. Much of Amos describes the horrors of greed and injustice and what happens to these people. Jesus changed all this and called God’s people to a life of sacrifice, and to follow His ways. We must be like Christ, it’s plain. True, money isn’t the problem it’s greed. Greed is the root of the problems, our greed in the west and the greed of third world rulers.
Seeing as we have an obvious wealth in the west and an obvious greed, something is wrong. Some might say “i’m not greedy, I give loads. You have no idea how much I give”. My response: How much do you have left? Western greed is all consuming; it probably won’t stop until God steps in. Here’s some questions, and the ROOT of my thinking on the subject...
Christians are to be like Jesus, right? Yes.
Would Jesus sleep well at night knowing 1 billion people go to bed hungry? No
Would Jesus store up treasures on the earth when others starve to death? No
Would Jesus turn His back on 30,000 children starving to death everyday? No
Would Jesus go on holiday when the money would certainly save lives? NO
Would Jesus go to war? No
Would Jesus love EVERYONE, live a perfect life of sacrifice for others, die for the world, love, give and give and give and give and give and give? YES.
We are called to be Christ-like. Jesus would not be rich... ever. There are far too many injustices in this world for a Christian to even think about holding onto wealth. You could even look at my mess of a life, I buy too much I know. However, I am praying and praying with all my heart that I can overcome this problem and be happy with who I am and not chase after image. It must stop, I know.

Glory to God, you know how we do.