DayRaven
Beyond the wall
Poverty often includes poor nutrition, violent environments, an unsteady home life, drugs, and little-to-no hope of ever escaping.
Another factor in the west is that what we call "poverty" is paradise to many. In 2011 London was gripped by riots that social commentators here tried to pass off as some kind of marxist uprising of the disenfranchised. That was until it was found looters were mostly nicking TV's, mobiles, trainers and sports clothes. Welfare breeds dependency and, for unscrupulous politicians, votes. Instead of sending the rioters to prison (though most weren't) they should have sent them out to Africa or Asia for six months to see what real desperation is like.
We're even blind to the fact that, in this largely free free-market capitalist economy, money, up to a certain amount, does buy a tremendous amount of happiness
There are studies that suggest, beyond a certain level of wealth, money is irrelevant to happiness. The reality is, though, that if you want to eat regular meals and have a roof over your head you need money. Money may not make you completely happy but it does help you sleep at night.
Rich people are unlikely to enter the kingdom, because their wealth is a corrupting factor in some way.
I think the thrust of Jesus' point was that you should be prepared to lose everything and give up anything to serve God, that includes family, friends, status, reputation, as well as money.