The problem of being rich
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Jesus state the problem being rich, and that is difficult to enter heaven.
It do not mean impossible, some rich like Abraham king David go to heaven, but Jesus say difficult.
It may talking about procentation
It may 90 percent of heaven population was poor when they live on earth.
But Jesus never lie, and when He say it is difficult for rich enter to heaven, mean difficult.
It do not mean impossible, some rich like Abraham king David go to heaven, but Jesus say difficult.
It may talking about procentation
It may 90 percent of heaven population was poor when they live on earth.
But Jesus never lie, and when He say it is difficult for rich enter to heaven, mean difficult.
Well, many churches preach that Jesus was financially poor in the 4 Gospels, using that popular passage about foxes have holes...but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
So after so many years of hearing that, many Christians naturally think that, to be like Jesus, to bear the cross, we should not pray for financial blessings. After all, even Jesus was poor.
So after so many years of hearing that, many Christians naturally think that, to be like Jesus, to bear the cross, we should not pray for financial blessings. After all, even Jesus was poor.
Luke 12:16-21 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
16 Then Jesus used this story: “There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. 19 Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’
20 “But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’
21 “This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich.”
16 Then Jesus used this story: “There was a rich man who had some land. His land grew a very good crop of food. 17 He thought to himself, ‘What will I do? I have no place to keep all my crops.’
18 “Then he said, ‘I know what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger barns! I will put all my wheat and good things together in my new barns. 19 Then I can say to myself, I have many good things stored. I have saved enough for many years. Rest, eat, drink, and enjoy life!’
20 “But God said to that man, ‘Foolish man! Tonight you will die. So what about the things you prepared for yourself? Who will get those things now?’
21 “This is how it will be for anyone who saves things only for himself. To God that person is not rich.”
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The early church sold their belonging for the poor, it is because most of them are not rich, and their experience the strong present of the Holy Spirit. Apostle was work of love not greed.
Now some poor give to the pastor that are rich and greed and they think they give to the Lord.
I have a poor friend, she do not has a home and stay in his step son home. His husband give her a home, because he is old and when he die. His son may ask her to go.
She sold her house and give the money to her pastor, her pastor have a big house and base 50 Harly Davidson motorcycle.
Her pastor is multimillionaire.
Now some poor give to the pastor that are rich and greed and they think they give to the Lord.
I have a poor friend, she do not has a home and stay in his step son home. His husband give her a home, because he is old and when he die. His son may ask her to go.
She sold her house and give the money to her pastor, her pastor have a big house and base 50 Harly Davidson motorcycle.
Her pastor is multimillionaire.
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What are you referring to when speaking of blindness?
My point was simply that some people, even those in the Bible, were/are financially blessed, and that it was God who chose to give them that blessing, as directly stated in the Bible.
What they do with the blessing, of course, is their own choice, whether for the Kingdom or not.
My point was simply that some people, even those in the Bible, were/are financially blessed, and that it was God who chose to give them that blessing, as directly stated in the Bible.
What they do with the blessing, of course, is their own choice, whether for the Kingdom or not.
Over the years I have observed that more Christians are obsessed with others money than people who have it. I see more coveting than legitimate statement. How many really know wealthy people? Of course I am talking financial stability. Why aren't people left with the blessing of wealth in terms of other things; Like the Love of God or eternal salvation? Your bank account is none of my business. My bank account is none of your business. My concern is being a good steward of what the Lord blesses me with and to be be His witness in feast or famine.
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I think financial wealth can end up being a curse as King solomon found out.
He had a huge palace and hundreds of wives but then he had to look after them all. And his wives turned his heart away from the Lord. If he just had ONE wife like normal people do, he probably wouldnt have that problem. instead he had about 600. Who is the covetous one? king solomon, he couldnt just stop at one.
We are already so blessed with salvation, so why are some people still obssesed with increased finanical blessings? paul was content either way, he could be wealthy or have nothing...he learned the secret of being content.
When you read Pauls letters. He was always thankful when the church was generous in giving out of their abundance to those brothers and sisters in need. And he never asked to be paid in kind, just food and clothing and lodgings. We can learn from his example and also James was very direct on the corruption that rich men showed and how skewed their priorities were, with their obsession with status.
In the world many people treat those unemployed with disdain but Ive found that those who do have jobs dont actually offer any to those that dont. They just tell them to go on the dole or go find one themselves. Its like telling someone whos shivering cold to be warm and you will pray for them but dont give them anything to warms themselves with!
This actually happened, I once graduated from a course that I thought ok now im trained I will be offered a job and I'm keen to start doing what I've trained in. But no, what the school did was go sorry, just look online for a job yourself we cant help you.
He had a huge palace and hundreds of wives but then he had to look after them all. And his wives turned his heart away from the Lord. If he just had ONE wife like normal people do, he probably wouldnt have that problem. instead he had about 600. Who is the covetous one? king solomon, he couldnt just stop at one.
We are already so blessed with salvation, so why are some people still obssesed with increased finanical blessings? paul was content either way, he could be wealthy or have nothing...he learned the secret of being content.
When you read Pauls letters. He was always thankful when the church was generous in giving out of their abundance to those brothers and sisters in need. And he never asked to be paid in kind, just food and clothing and lodgings. We can learn from his example and also James was very direct on the corruption that rich men showed and how skewed their priorities were, with their obsession with status.
In the world many people treat those unemployed with disdain but Ive found that those who do have jobs dont actually offer any to those that dont. They just tell them to go on the dole or go find one themselves. Its like telling someone whos shivering cold to be warm and you will pray for them but dont give them anything to warms themselves with!
This actually happened, I once graduated from a course that I thought ok now im trained I will be offered a job and I'm keen to start doing what I've trained in. But no, what the school did was go sorry, just look online for a job yourself we cant help you.
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Solomon said to God,
“You have dealt with my father David with great lovingkindness, and have made me king in his place.
Now, O LORD God, Your promise to my father David is fulfilled, for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people, for who can rule this great people of Yours?”
God said to Solomon,
“Because you had this in mind, and did not ask for riches, wealth or honor, or the life of those who hate you, nor have you even asked for long life, but you have asked for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may rule My people over whom I have made you king, wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will give you riches and wealth and honor, such as none of the kings who were before you has possessed nor those who will come after you.”
So Solomon went from the high place which was at Gibeon, from the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem, and he reigned over Israel.
(2 Chronicles 1:8-13)
God did indeed make Solomon rich.
this is also written in 1 Kings 3
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to be fair what you're describing is that his many wives got him in trouble, not his wealth..
.. tho, without great wealth, how you gonna keep so many wives?
i figure most of these were sort of political marriages. Solomon had peace throughout his reign, and fame, and it seems like other kingdoms would maybe send him daughters as wives to ally themselves with his kingdom. how many did he actually treat as wives in the way we think of a wife in these days and this culture?
i wonder, too, when i read what he said about it being 'better to live on a corner of a roof than in a broad house with a quarrelsome wife' if he had one wife in particular in mind, or was he like, 'good grief, those 400'
at any rate the lesson probably wasn't lost on him.
.. tho, without great wealth, how you gonna keep so many wives?
i figure most of these were sort of political marriages. Solomon had peace throughout his reign, and fame, and it seems like other kingdoms would maybe send him daughters as wives to ally themselves with his kingdom. how many did he actually treat as wives in the way we think of a wife in these days and this culture?
i wonder, too, when i read what he said about it being 'better to live on a corner of a roof than in a broad house with a quarrelsome wife' if he had one wife in particular in mind, or was he like, 'good grief, those 400'
at any rate the lesson probably wasn't lost on him.
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O
I absolutely see no reason why anyone of us cannot have more than just meeting our bills and more than just having enough to enjoy a few wants. But I do see having enough to do as I mentioned, and then not helping those who are in need, to be absolutely wrong and sinful.
I buy 2 powerball and mega every week. That is a whopping $8 that falls into my category of having enough to enjoy a few wants.
People have asked me what I would do if I won.
For one, I would build an auditorium stadium seating around 150,000 people. I would have as much Gospel activity as possible and let people in for free. Outside of having "live wire" people of God to come and share their testimonies and preach, I would pay groups like (Ricky Skaggs daughter Molly) to come and hold concerts so we can worship Yeshua and sound the Battle Cry!!
This song is a true uplifting Holy Ghost inspired BATTLE CRY!! It has a WAR beat to it and I have not stopped listening to if for 4 days straight
This is the kind of hillbilly swamp music my families church had growing up. This song brings me back home!!
I buy 2 powerball and mega every week. That is a whopping $8 that falls into my category of having enough to enjoy a few wants.
People have asked me what I would do if I won.
For one, I would build an auditorium stadium seating around 150,000 people. I would have as much Gospel activity as possible and let people in for free. Outside of having "live wire" people of God to come and share their testimonies and preach, I would pay groups like (Ricky Skaggs daughter Molly) to come and hold concerts so we can worship Yeshua and sound the Battle Cry!!
This song is a true uplifting Holy Ghost inspired BATTLE CRY!! It has a WAR beat to it and I have not stopped listening to if for 4 days straight
This is the kind of hillbilly swamp music my families church had growing up. This song brings me back home!!
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There’s a study that concludes that the happiest people earn about $70,000 in America. It’s generally an amount that provides you with all of your needs but still keeps your wants in check. However I never trust statistics at face value. Some may conclude this is a number that one should strive for and then they can be happy. Also it could just be that the people who were already happy reached this plateau and realized they had enough so quit climbing.
Regardless, money is not damning in and of itself. It is a tool. Like a tool, in the hands of one who knows how to use it, it can be useful and benefit many. In the hands of an idiot, can hurt the idiot and those around him. In the hands of a tyrant, the tool can be used to build weapons and enslave masses. What is damning is why you want the money. What will you build with it? Passing on wealth that wasn’t earned is hazardous to future generations.
I’ve been fortunate to rub shoulders with doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners, CEOs, tradesmen and poor folk alike. Travel sports bring the most unlikely people together. There is definitely differences in their personalities. As well, you can tell who struggled for their wealth and who had it handed to them. Those most content in their wealth are those who worked for it, no matter the amount. There is value attached to it. They traded their skills and time and imagination for a more liquid form to exchange for goods. Many of them are honest and helpful providing a wonderful service, as well employment for others.
Many of the people who walked with Christ were poor. There was great division between the rich and poor. The wealthy were born wealthy and poor born poor. It stayed that way for generations. Today we all have opportunity to change our circumstances. One shouldn’t use the excuse for the trappings of wealth as a cop out to be an underachiever. What ever you decide to do in life, bring value. If that generates physical wealth, enjoy it. If that translates to spiritual wealth, you will have longer to enjoy it.
Regardless, money is not damning in and of itself. It is a tool. Like a tool, in the hands of one who knows how to use it, it can be useful and benefit many. In the hands of an idiot, can hurt the idiot and those around him. In the hands of a tyrant, the tool can be used to build weapons and enslave masses. What is damning is why you want the money. What will you build with it? Passing on wealth that wasn’t earned is hazardous to future generations.
I’ve been fortunate to rub shoulders with doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners, CEOs, tradesmen and poor folk alike. Travel sports bring the most unlikely people together. There is definitely differences in their personalities. As well, you can tell who struggled for their wealth and who had it handed to them. Those most content in their wealth are those who worked for it, no matter the amount. There is value attached to it. They traded their skills and time and imagination for a more liquid form to exchange for goods. Many of them are honest and helpful providing a wonderful service, as well employment for others.
Many of the people who walked with Christ were poor. There was great division between the rich and poor. The wealthy were born wealthy and poor born poor. It stayed that way for generations. Today we all have opportunity to change our circumstances. One shouldn’t use the excuse for the trappings of wealth as a cop out to be an underachiever. What ever you decide to do in life, bring value. If that generates physical wealth, enjoy it. If that translates to spiritual wealth, you will have longer to enjoy it.
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Well, many churches preach that Jesus was financially poor in the 4 Gospels, using that popular passage about foxes have holes...but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.
So after so many years of hearing that, many Christians naturally think that, to be like Jesus, to bear the cross, we should not pray for financial blessings. After all, even Jesus was poor.
So after so many years of hearing that, many Christians naturally think that, to be like Jesus, to bear the cross, we should not pray for financial blessings. After all, even Jesus was poor.
And even the ones i've known that didn't buy into that dribble (which is most since i never believed it myself) still never believed being poor had anything to do with following Jesus. In fact most wanted more money (not necessarily getting rich, but being more stable financially).
There is a segment that believes such things about needing to be poor, but to suggest it as such a broad statement doesn't line up with my 30 years of seeing otherwise.
More often than not i've seen that scripture taught as a reminder of what Christ's struggles were here on earth, which we may also have to contend with. It was typically seen as a way to ensure we focus on the spiritual, not the physical. Notice i did Not say to neglect the physical.
1. Whosoever then comes and teaches you all these things aforesaid, receive him.
2. But if the teacher himself be perverted and teach another doctrine to destroy these things, do not listen to him, but if his teaching be for the increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
3. And concerning the Apostles and Prophets, act thus according to the ordinance of the Gospel.
4. Let every Apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord,
5. But let him not stay more than one day, or if need be a second as well; but if he stay three days, he is a false prophet.
6. And when an Apostle goes forth let him accept nothing but bread till he reach his night's lodging; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet.
7. Do not test or examine any prophet who is speaking in a spirit, "for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven."
8. But not everyone who speaks in a spirit is a prophet, except he have the behaviour of the Lord. From his behaviour, then, the false prophet and the true prophet shall be known.
9. And no prophet who orders a meal in a spirit shall eat of it: otherwise he is a false prophet.
10. And every prophet who teaches truth, if he do not what he teaches, is a false prophet.
11. But no prophet who has been tried and is genuine, though he enact a worldly mystery of the Church, if he teach not others to do what he does himself, shall be judged by you: for he has his judgment with God, for so also did the prophets of old.
12. But whosoever shall say in a spirit "Give me money, or something else," you shall not listen to him; but if he tell you to give on behalf of others in want, let none judge him.
1. "Watch" over your life "let your lamps" be not quenched "and your loins" be not ungirded, but be "ready," for ye know not "the hour in which our Lord cometh."
2. But be frequently gathered together seeking the things which are profitable for your souls, for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you except ye be found perfect at the last time;
3. For in the last days the false prophets and the corruptors shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall change to hate;
4. For as lawlessness increaseth they shall hate one another and persecute and betray, and then shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be given over into his hands and he shall commit iniquities which have never been since the world began.
5. Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial and "many shall be offended" and be lost, but "they who endure" in their faith "shall be saved" by the curse itself.
6. And "then shall appear the signs" of the truth. First the sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead:
7. But not of all the dead, but as it was said, "The Lord shall come and all his saints with him."
8. Then shall the world "see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven."
http://www.thedidache.com/
2. But if the teacher himself be perverted and teach another doctrine to destroy these things, do not listen to him, but if his teaching be for the increase of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
3. And concerning the Apostles and Prophets, act thus according to the ordinance of the Gospel.
4. Let every Apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord,
5. But let him not stay more than one day, or if need be a second as well; but if he stay three days, he is a false prophet.
6. And when an Apostle goes forth let him accept nothing but bread till he reach his night's lodging; but if he ask for money, he is a false prophet.
7. Do not test or examine any prophet who is speaking in a spirit, "for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be forgiven."
8. But not everyone who speaks in a spirit is a prophet, except he have the behaviour of the Lord. From his behaviour, then, the false prophet and the true prophet shall be known.
9. And no prophet who orders a meal in a spirit shall eat of it: otherwise he is a false prophet.
10. And every prophet who teaches truth, if he do not what he teaches, is a false prophet.
11. But no prophet who has been tried and is genuine, though he enact a worldly mystery of the Church, if he teach not others to do what he does himself, shall be judged by you: for he has his judgment with God, for so also did the prophets of old.
12. But whosoever shall say in a spirit "Give me money, or something else," you shall not listen to him; but if he tell you to give on behalf of others in want, let none judge him.
1. "Watch" over your life "let your lamps" be not quenched "and your loins" be not ungirded, but be "ready," for ye know not "the hour in which our Lord cometh."
2. But be frequently gathered together seeking the things which are profitable for your souls, for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you except ye be found perfect at the last time;
3. For in the last days the false prophets and the corruptors shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall change to hate;
4. For as lawlessness increaseth they shall hate one another and persecute and betray, and then shall appear the deceiver of the world as a Son of God, and shall do signs and wonders and the earth shall be given over into his hands and he shall commit iniquities which have never been since the world began.
5. Then shall the creation of mankind come to the fiery trial and "many shall be offended" and be lost, but "they who endure" in their faith "shall be saved" by the curse itself.
6. And "then shall appear the signs" of the truth. First the sign spread out in Heaven, then the sign of the sound of the trumpet, and thirdly the resurrection of the dead:
7. But not of all the dead, but as it was said, "The Lord shall come and all his saints with him."
8. Then shall the world "see the Lord coming on the clouds of Heaven."
http://www.thedidache.com/