Money is Satan

[Runningman]

Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
Mat 25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
Mat 25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

It's clearly pro-money profit even down to loans and interest.

We are not supposed to make parables literal when it happens to suit our needs in a Bible discussion forum. As is the case with all parables, they are not literal. If it was literal then every miniscule detail would need to be taken into account for them to apply to your real-world narrative.

For example, what you just quoted is about a strict lord who gave his servants some money to invest and gain a return on investment. Full stop. If this is literal, then this only applies to those individuals in the passage because in reality, at least in civilized countries, no one is getting "cast into outer darkness" for being a poor steward of money.

That's the pitfall of using parables to shoehorn your own agenda into scripture, an agenda that has been refuted with scripture repeatedly at this point.

 

[ewq1938]

We are not supposed to make parables literal when it happens to suit our needs in a Bible discussion forum.

That's false. All parables are designed to give truth using invented people and situations. What it teaches is still true. That is not making a parable "literal".

 

[Runningman]

That's false. All parables are designed to give truth using invented people and situations. What it teaches is still true. That is not making a parable "literal".

You think God needs your money? Okay. Good luck.

 

[ewq1938]

You think God needs your money? Okay. Good luck.

You think that's the lesson of parable? Sheesh. It's teaching responsibility with money, someone else's money even, and how one should earn money using money. It's not about God needing money.

 

[Gideon300]

You want to use the parable of the talents to support pro-money teachings by Christ? Go for it. I'm not going there.

Sure, just reject God's word when it suits you.

Try reading the rest of God's word to get the whole picture.

In Acts 4:32-36 work was not encouraged. People just sold their possessions and gave the money to the apostles. If anyone needed anything, they just asked and received what they needed.



Try reading the rest of God's word to get the whole picture.

Sometimes Paul didn't work for money; he received donations sometimes:

Philippians 4:15–120 KJV
15Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. 16For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity. 17Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul didn't preach because he wanted money. He always did it for free:

1 Cor. 9:18 KJV
18What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

The OP is that money is inherently evil. The Bible clearly shows that is not the case. There is nothing wrong with making a profit. Lord Jesus told people to pay taxes. No one pays tax if they do not make a profit. Lord Jesus even paid the temple tax when He was not obliged to.

As I've said, it is the love of money that is the root of evil. People without a cent can be guilty of that. Pursuing riches for the sake of it is foolish.

I've met quite a few Christian businessmen in my lifetime. I know a man involved in real estate who has allowed the business to absorb way too much of his time. It hinders his Christian walk. I know another real estate owner business owner who is known as the most ethical agent in our region. He is an elder in his church. Attitude is everything.

 

[ewq1938]

As I've said, it is the love of money that is the root of evil.

Love is a terrible translation. The word used actually mans an insatiable lust for money. To simply love money is perfectly ok. Lusting for it is not.