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Excellent point, Dino!
I always get a kick out of threads that seem to complain about the supposed "rich", because anyone with access to electricity, an internet connection and device to type on, running water, and flushing toilets would qualify as being rich to the rest of the world--but yet, it seems like so many people they will say that those who have more than they do are evil money-worshiping heathens--surely these people are the camels who won't fit through the eye of the needle and are bound to go to hell!
I also always wonder why no one ever brings up the fact that many of the most prominent figures in the Bible--Abraham, Isaac, Solomon, David, etc., were so wealthy that, especially regarding Isaac, the Bible says that even "the Philistines (the very enemies of Israel) envied him" (Gen. 26:13, 14.)
This article was a pretty interesting read:
https://mic.com/articles/2636/compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world-americans-are-all-the-1#.toRuUULZa
Some notable things mentioned in this article are:
1. Someone at the poverty line ($10,830 in 2010) in the United States in is the top 14% of the global income distribution.
2. With more than a billion people around the world living on less than $1 a day, the Occupy Wall Street Protestors are living in better conditions than many of the global poor.
3. The bottom 10% of the US income distribution falls into the upper 30% of the global income distribution.
I'm always amazed at how much of life is relative. Many of us might shake our fist at those supposed "rich people" who seem to have it made... while the rest of the world is looking at US in with needful longing, wishing to have just a fraction of what we take for granted every day.
What happens when WE are the ones who are seen as the supposed "rich people" who won't fit through the eye of the needle?
I always get a kick out of threads that seem to complain about the supposed "rich", because anyone with access to electricity, an internet connection and device to type on, running water, and flushing toilets would qualify as being rich to the rest of the world--but yet, it seems like so many people they will say that those who have more than they do are evil money-worshiping heathens--surely these people are the camels who won't fit through the eye of the needle and are bound to go to hell!
I also always wonder why no one ever brings up the fact that many of the most prominent figures in the Bible--Abraham, Isaac, Solomon, David, etc., were so wealthy that, especially regarding Isaac, the Bible says that even "the Philistines (the very enemies of Israel) envied him" (Gen. 26:13, 14.)
This article was a pretty interesting read:
https://mic.com/articles/2636/compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world-americans-are-all-the-1#.toRuUULZa
Some notable things mentioned in this article are:
1. Someone at the poverty line ($10,830 in 2010) in the United States in is the top 14% of the global income distribution.
2. With more than a billion people around the world living on less than $1 a day, the Occupy Wall Street Protestors are living in better conditions than many of the global poor.
3. The bottom 10% of the US income distribution falls into the upper 30% of the global income distribution.
I'm always amazed at how much of life is relative. Many of us might shake our fist at those supposed "rich people" who seem to have it made... while the rest of the world is looking at US in with needful longing, wishing to have just a fraction of what we take for granted every day.
What happens when WE are the ones who are seen as the supposed "rich people" who won't fit through the eye of the needle?
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The bible has much to say about the rich....especially Jesus, but lest we forget....some that are rich (monetarily wise) have been faithful servants of God...Like Joseph who gave his tomb for JESUS.....and until his old age and failures due to political marriages Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes and Proverbs (most)........now for the kicker....JESUS who was dirt poor worldly, had no place to lay his head, and only 1 coat OWNED IT ALL............
Money does not equate to being rich....per se......and it is a matter of perspective.....even the poorest $ wise in America is wealthy compared to most in the world..........
Money does not equate to being rich....per se......and it is a matter of perspective.....even the poorest $ wise in America is wealthy compared to most in the world..........
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Actually Jesus had money, he had a disciple who was his treasurer.
Although when you can turn water into wine and a few loaves and fish can
feed thousands, not to mention heal sickness (so no need for a doctor)
he probably didn’t need money.
Plus all his needs were met, even a tomb was provided. I suspect the money was
really about showing his disciples He could provide for them and how to
handle money.
If we know and trust Jesus, we are rich.
Although when you can turn water into wine and a few loaves and fish can
feed thousands, not to mention heal sickness (so no need for a doctor)
he probably didn’t need money.
Plus all his needs were met, even a tomb was provided. I suspect the money was
really about showing his disciples He could provide for them and how to
handle money.
If we know and trust Jesus, we are rich.
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I know that I am rich. Have I made other people poor? Am I evil because my husband is an engineer? In the new tax rate tables, I actually am in the income range that will pay a higher marginal tax rate and I don't begrudge it. I'm pretty certain that I am not a crook. I would be a crook if I underpaid the people that work for me, but I try to pay enough that they recognize that I am paying well and respecting the time and energy they put into their work.
But I often struggle with how much we should give away versus what we keep to take care of our family. We work on increasing the percentage we give away. We have chosen not to buy more real estate because my husband thought of it as "building new barns". Is retirement saving the same as building new barns? What about saving for our kids' college expenses? We did that and they will leave college with no debt. Is that ok if I pay for a few more kids to go to college as well? What about keeping some in reserve to care for extended family because we suspect that they will need help later due to their own decisions about money? Should we not buy a new couch until we have bought a couch for a poor family? Should we not live in a nice location because that could be seen as wasting money? Do we help pay to upgrade our church facilities and landscaping to be attractive enough to bring in new unchurched families whose homes and landscaping are very attractive? Wouldn't that same money build an entire church in Romania? On and on I go.
But I often struggle with how much we should give away versus what we keep to take care of our family. We work on increasing the percentage we give away. We have chosen not to buy more real estate because my husband thought of it as "building new barns". Is retirement saving the same as building new barns? What about saving for our kids' college expenses? We did that and they will leave college with no debt. Is that ok if I pay for a few more kids to go to college as well? What about keeping some in reserve to care for extended family because we suspect that they will need help later due to their own decisions about money? Should we not buy a new couch until we have bought a couch for a poor family? Should we not live in a nice location because that could be seen as wasting money? Do we help pay to upgrade our church facilities and landscaping to be attractive enough to bring in new unchurched families whose homes and landscaping are very attractive? Wouldn't that same money build an entire church in Romania? On and on I go.
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Sometimes wonder if tax brackets should be changed somewhat...theres those that are rich by working hard and EARNING it and theres others that inherit it from mommy and daddy..or a rich deceased "uncle" (that i never had"..however..ive never had the "problem" of being monitarily rich but hear of what sports players get per game and movie stars etc and its outrageous..especially knowing the fact that local food panties dont have enough food and the state aid health and food program demand is going through the roof each year..schools dont have school supplies in a lot of places...pastors have to work 2 jobs to make ends meet..whats WRONG with this picture? Im not political and i dont want to debate this but..i think our money priorities in this country are screwed up..and we cant even pay our workers in the USA decent wages..always outsourcing! Rich? Maybe question should be..as christians would we WANT to be rich? If so..why? I know IM an heiress to the Most High King..my mansion and riches are waiting for me in heaven
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Sometimes wonder if tax brackets should be changed somewhat...theres those that are rich by working hard and EARNING it and theres others that inherit it from mommy and daddy..or a rich deceased "uncle" (that i never had"..however..ive never had the "problem" of being monitarily rich but hear of what sports players get per game and movie stars etc and its outrageous..especially knowing the fact that local food panties dont have enough food and the state aid health and food program demand is going through the roof each year..schools dont have school supplies in a lot of places...pastors have to work 2 jobs to make ends meet..whats WRONG with this picture? Im not political and i dont want to debate this but..i think our money priorities in this country are screwed up..and we cant even pay our workers in the USA decent wages..always outsourcing! Rich? Maybe question should be..as christians would we WANT to be rich? If so..why? I know IM an heiress to the Most High King..my mansion and riches are waiting for me in heaven
Excellent point, Dino!
I always get a kick out of threads that seem to complain about the supposed "rich", because anyone with access to electricity, an internet connection and device to type on, running water, and flushing toilets would qualify as being rich to the rest of the world--but yet, it seems like so many people they will say that those who have more than they do are evil money-worshiping heathens--surely these people are the camels who won't fit through the eye of the needle and are bound to go to hell!
I also always wonder why no one ever brings up the fact that many of the most prominent figures in the Bible--Abraham, Isaac, Solomon, David, etc., were so wealthy that, especially regarding Isaac, the Bible says that even "the Philistines (the very enemies of Israel) envied him" (Gen. 26:13, 14.)
This article was a pretty interesting read:
https://mic.com/articles/2636/compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world-americans-are-all-the-1#.toRuUULZa
Some notable things mentioned in this article are:
1. Someone at the poverty line ($10,830 in 2010) in the United States in is the top 14% of the global income distribution.
2. With more than a billion people around the world living on less than $1 a day, the Occupy Wall Street Protestors are living in better conditions than many of the global poor.
3. The bottom 10% of the US income distribution falls into the upper 30% of the global income distribution.
I'm always amazed at how much of life is relative. Many of us might shake our fist at those supposed "rich people" who seem to have it made... while the rest of the world is looking at US in with needful longing, wishing to have just a fraction of what we take for granted every day.
What happens when WE are the ones who are seen as the supposed "rich people" who won't fit through the eye of the needle?
I always get a kick out of threads that seem to complain about the supposed "rich", because anyone with access to electricity, an internet connection and device to type on, running water, and flushing toilets would qualify as being rich to the rest of the world--but yet, it seems like so many people they will say that those who have more than they do are evil money-worshiping heathens--surely these people are the camels who won't fit through the eye of the needle and are bound to go to hell!
I also always wonder why no one ever brings up the fact that many of the most prominent figures in the Bible--Abraham, Isaac, Solomon, David, etc., were so wealthy that, especially regarding Isaac, the Bible says that even "the Philistines (the very enemies of Israel) envied him" (Gen. 26:13, 14.)
This article was a pretty interesting read:
https://mic.com/articles/2636/compared-to-the-rest-of-the-world-americans-are-all-the-1#.toRuUULZa
Some notable things mentioned in this article are:
1. Someone at the poverty line ($10,830 in 2010) in the United States in is the top 14% of the global income distribution.
2. With more than a billion people around the world living on less than $1 a day, the Occupy Wall Street Protestors are living in better conditions than many of the global poor.
3. The bottom 10% of the US income distribution falls into the upper 30% of the global income distribution.
I'm always amazed at how much of life is relative. Many of us might shake our fist at those supposed "rich people" who seem to have it made... while the rest of the world is looking at US in with needful longing, wishing to have just a fraction of what we take for granted every day.
What happens when WE are the ones who are seen as the supposed "rich people" who won't fit through the eye of the needle?
Dont feel guilty, God blesses us all in different ways. Consider the story of Job, super rich for his time and very God fearing. I am heartened to hear u give to charity. This is why gvt welfare is almost entirely unneccessary, because americans r some of the most generous ppl on earth.
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Sometimes wonder if tax brackets should be changed somewhat...theres those that are rich by working hard and EARNING it and theres others that inherit it from mommy and daddy..or a rich deceased "uncle" (that i never had"..however..ive never had the "problem" of being monitarily rich but hear of what sports players get per game and movie stars etc and its outrageous..especially knowing the fact that local food panties dont have enough food and the state aid health and food program demand is going through the roof each year..schools dont have school supplies in a lot of places...pastors have to work 2 jobs to make ends meet..whats WRONG with this picture? Im not political and i dont want to debate this but..i think our money priorities in this country are screwed up..and we cant even pay our workers in the USA decent wages..always outsourcing! Rich? Maybe question should be..as christians would we WANT to be rich? If so..why? I know IM an heiress to the Most High King..my mansion and riches are waiting for me in heaven
S
Back in the 50's and 60's when I went to high school ( 9th-12th grade) in Arkansas, we had to buy all our text books.
That was tough on many kids, but we seemed to all have books.
Never understood why we could have sport uniforms and a new athletic bus every 5 years but no books.
I think sometimes these shortages are just a result of priorities.
That was tough on many kids, but we seemed to all have books.
Never understood why we could have sport uniforms and a new athletic bus every 5 years but no books.
I think sometimes these shortages are just a result of priorities.
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gee sounds like fear mongering from the right. we had five kids in our family and could not afford private education had to go to public school and we did fine. I believe in a mix of both private and public are needed always give those who can a choice but do not take education from the ones who do not have a choice.