Is being rich incompatible with being a christain Are rich christains unchristian?

Question

Christ in the bible says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. Christ is saying that to e rich wil stop one from going to heaven. Christ told his followers to give away all their bellongingsif they wanted to follow him. And gluttony is one of the 7 deadly sins. So how can a person be rich and a good christain How can christain billionairs be good christians when xchrist himself condems being rich. Why to do many christains want to be rich when gulttony is a sin. How can a person be a good christain and be rich at the same time

Answer 1

Isn't it funny how the richest people in the world are the cheapest. And those with very little, are the most giving.

In the end, I think it's about how you use your money. Help your family, your children, your loved ones, society, your community . . . and you will enjoy the riches of happiness.

Answer 2

In high school, maybe I just had an excellent teacher or because of the class it self, but we discussed this exact thing, and i've also pondered it myself quite often since then. Now, in reference to the quote "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven" this is one thing in the bible that is not metaphorical. This refers to an actual gate in...I forget which biblical city... that is called "the eye of a needle" it was a short entrance so, therefore camels had to basically crawl through the entrance to enter the city...it was hard, but not impossible. This is the lesson.

One could ask the same question, "How can one be beautiful and attractive, if vanity is a sin?" One does not have to be exactly like Christ to get into heaven. We want to be rich, just like we want to have premarital sex, or feast on Thanksgiving...it's all about going against your human-nature and making the best of what you do have and want in a christian way. The main thing to do if you're rich and want to live in a christ-like manner is to do all you can with your blessings (your wealth) and give to charity, and give up the appropriate tithe. You can be rich, and not be a glutton. It's possible, although you've probably sinned in some small way on the way, but everyone sins. A man with two million dollars, a big house, many possesions, and 5 children can be just as good of a christian as the Preist living in the monestary up the hill. This example is going to sound odd, but take Bill and Melinda Gates for instance. They, through Microsoft, helps schools and using their money and of course charity revenues run the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. My mother gives heavily each month to Breast Cancer Awareness. It just all depends on how you live your life with your money, it is harder to be rich and be a true follower of Christ, but it is possible.

Answer 3

God said "thou shalt have no other gods before me". If you have a lot of money and you live for that, your money has become a god or an idol in your life and that is when it gets bad. Jesus never says it is a sin to be wealthy. Jesus knew the hearts of those he was talking to and that is why he used the money as an example, because it was near and dear to their heart. If they would be able to leave behind what was a priority in their life they would be able to follow him. Without looking it up I think that the one He told to give away all he had and follow Him dropped his head and walked away and chose not to follow Him. Judas was a great example. He loved money and he loved it so much that he betrayed Jesus because of it. Basically if you love your riches you are selling out to that and walking the wrong way. I know many good Christians who are wealthy and they serve the Lord unconditionally. If your interpretation of these particular passages is that you are condemned for having money I would recommend that you get some study helps and research it a little deeper and eventually it will be revealed to you. Also, glutony is not a deadly sin. It could bring on a physical death but not a spiritual death. There is only one spiritualy detrimental sin and that is blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. In other words "rejection of God". If you die not knowing Him you will go to hell. If you die fat you die fat. The blood of Jesus is there to cover our sins but it cant cover your disbelief. Only you can manage that.

Answer 4

What Jesus was saying is that often, people think more of their stuff...money, land, cars and such...than on serving God. So, with that thought, it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter heaven. He'd want to take all his stuff with him, being that it was more important than following God. Jesus knew that it would be better to be poor and follow Him, not depending on the worlds' riches, but depending on Him. There are rich Christians, who were blessed with their riches for Christs' sake. They use their money to help others, and to help ministries throughout the world, who need their support to continue ministering wherever needed. God gives you stuff for a reason, not just to waste it on ourselves. He wants us to share with those who don't have anything. I'm not talking about the drunk who wants booze money. I'm talking about helping at a soup kitchen, either buying, preparing, serving or cleaning. It's giving back, not expecting anything in return. Christ didn't condemn rich people. He was giving them an attitude adjustment, trying to help them see that their riches were running their lives, and not the other way around. A person can be rich and a Christian if they are using their money for Christs' sake, and not just to get richer and get more stuff. It's not in the getting, it's in the giving. It's what you do with it after you have it. You don't hoard it when you know there's a need somewhere. You cheerfully step forward and joyfully help in any way you can. Gluttony is a sin, but has nothing to do with money. Gluttony is eating more than you need, getting fat, and is just as much a sin as murder or any other sin (actually one of the seven deadly sins that Proverbs talks about). So, no, rich Christians aren't unChristian. God has provided rich Christians with their riches to further His kingdom. I happen to know a few rich Christians, and they are much richer in their spiritual walk than any amount of money they can get because they know where it came from and why they have it. They give all the praise to God for blessing them this way, and show their appreciation by being involved in different ministries, both through their financial giving and in their lives. Does that help? <*)))><

Answer 5

The 7 deadly sins list had several revisions by the church in the Middle Ages. Are you guilty of Vainglory? Do you even know what it is?

The theme of your question is how rich. The answer might be revealed in the description that the Apostles held everything in common (Communism?) and Judas was the treasurer for the group.

Perhaps a Judeac Christianity lifestyle is not attainable under capitalism.

Answer 6

it was never mentioned in the bible that christ condemned rich people. all he was saying was that wealth can get in the way of serving God, and it's better if they put their wealth in good use like helping other people who are not living as comfortable as the rest of us are. you are not sinning if you are rich, but you are sinning if you are rich and you know you could do something to help other people but refuse to use your wealth. God may have made you rich for a reason, and that reason is maybe to help other people who are suffering.

Answer 7

NO! God can't like you because you are making money! In the bible it says try ur best to succeed and BECOME RICH! You are probably more of a christian if u are rich than if u were poor! You have something to thank God for!

Answer 8

Wow, I actually just heard a sermon on this today. Christians can enjoy financial wealth as long as the wealth doesn't become who they are or how they identify themselves. Any type of materialism is bad because it means that you are placing things before your faith in God. As long as you don't obsess on material things then it's okay.
It is not a sin to be wealthy as someone mentioned. Scripture does not say that...it's how you handle wealth that determines whether or not it becomes sinful.

Answer 9

The Bible also says that if you are rich in this life to be generous, and to be rich in good deeds, and in doing so you will store up for yourself treasures in heaven.

(New King James Version)
1Ti 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;


1Ti 6:18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;


1Ti 6:19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

(NLT)
Tell those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which will soon be gone. But their trust should be in the living God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and should give generously to those in need, always being ready to share with others whatever God has given them. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may take hold of real life.

Answer 10

A lot of people do not know what a Christian is. ..

Unfortunately over time, the word "Christian" has lost a great deal of it significance and is often used of someone who is religious or has high moral values instead of a true born again follower of Jesus Christ. Many people who don’t believe and trust in Jesus Christ consider themselves Christians simply because they go to church or they live in a "Christian" nation. But going to church, serving those less fortunate than you, or being a good person does not make you a Christian. As one evangelist once said, “Going to church doesn’t make one a Christian anymore than going to a garage makes one an automobile.” Being a member of a church, attending services regularly, and giving to the work of the church cannot make you a Christian.

The Bible teaches us that the good works we do cannot make us acceptable to God. Titus 3:5 tells us that it is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” So, a Christian is someone who has been born-again by God (John 3:3; John 3:7; 1 Peter 1:23) and has put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that it is “by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” A true Christian is someone who has repented of his or her sin and put faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone. Their trust is not in following a religion or a set of moral codes, or a list of do’s and don’ts.

A true Christian is a person who has put his or her faith and trust in the person of Jesus Christ and fact that He died on the cross as payment for sins and rose again on the third day to obtain victory over death and to give eternal life to all who believe in Him. John 1:12 tells us: “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s true family, and one who has been given new life in Christ. The mark of a true Christian is love for others and obedience to God’s Word (1 John 2:4; 1 John 2:10).