Does God want you to be rich or poor? Does He care?

Question

If you're rich, will getting into Heaven be like squeezing your whole body through a needle? Does God want you to be rich so he can get a kick out watching you wiggle your way through a needle?

If God wants you to be poor, why don't you go sell all your possessions (like He commanded of His followers), and devote your life to fulfilling His Will?

If He doesn't care, then why did He ever mention anything about storing up your treasures in Heaven vs. treasures on Earth?

Answer 1

srry im buddhist


2 points

Answer 2

I can't speak for god, if there is one, and i think any human who presumes to...is, well....ridiculously presumptuous. Some mysteries are meant to be just that, mysteries--and if a god does speak to any one person, I think that communication is personal and meant for that person, not the masses, and is contrary to proselytizing. if he's real & did it for you, then respect each person's right to have that experience instead of trying to tell them something that (!!!) possibly could be your own imagination or psyche or inner wisdom talking to you!?

But I can say that in my life, whatever you want to call it--spiritually, or what kind of a person someone turns out to be, or even whether they are happy, who's to say that being rich is always a blessing and being poor a curse? I've seen so many disconnected, heartless, empty, phony egoistic rich people--if that was a blessing, they can have it--and people who were poor, but to them they felt rich--(stronger family relationships often cause they can't afford expensive entertainment, more humbled people thus having more compassion, more tolerant, less judgmental, or they have a stronger identity/sense of self that's not based on their outer possessions and their spirit was tempered from suffering....

Answer 3

Dear Overseas and Broke,

i think you are referring to the Bible passage which says its harder for a rich man to make it into the Kingdom of Heaven than it is for a camel to squeeze through the eye of a needle.

This passage is warning about the dangers of riches- the love of money can lead to all sorts of evil. Look at some of the ills in our society: drugs, prostitution, etc. (all lucrative out of a love for money).

The passage is just reminding us where our priorities should be. There are many people (esp. among my race- the Asians) who for example work so much that they neglect family, church, etc. The liquor store owner who stays open 7 days, 24 hours. Yes, he makes more money and his priority is in the security of the money above all else.

The command to sell of his possessions given to the rich young ruler is not for everyone. It was for this particular individual who valued money above all else. The bible says where your treasure is, there your heart is also (and we are not to treasure anything as more valuable than the Lord).

God does car about how we utilize our resources, and wheher or not we use our money to build up others. God also does care for people to care for their families- Proverbs talks repeatedly about the lazy man. Men do have a responsibility to provide for their families.

The Bible suggests that people can make a living and provide for their families and yet also trust God, they can make a living without the cost of forsaking God and other responsibilities.

Hope that helps,

Nickster

Answer 4

Whether a person is rich or poor is a life test/challenge.

If one is rich, his test is on how he uses his money/possessions. Does he become greedy and miserly and only feed his own ego? or does he use only what he needs (not what he 'wants' - which is a definite challenge in today's society) and help support others who may be having difficulty financially.

If one is poor, his test is on how he views his money/possessions. Is he jealous of others and only looks to feed his own ego? or is he happy with what G-d has given him - recognizing that each gift (ie sight, health) is a priceless treasure and that no one ever has it all?

Does he care? Each person has been given their own unique test of finances - tailored to a tee. He wouldn't want to give a test that is meant for a poor person to the rich and vice versa. And yes, He does care if you pass the test or not. He'd like to be able to shower goodness upon you, if you do ace it. But a good thing to remember is, it is all up to you.

Answer 5

I think it's all about what you do with it...and what you do to make it!

If you come by it honestly (via hard work) and live a modest life, giving to others and being selfless, it's fine.

I think when it talks about your treasure in Heaven and selling your possessions to he poor, it is more about Him saying to keep Him #1....your neighbours #2 etc. cuz He knows how powerful and consuming wealth can be. It can turn sour real quick if you store it all for yourself! As long as you keep your focus on God, the rest will fall into place I think. Hope this helps! (o=

Answer 6

First of all, in the bible, the "eye of the needle" Jesus was talking about, was a very small escape hole in the wall of a city. Jesus said that it was easier for a person to crawl through that small escape hole than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. That is not to say that he cant get into heaven, but that being rich is a hindrance to doing so. He also said "The LOVE of money is the root of all evil."

Answer 7

God wants us to seek His Kingdom and Righteousness first, to enter into communion with Him, to be restored to our rightful place in His Creation. After that happens we enter into the realm of His Grace and He cares for us as a Father would care for a child. The Spiritual is more important than the physical, and that is emphasized over and over. The true riches are not material riches.

Answer 8

some Christians have been hi- jacked, with the help of the two aspects. a individual has to think of for themselves, as a Christian I won't enable a pastor tell me which thank you to lean politically. and that i learn the Bible, so i do no longer purchase each and every thing I hear from the pulpit. needless to say, on your query you have made a generalization, maybe "some rich Christians" would be a extra advantageous physique of ideas. yet, we could shrink to the fast, is it incorrect for a central authority to tax that is voters? some examine with this custom as stealing. Jesus reported to render unto Caesar that that's Caesars... the government taxing that is voters does not characterize theft. I even have heard the stupid declare that taxing the rich is "punishment" for fulfillment, who then must be taxed? properly, the homeless would desire to no longer merchandise, no one foyer's on their behalf, the project we run into is they have not got any funds, if we are to have any sales for any purpose be it well-being care or conflict, we would desire to assemble it from people who've sales. Has all and sundry ever heard of the belief of accountability? If a individual has gotten rich that's a to blame element to pay taxes. yet why ought to I would desire to pay for others? do you go with to stay in a united states of america the place human beings starve? flow bare? Die of ailment interior the streets? a ethical individual, of any religious persuasion does not choose to work out this around them. that's time for the rich to end their pity social gathering and pay up.

Answer 9

He wants the body soul and spirit of a person who chooses Him. After that being rich or poor is only a matter of disposition and perspective. It is irrelevant to God therefore to ask whether one should be rich or poor materially.

Answer 10

I think the idea is to be happy with what you have, materially, and to remember that you can't take it with you. The idea is not to be in love with the things of this world, but, rather, to be in love with the things of the next. Valuing people over possessions, truth over pearls, true love over gold, peace over diamonds, freedom over silver, family over platinum, friendship over rubies, salvation over worldly riches. Hold on to the things that last, not the things that pass away. When you value the things that truly matter, you are "storing up treasures in heaven", because those things (peace, love, joy, family, friends, etc.) endure and are eternal, thus they will be in heaven with you.

Answer 11

Treasures of Heaven are NOT the treasures of the Earth.