i was reading an article in time magazine that says god want people to be wealthy(not in those exact words) their are the pastors saying god wants his people not to be poor but rich,and it quoted a verse on how jesus said something about gaining the world but losing your soul,these preachers say you can have the world and your soul....just wondering how many agree,and does this prove that the conservative rebulican christians are following the devil...i mean money and power......honest answer,...what do you christians think about all this or does it not bother you...and im not trying to offend anyone.
2006-09-10 07:17:53 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Christ was really clear on this. He told the one man that if he wanted to follow Christ, that he needed to sell everything he owned. Christ also said that it was easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye than for a rich man to enter heaven.
Some people like to revise what Christ said so that it fits their lifestyle and their own personal agenda. It proves that some people believe their own thoughts to be more relevant and accurate than the words of their savior.
It bothers me, yes. Whenever anybody reconfigures what the savior of the world said in order to try to suit their own purposes, it is ugly.
2006-09-10 07:22:09 · answer #1 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I think it's a good sign that you are asking that question. Deep inside, you have a sense of what is right and what is wrong, and that will guide you through your life no matter what "religious authorities" may be telling you. I'll tell you this - no matter if you are reading Torah, or the prophets, or the New Testament, or the Qur'an, you will see repeated over and over again that it is incumbent on you and me and everybody else to take care of those who can't take care of themselves, to feed those who don't have food, and to clothe those who don't have clothes. No matter which among those holy books you have, you can open them almost at random and you will find that theme. You have to look really hard for the other minor themes. If God is telling us to do ANYTHING, I say God is telling us to do that. Next point: noplace in any holy book does it say "God helps those who help themselves." Noplace. It isn't there. You may hear "religious" people saying "I'm all for helping the poor, but they need to learn how to take care of themselves." These people are using this argument as an excuse to disobey God. Anyplace you hear an argument that suggests you are supposed to serve and worship yourself, it's not coming from God. Anyplace your hear that you have to get this car or this phone, or this body, or drink this liquid, it's not coming from God. So good for you. You are asking the right questions.
2006-09-10 07:34:16 · answer #2 · answered by Mark Porter 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The so-called 'health and wealth gospel' ignores those parts of the Bible that don't agree that all of Gods people can/should be wealthy.
That said, God has had many dedicated followers both among the poor and among the rich. Wealth is not the point. Some people miss that fact.
2006-09-10 07:26:42 · answer #3 · answered by jewel_flower 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Apostle Paul said, that I know what it is to have, and to be without. It is when we have needs and little, we rely on God the most. Its being content in what soever state I am.
There is nowhere in the Bible where it says that God wants people to be wealthy. This big prosperity teaching is not Biblical.
There is nothing wrong with being rich, it's what we do with it that counts.
The LOVE of money is the root of all evil - the Bible says.
2006-09-10 07:28:54 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
One has a choice between Money and God. A poor man can put Money first. A rich man can put Money first. We are all to put God first, then whatever happens with one's Money should come and go according to the Will of God. There is some free choice for those things that God doesn't micromanage: A poor man can waste money. A rich man can waste money. A Man of God still sins, but overall his use of money should be as Christ-like as he is capable.
2006-09-10 07:29:10 · answer #5 · answered by thepaxilman 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I believe it is not about how much money you have, but what you do with that money. Are we not also told to "help the needy"? What better way to help them than by using the money we have been blessed with?! People of all "classes" can have faith in Jesus Christ, it is not limited to the poor, although some poor people are arguably more humble than some rich people. What matters is not how much we have, but what we do with it. What matters is not what struggles we face, but how we face them. What matters is not what sin we commit, but what sin we repent of.
The way I see it, the Lord blesses some with money, and the money is a way for them to do good. Others are cursed with money, for they squander it and live their lives focused on the wrong things.
Some of the happiest people I know live at extreme ends of the spectrum...the truly wealthy who enjoy helping others, and the truly poor, who realize that not material possessions, but God bring them happiness.
The one thing that is for sure "man cannot serve God and mammon" meaning, if you worship money, it becomes your idol and you cannot worship God.
Your best bet, worship God and do good with the money you are blessed with.
2006-09-10 07:26:22 · answer #6 · answered by Jodi B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The prosperity gospel is nothing new it has been preached by money grabbers for years. No God doesn't have plans for everyone to be rich. But I can't discount that He does decide to bless many people and give them great wealth that they in turn use for His glory. There are a few people who are wealthy who have no concern for wealth and they constantly distribute help to the poor, sick, homeless, orphans and on and on. I have had money and lost money, but I still believe regardless of my state of finance. But the more I have the more I give, and the more I give the more I am blessed in many,many ways.
2006-09-10 07:24:30 · answer #7 · answered by Prophecy+History=TRUTH 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Part of the verse is!
"The LOVE of money is the root of all evil..."
Those who are solid in Christ can obtain great wealth, there is nothing wrong with that.
But for many it is better to be poor and destitute, and in Christ, than to be rich and fall to the ways of the world!
In short some can handle it some can't!
2006-09-10 09:00:53 · answer #8 · answered by Grandreal 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Im reading thomas mertons thoughts on solitude. He was a monk who took a vow of poverty
no man can serve two masters .
to unify your life,unify your desires,to spiritualize your life spiritualize your desires,to spiritualize your desires, desire to be without desire.
To desire God who cannot be seen one must renounce the desire of all that can be seen.
to rest in Him who is beyond all created rest we renounce the desire to rest in all created things
there is also the quaker thoughts that to work is to pray that by hard work we are giving to God the fruits of our labor.Ghandi said that a Rich man that does not work for society is a theif. Suppose In praying in work I make alot of money, I think the money could be used for many spiritual things to help my children learn, to put a roof over there heads, to help the poor, I think that if i place money and desire for worldly pleasures that are never as satisfyying as God. before God im worshiping money and things not God.
As a Christian it is what is in my heart that I need to be concered with. That is what is between me and MY God. What other people do is there business and is between them and there God whatever that God is.
I often fall into the self indulgent trap the High That looking down on sinners and smug self rightiousness and playing God creates. This is another form of placing something else before God and Is as bad as having three stretch limos.FOR ME again what others do is there business.
2006-09-10 07:56:44 · answer #9 · answered by Rich 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Okay, I'm Christian, and I think that God does want good things and comforts for his people, but only if they can handle it without it coming between themselves and Him, which is much more important. You know, like the root of all evil isn't money, it's the love of money? Money is fine, as long as you don't get too attatched to it. What does this mean about republicans? I don't get it. Are you saying that their having money and power is making them follow the devil?
2006-09-10 07:21:05 · answer #10 · answered by Hopeful Poster 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋