do you ever have these moral issues with yourself?

Question

i haven't felt a sense of true happiness in a long time but I hope my life improves some day. However, whenever I start thinking about that I get a sense of guilt. I know quite a few people who have it extremely tough and of course, with the lack of money you can never escape certain things. even if you pray. because we all have different problems and different character.

so, back to my question. if you've ever read the Bible, there is this passage in it where Jesus talks to a young man who is (I think) well off and good at heart but still unhappy. And Jesus tells him to give all of his money, everything that he has to the poor. not just some of it but all. and the man walks away in sadness. isn't that the point really.

what do you think

Answer 1

I hear you. I think true happiness can be found only when you are honest with yourself and you figure out what it is that you want to do. I'm sorry if you wanted a religious answer, but, there may be a religious answer there. In the parable, Jesus tells the guy to give up all of the worldly possessions and devote his life to God's works. The guy walks away in sadness because he is still bogged down with the trappings of what SOCIETY thinks make people happy ( at that time, it was money ( when hasn't society thought money would make you happy ? ), a household with slaves, family ). I don't think this guy ever thought about what HE really wanted. Maybe, if he took the time away from all of the distractions, he could look inside his psyche and figure out what he wanted for himself. That is what I think Jesus was saying in the parable. Get rid of all of the distractions, and do something with your hands to make sure that you don't get distracted again to fall into the same trap of distractions.

Good luck in finding your inner peace.

Answer 2

Bottom line answer is yes, I've struggled with this and many other issues, but today I have a lot of gratitude and serenity in my life. Now to expand a little...

I've been fairly well off (squandered three fortunes) and I've lived in a homeless shelter. I have found, through experience, that God does provide for my needs (not necessarily what I want). Today, I have a lot of gratitude for what I have and the experiences that I've lived. It was a matter of humbling myself to the powers that be and accepting that which I have no control over.

Trust God, clean house, help others. Those are the basic tenets I live by today. I trust God to provide what I need today (basic stuff like food and shelter). Does that mean that bad things don't happen? No. They still happen because other people still have the choice to live selfishly. For example-two guys attempted to rob me at gunpoint the other night. For whatever reason I didn't have my wallet or anything of value with me at the time. So they just left. God took care of me, because I didn't try and do any stupid hero stuff or shoot my mouth off like I might have done in the past. I can't control what those two guys did, but I will not live in fear or let it ruin my day. I have gratitude because I'm still alive and they didn't steal anything.

I have cleaned up my own life (my house) and live in a manner opposite of what I used to. I try not to think of myself all the time; Such as why don't I make more money or I could use a second car (in our family); or I've got so much to do and not enough time; or why doesn't anyone love me. I have to accept that I can only do so much. I do what I think is right and leave the results up to God. If I make a mistake, I learn from it and move on. If I hurt someone else, I do what I can to make it right. I can't live in the past nor dwell on the future because I haven't the power to change either. I can only do my best today.

Helping others-there are lots of people who need help. The poor, kids, institutions. Find a way to help. Volunteer your time to Big Brothers/Sisters, American Cancer Society, your community theatre, Habitat for Humanity, Scouting, the local homeless shelter, or your church. Whatever it is, get involved. Giving money is not a bad thing, but I get more reward by being there helping. Time is a much more valuable commodity, because once it's gone you can never reclaim it. One group I work with has a primary purpose- To be of maximum service to God and others.

I hope what I've passed on to you helps. I live a spiritual life instead of a religious one. I've hear it said that religion is for those who are afraid of going to hell and spirituality is for those who have been there and have another chance.

PS-The biblical reference you site it Jesus' way of teaching that money can be an impediment to heaven, because we place more value on it than on our own lives or the lives of others. (Luke 18:18-30; Mark 10:17-31) Then read Matthew 7:25-34.

Answer 3

What Jesus was talking about was giving up everything to follow Him. The man who came to Him was unhappy because his life was not complete. Following Jesus would have completed his life, but he was unwilling to even consider giving up his worldly possessions.

Jesus does not expect everyone to give up their worldly possessions, but He does expect us all to take care of each other. He expects us to share God's Will and Word. He wants us to care for others with love and compassion.

Since you have not been happy for some time, you need to look inside and see what is making you so unhappy. If you are wealthy and feeling empty, then you could follow the footsteps of Bill and Melinda Gates and create a charity. If you are poor but want to help, you could volunteer at Habitat for Humanity and help build a house for the poor.

There is always a way to help people less fortunate, but feeling guilty for not being happy does not solve your problem. You need to understand why you are not happy and work on fixing that problem.

Take care,
Troy

Answer 4

No, I don't think the point is to give away everything you have. I think the point is to surround yourself with people who truly care about you, spend your time doing things that make you feel personally fulfilled, whether that's parenting or running a business, and reject anyone or anything that makes you feel bad about yourself.

I didn't get the source of your guilt, but it's an emotion that's like poison. You have to reject that. Every night before you go to bed, think of three things that made you feel good that day...whether it's someone smiled at you, or the weather was great. In no time, you'll be noticing lote of good things, and not paying so much attention to the negative. I know that sounds silly, but I do it, and it really turned my thinking around.

Answer 5

That man in the bible that Jesus said that too thought he was good enough to go to heaven. He said, "All this I have done since my youth." He thought he was a good person. Jesus told him that to show him that he's not. I am not into the prosperity message of the tv evangilist but you don't have to sell all you have and give it to the poor. He was making the point to that man, "you think your good? Then go do this." He wanted the man to see that he was a sinner like everyone else so that he would believe in Him. Don't be hung up on how much money you have. It's all the Lords. Just always be ready to give.

Answer 6

I don't have any guilt about doing better than other people. I feel everybody has their own value and they can use their skills to better themselves. We don't start on even playing fields, but there is little we can do about that, except to personally try to treat people as people and support legislation that ensures freedoms.

The Bible has some wisdom in it, but it's really a mixed bag in that regard. Material things are not bad and they are not bad to have. I think that if a country is rich enough, it can provide a minimum for people to live. Not all countries are in that situtation and not all leaders support that. Ironically, the Religious Right and the Republicans seem hell bent on removing such safety nets for the poor.

Answer 7

I think your guilt is the inherent love for Justice in majority of the human beings that makes the world work as smoothly as it does now.

without justice, trust and sharing we could not have developed the global society we are living in.

You need not get rid of your wealth, share as much as you feel comfortable with. Do some research and see how your money can bring happiness to the really needy people. Check our charity foundations which encourage the receptors to develop into better human beings and expand the network of good deeds.

We shoulc be grateful that the human race haspeople like you.

EnJoy

Answer 8

No. Giving away your money will not make you happy or unhappy. Money does not fill your soul with love, so not having money could not possibly do it either. Having less money will make you happy only if it lessens the burdens of your life. But if having no money increases the burdens of your life, it may strengthen your virtues but it will not be any easier. Love yourself, that is the way to be happy. It's hard, but I have to say it is more logical than giving away all your money.

Donate to charity and feel good about yourself. Donation is always good. All is something only a saint would do. If you want to be a saint, then give away all your money. But if not, then just do simple, good things everyday and I gurantee you will be happy.

Answer 9

Is good that u recognize that there are people with real problems. But happiness is in our minds and it has to do with our perspectives about life. If u have a goal in life and if u do something to pursue that dreams...u are likely to be more motivated. Having everything in life sometimes make it bored.

Now, there is also the chemical thing....tell me what do u eat and I´ll tell u how u will likely feel.

I live in a third world country and I can tell u...money is not that important to be happy but any way check ur diet and try to get more oxigen in to ur body. Ahhh and try some music and dancing as well ; )

Answer 10

It is just that a person who gets attached to belongings, seeks happiness only through having those items, and it really never satiates, because the list keeps growing.
A person who becomes self-contended out of love becoming a way of being, does not react to material possessions. That is why the advice to the young man. Really one need not give away his everything, but forsaking things improve the possibility to experience that wealth is good if it remains just in the wallet, not in the 'head' !