Christians only PLEASE. How do you interpret this scripture?

Question

It's Luke 6:24. Jesus said, "Woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort."

And another:
1 Tim 6:9
"But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition."

Betty Boop, I welcome you to read it in context.

Answer 1

I see the answer in the question, If you are rich,then you are keeping it all to yourself, laying up treasure on earth.If you gave the money to feed the hungry, house the homeless,pay doctors for the ill, then you would no longer be rich,in the earthly sense.

Answer 2

Very good question. Here is what I believe Christ is saying:
It is more difficult for a man who has everything to be humble. Those who are rich have money to solve a lot of their problems. Those how have nothing have no one but God to turn to in their time of need. Thus, the poor tend to know God better, by turning to him more often. The rich can get complacent "All is well" while the poor have constant reminding of who is really in charge. Also, the rich may worship their riches...think about it. If you have the money, you will want the best out there, you want the nicest car, a new computer/laptop, ipod, or whatever, instead of being content with what you have. That is why so many people are in debt these days, they want what the world's view is of happiness. When in reality, the rich are only happy if they were happy to begin with. The rich may turn their focus away from what is true by worshiping what they have...nice boats, big fancy houses, nice cars, etc.
It is not condemning all rich people, nor is being rich wrong. The Lord prospers those who obey him. It is the way they use it that can cause their downfall. It is called the "pride cycle" You do good, the Lord blesses you, you become rich, you start getting prideful, you end up with a wicked people, some crises happens (like 9/11) and it turns the people's focus on what is really important. They become righteous again...the Lord blesses them...they become rich...they forget the great things the Lord has done for them...and it goes on and on. You see it over and over in the scriptures and you see it over and over again in our day. That is what Christ means by woe unto you who are rich...it is a warning!

Answer 3

Luke 6:24
What does Jesus mean? Why do having riches, laughingly pursuing pleasures, and enjoying the plaudits of men bring woe? It is because when a person has and cherishes these things, then service to God, which alone brings true happiness, is excluded from his life. At the same time, Jesus did not mean that simply being poor, hungry, and mournful makes a person happy. Often, however, such disadvantaged persons may respond to Jesus’ teachings, and they thereby are blessed with true happiness.

1 Tim 6:9:
In the pursuit of money, people cheat, lie, steal, prostitute themselves, and even commit murder. The result is a person stabbed with emotional, physical, and spiritual pains because of trying to grasp and hold on to riches. Does this sound like the road to happiness? Hardly!

Answer 4

The language of scripture clues the reader in to different suitable matters which come across parameters, context, and matters that may no longer be obvious upon preliminary examining in accordance with a million Cor. 2:13. case in point: Acts 3:19 cf. Isaiah 28:12 Gen. 3:15 cf. Rom. sixteen:20 Heb. 12:14 cf. Matt. 5:8 Acts 17:26 cf. Isaiah 10:13 etc.... (be conscious - those could only be obvious interior the KJV) together as claiming to base interpretation on custom, and the pope's infallibility while speaking ex-cathedra, what particularly happens is that the Catholic church comes to a decision doctrines and traditions that are expedient for their church and administration. Then they re-interpret (or brush off as beside the point) scriptures to verify those expedient doctrines. additionally, the RCC holds custom (Mk. 7:9, 13; Col. 2:8; ) at an better point of authority than the Bible. Their chain of command in this order is: a million. custom 2. The Magisterium (chain of command from pope on down...) 3. Then scripture with apocrypha, interpreted with the help of them

Answer 5

Tough words for an American to read. I break out into a cold sweat whenever I read this too.
There is no point in rationalizing it to ourselves. We are rich, and our chances of salvation are therefore extremely slim. Look at Jesus--He didn't even have a place to live. And then look at all the stuff we accumulate in our lives. Our only hope is to realize that our possessions are a hindrance and pray for forgiveness. And share what we have with those who have less, or nothing.
Think of the rich men that Jesus condemned. And then think of us. Are our lives not a hundred times easier, are we not a hundred times richer than someone who lived two thousand years ago? Ok, I am not as rich as Caesar, but I am definitely richer than the rich traveller who encountered Jesus on the road.

And what are the consequences of a country that plunders the rest of the earth merely to enrich itself???

Answer 6

The summary text is 1Tim 6:10 speaking of the "love" of money or as vs 9 states those that will or a wrong desire just to be rich. Those who are rich but don't use what God has given them in a stewardly fashion but selfishly or who just have an unrighteous desire for riches are condemned strongly and otters are warned of this danger.

Answer 7

In struggling, people often find faith. The struggles for the rich man are not the same as those for the poor. Also being rich allows for more opportunities - sometimes good and other times bad. If you lose sight of your faith through inaction then you may end up in hell.

Answer 8

It's easier for a Camel to pass through the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to go to heaven.
Tammi Dee

Answer 9

It's saying those with a lot of money should resist the bad temptations that come with being filthy rich.

Answer 10

There Not saying that haveing money is a bad thing just that with money comes many temptations and you have to stay strong in God to overcome them.