If they are paying their Tithes and using part of the money they receive to build the kingdom of God, feed the hungry, give children school supplies and to support missionaries, why can't they have nice houses and cars and clothes? Are Christians supposed to be poor?
2006-11-20 01:52:22 · 34 answers · asked by Cori 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
How are ministers supposed to get the word of God around the world without money?
2006-11-20 02:00:30 · update #1
To Annmaree and braennvin- The Eye Of A Needle was a hole in a wall in Israel. Camels had to get low in order for them to get through it. Jesus was saying the more more money you have, the harder it is for you not to be prideful (the harder it is for you to get low). That doesn't mean it's impossible.
2006-11-20 02:09:06 · update #2
It's not Ok for anyone to be rich
2006-11-20 01:55:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
I will speak for me. I don't think I could handle being rich. I can't handle being poor and living within the means I do have now. We are doing better now, but it wasn't to long ago we ran up credit cards and spent alot of money on things we wanted not needed. We couldn't pay our bills good and was sinking futher in debt. We finally sold the house and land but we didnt get much out of it cause the house was only a 16X20 house. Not it wasn't a tralior either. lol. Now we are getting closer to being out of debt and paying off our bills. I can see myself rich and getting futher from God instead of closer. I wished I had enough money to know if he is off work for a few days cause of rain or snow then we have money in bank to cover that. But we are more comfortable now and can breathe some. I rather be poor than rich.
2006-11-20 02:36:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are rich people who are Christians and who have a heart for God. There's nothing wrong with being rich and being a Christian. It's only wrong if the have a love of money or if they are not being a blessing to others.
1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
2006-11-20 02:01:25 · answer #3 · answered by Martin S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
One reason might be because they're supposed to be following Jesus, who didn't have a place "to lay his head". and also said that it was more difficult for a rich man to get into heaven, than a camel through the eye of a needle. He also said not to store up treasures for yourself on earth. I don't think christians have to be poor , but I don't think they shouldn't live like the rappers, singers, athletes and singers who are rich. Being a christian isn't being a celebrity.
2006-11-20 01:59:04 · answer #4 · answered by Annmaree 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus said that you cannot divide your loyalty between heaven and earth. the Bible repeatedly warns against the evils of monetary wealth, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is not wrong to have money as a Christian, but the Bible does warn that the root of all evil is the LOVE of money. When people get lots of money their focus changes. It is very hard for a rich Christian to keep their focus upon Christ because their attention is divided between protecting their money and serving God. Ultimately, the world will win out and they will abandon Christianity. The flesh and the Spirit can never be reconciled with one another----they will always be at war. Because we live in the flesh the things of the flesh pull strongly upon us. It is easy for us to fall victim to the world and its corruption. A modest lifestyle is ideal for the Christian---a lifestyle that does not experience extremes.
2006-11-20 02:01:11 · answer #5 · answered by Preacher 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's ok for men and women of God to have nice clothes, cars, houses, etc. Christians are not "supposed to be poor." They are supposed to be generous with what they have.
It's just laughable for the bitter anti-christians here to be railing against Christians who work hard and are somewhat financially successful. Get a life, folks!
Oh, and Jesus was definitely NOT communist. He was a very big proponent of personal freedom and accountability of the individual. But there again, another obvious attempt at smearing someone else's beliefs. Seems a little pathetic to me to do so...but hey, to each his own right?
2006-11-20 02:00:14 · answer #6 · answered by Open Heart Searchery 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when you pay for tickets to see singers or buy their tapes you know you are supporting them and making them rich. No deception takes place.
They ask for money to feed the starving and the poor. Knowing that most of that money goes to make them rich. They don't say most of what you contribute makes me super rich.
Very little of what you contribute goes to help the poor.
Now people who are Christians who are rich and earned the money without lieing to people as the TV evangelists do.
They do not sin because they earned the money not by deception but hard work. To work hard and save your money and have more than others is not a sin. That just shows your smart. So it depends on how you get the money.
2006-11-20 01:59:53 · answer #7 · answered by Steven 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
by being a Christian you are very rich in spirit God does want you to prosper every time you give to someone freely from your heart it will be given unto you the, God did not say it is OK for them it is written it is easier for the camel to pass through the eye of a needle then it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God this must be a really big needle with riches comes greed store your treasures in heaven where thief's can not steal. seek you first the Kingdom Of God and all his Righteousness and all of these things shall be added unto to your surely goodness and mercy, your cup will over flow with blessing from god
2006-11-20 02:03:25 · answer #8 · answered by jamnjims 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What about it being easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven?
2006-11-20 01:59:30 · answer #9 · answered by braennvin2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If we take Jesus and his disciples as our example, he said himself "the Son of Man has no place to lay his head..." We are not to value or cling to our wealth or in any way compromise our commitment to Christ because of it. The other biblical example that comes to mind is the early church where all shared their belongings so that no one had too much and no one was lacking. I think there is a strong suggestion that, possibly, Christians might need to at least be willing to be poor. In the modern world, we also need to consider who is paying for us to have the "good things" in life. Do we have a car or several cars that pollute the environment, and do we drive them when we could walk? Do our consumption habits contribute in any way to the exploitation of others? Unfortunately the world we live in makes it difficult to avoid some involvement in the exploitation of others, but I believe we are called to live with a conscience about these matters and seek to live as simply as we can, as part of our witness. Certainly an alternative approach to worldly possessions would set believers apart from the world culture in a significant way.
2006-11-20 01:59:52 · answer #10 · answered by surlygurl 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Maybe the singers, rappers, and athletes are presently closer to God than the 'pastors'. Maybe the athletes etc., realize the scriptural old testament is not Genesis-Malachi (violating 2 Tim. 3:16-17). The scriptural old testament is the law of Moses (Can one have the law of Moses before Moses was born (Exodus 2)?
2006-11-20 03:03:58 · answer #11 · answered by jefferyspringer57@sbcglobal.net 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋