Christians: Didn't Jesus tell you to give your money away, & not worry about how you will provide for yourself

Question

Matt 6:24-34
"No man can serve two masters ... Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
"Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat, and the body than raiment?
"Behold the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? ..."

"Our Father, who art in heaven...give us this day our daily bread"

Matthew 19:21
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me"

Answer 1

Seems you posted a bit out of context. It really helps if you post all the verses that go with Matthew 19:21 for the correct understanding. The correct verses are



16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?

17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,

19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?

21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

23Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

24And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.


If you notice these verse are speaking of the "RICH MAN".

Answer 2

I have afew issues with this. Even if everyone does all what is said we will still have problems. So many problems its like one minute or the next someone is trying to pull everyone into religion and its like I can see where it has some benefits but be it from me to tell where or how someone should live is wrong. Doing anything could be a sin. I mean think about it, Some words we use in english are Wrong in different languages is like swearing, or either or, look around. We must choose are own paths If its right or wrong who is to say. Some people just wanna be left alone. But choose whatever you want to believe if that is you. As I sit back and drinkth my Snapple I really wonder if everyone is supposed to be poor and sick. And all those schools young people go to are taught. That they can be anything they can be when they grow up. Or there parents want there kids to accomplish more cause they never got a really good chance to. Im not saying Religion is wrong. You may believe whatever you choose to believe or read. I have chosen my path and from where I stand now. If you work for something hard enough in the end it pays off. If its money its money if its something else then its something else.

Answer 3

It is also said, "If any would not work, neither should he eat." If everyone sat around waiting for God to take care of them, heaven would get full a lot faster. God gives us gifts and talents so that we can meet our basic bodily needs. In these passages, we are reminded that physical things, beyond what we need to live, should not be the driving force of our lives. The birds have to look for, pick up, and eat the seeds and bugs. They have to build nests. As for the lilies, growing is work too. But the lesson there is to know that we are beautifully and wonderfully made.

So, the point of all of this is to not fixate on piling up earthly riches while forgetting to live. It is not to accumulate wealth when people around you are suffering.

The problem with literalism is that the essential message can easily be overlooked.

Answer 4

You need to read why He said those things and to whom he was speaking too.

Jesus knew that the rich man in his heart of hearts loved his money more, so Jesus challenged Him, but alas, the lad was sad because he could not part with his riches. Actually Pat Robertson did this when he started his ministry years ago.

The other Scripture is talking about those who worry since many people do.

Don't take things out of context, that is how new religions are started.

Answer 5

oh,a "trick" question; now were going to implode like when Captain Kirk tricked that computer into a contradiction. Right. Don't hold your breath,papa. Atheists: didn't Christians tell you to follow your own path? Religious bigotry isn't really considered fashionable the way it was briefly in the mid 1920's. Get a life.

Answer 6

That is a good argument. I think as Christians we can be to worried about retirement and stuff.

God, I believe in these verses, is trying to show us where our treasures should be.

That being said, the bible also calls someone who does not provide for their family an 'infidel'. So, we have a responsibility to support our families.

Answer 7

Yes, but that was alright for him - just had to go down to the river and fish - turn five fishes and three loaves whatever into a feast. Turn water into wine. I mean come on, i believe in god, no disrespect, but that`s madness.

Answer 8

Jesus used the language those people could understand. He actually meant spiritual life is more important than material life by making a comparison between these two. It doesn't mean, in order to pursue this, we must give up that, or vice versa.

Answer 9

LOL literally? This was an object lesson.....give up your LOVE OF and DEPENDENCE on money and TRUST that God will give you what you need+........what Father will give their child a stone when they ask Him for food? God just wants us to "let go and let God"....to depend on HIM, NOT money or other "things"

Answer 10

That's not on the list of parts to take literally.