Shouldn't there be no rich Christians? What did Christ teaching about wealth?
2007-08-13 02:27:33 · 20 answers · asked by BOB 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
He taught several things about wealth:
He told a story in which a person who, given money to invest, had not done it, and so was thrown in hell for NOT being rich. (See Matthew 25)
He told a story about a steward who was wise enough to use money to influence people around and create friends that he could use in times of need. He said his followers should be the wise in using their money. (See Luke 16)
When Peter was in need of money to pay taxes, Jesus performed a miracle to produce not only Peter's but his own tax money.
Jesus had a lot to say about money. He taught that his people need it to live and can pray for their daily supply. He also taught that it was a tool to be used to win the world. He taught that those who have it have a harder time entering the kingdom - but that with God it is possible. He taught that those who are faithful with their money will get greater rewards. He did NOT teach that Christians were to take a oath of poverty or to own nothing.
So it is possible to be a Christian and to be rich. You just have to use the riches to fulfill God's purposes in the earth.
2007-08-13 02:42:13 · answer #1 · answered by dewcoons 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I think you could be rich and still be a good Christian if you are following the path of Jesus - charity work, good heart, helping others, not being judgmental, etc. I don't think just because you're rich it cancels out your ability to be a good Christian - it's how you live your life, how you got that wealth, and what you do with it that matters most probably.
2007-08-13 02:32:10 · answer #2 · answered by Pat Smear 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I remember Him teaching a lot about lust in the eye.... but as for coming out and saying "cast off your wealth or you'll end up in hell", I'm still looking. Then again...maybe we don't have the same translations?
True...harder for a rich man to get into Heaven than a camel through the eye of a needle...but reading the context tells me he's talking about folks who can't walk away from their wealth, or can't live without it.
Funny though....who was it that gave Jesus His tomb? the rich man...who bathed him in 60 pounds of linen and spices? the rich man. And what of Abraham - I recall he had a coin or two in his purse...same goes for Job...not only did God let Satan take it all, but when the wager was over, did God not return twice all Job lost?
It's not how much you have that makes you a bad Christian....it's what you do with it. It's about how much does that treasure lay heavy on your heart.
Attitude my brother, not possessions.
2007-08-13 02:35:59 · answer #3 · answered by Last Stand 2010 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
That it is better for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the wealthy to enter God's Kingdom.
Not sure what that means, but I note that Jesus didn't say the rich couldn't get to heaven. He just intimated that it would be mighty difficult.
And that also depends on what you mean by "rich". That word can have a different meaning to each person who uses it.
2007-08-13 02:32:19 · answer #4 · answered by Acorn 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Bible states it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the gates of Heaven. I wouldn't say it's bad to be a rich Christian but it's what you do with your money that counts. If you hoard it all away and give nothing to the work of the Church then yes... that's bad.
2007-08-13 02:31:01 · answer #5 · answered by hootie 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
People are under the impression, that Christians are to be poor,
As with the rich young ruler, when Jesus asked him to sell all that he had. Jesus knew the mans heart that he cared more for his money than he cared for Christ.
Paul put it the best { for the LOVE of money is the root of all evil} Paul never said that money was the root of all evil it is the LOVE of money.
It is not wrong for christian to have money the wrong thing about it is to LOVE it more than Christ.
see
2007-08-13 02:35:07 · answer #6 · answered by Cookyduster 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't know. Neither do you. That's up to God to judge. While it is true that Jesus asked the "rich young ruler" to "sell all he had and to follow Him" - he did so because Jesus knew his heart and sought to test the young man.
Please note that Jesus never asked His good friends Mary and Martha and Lazarus to sell their nice home in Bethany.
It's all about the heart and a person's relationship to money.
"Love of money" is the root of all sorts of evil. Not "money" itself.
Some of the most giving Christians I know happen to be wealthy.
2007-08-13 02:35:04 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
The camel going throught the Eye of the Needle (the camel had to kneel and the Eye of the Needle was the city gate) is mentioned in the Bible because where one's treasure is, so goes their heart.
It's harder for a rich man to go to heaven because his heart is where his treasure is.
2007-08-13 02:50:25 · answer #8 · answered by Devoted1 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's ok for a man to be rich but when his children are born rich they become something less desirable. If the children are not taught properly from the start, they are spoiled. litterally.
2007-08-13 02:36:58 · answer #9 · answered by Agnostic Front 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course, Prime example of course would be king David who was very wealthy and had a very close relationship with God. I dont think God minds at all if you work hard and are wealthy, I do believe however that they should help the less fortunate and still maintane a close relationship with God and Jesus
2007-08-13 02:31:56 · answer #10 · answered by sweetgirl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋