is there ANY scriptural basis to suggest one must give up all worldly possessions to have everlasting life?

Question

Isn't it perfectly okay to be rich as long as you're a good steward of your wealth? Does the Bible teach that its wrong to be rich or that if you are rich you'll have any harder a time finding salvation? If so, where are these teachings found?

Answer 1

in luke 14:25-33, Jesus is explaining the cost of being a disciple, and he says "ANY of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple", a disciple and a christian is the same thing (acts 11:26). That doesnt mean that you cant be rich, if you put more value in what you have over living your life for God, and telling other's about the Lord as well, then Jesus says that you can't be his disciple, because our love should be for God and not our possesions (deuteronomy 18:8).

Answer 2

"It's easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man to pass into the Kingdom of Heaven."

Sorry, I don't know chapter and verse, as I'm mostly Bible illiterate.

As an atheist, I'd like to point out (as far as being a moral person), HOW were the riches obtained? Was it through the underpaid labor of others? Why should they barely be able to live, while the person at the top makes all the dough? That's wrong.

Was it through other immoral action, such as destroying the evironment? Legally stealing?

Illegally stealing?

Through murder or bribery?

Was it by doing a worthwhile thing, and paying all employees reasonable, living wages? Then it's fine.

If it was made either by exploiting others, or by doing destructive, harmful things, then it's just wrong.

I don't care who thinks their imaginary Sky Bully approves; wrong is wrong.

Answer 3

In addition to Luke 14:25-33

Mk 10:21 "One thing you lack," he said. "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Lu 18:24 Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!"


James 5:
1 ¶ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you.
2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days.
4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.
5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Answer 4

Read the story of king Solomon. Wealth in monetary terms is useless to God. It's better to share the wealth with the less fortunate. People always ask why God doesn't help the poor and starving, he does help only to see it all taken and sold to the highest bidder. If you have all you need for you and your family to survive then why not give the rest to someone who can use it. Society now days is into "keeping up with the Jones'", or "the one with the most toys wins". You can't take it with you when you go.So why not give a portion back to the ones who need it. It's about whats in your heart not in your wallet that God cares about. GOD BLESS!!

Answer 5

Unlike the Lutherans who stated as long as something in liturgical or devotional piety and practice was not contrary to Scripture(interpreted in light of the creeds and Lutheran Confessional Documents),it was not necessary but "adiaphoron",useful but not to be mandated The Reformed (notably Calvinists)and Anabaptists taught that devotional things not in( their reading of) the New Testament were to be avoided and ,especially among the Puritan extremes, abolished,destroyed and prohibited . The Reformed ignored things like incense (big in the Book of Revelation) that "were Papist" and showed that their church tradition was crucial in interpreting and applying the 'Scriptural basis" as their church authorities saw it. Catholics and Orthodox always welcomed whatever could be used to communicate the Christian Faith as long as it did not contradict or was incompatible with Apostolic Tradition(of which the canonical inspired Scriptures were a crucial part) as proclaimed by the God-directed Church The big problem as I (as a Catholic Christian)see with saying that everythingmust be found in the Bible is that one can read things into the Bible that are not there or are morally unacceptable things from the OT or Book of Revelation when read literally orone reads out of the Bible things like the real Presence that are there but are contrary to what i may want to be there. Canonical Scripture, Apostolic Teaching and Paradosis(Traditio) and the authoritative Church have to be together and "judge and test and balance and interpret and contextualize" each other.

Answer 6

Matthew 19:21
Matthew 10:25

Answer 7

I think Jesus said "its easy for a needle to get through a camel than for a rich man to get in god's Kingdom". I think I messed up the quote a little.

Answer 8

No. Paulo misses the point. Jesus knew the rich person's stumbling point. That he loved his money and what it afforded him more than pursuit of God's Kingdom. He like the status his riches gave him and not his position with God or Christ.

Answer 9

Read the encounter of JESUS and the rich young ruler at Matthew 19.

Answer 10

The love of money is the root of all evil. I believe that if we have money, but don't care about it, it is easier to obtain eternal life. But most let money get in the way of their relationship with God.