Is a vow of poverty a gift from God?

Question

The "love chapter" as 1 Corinthians 13 has been coined--includes a verse that some believe is about voluntary poverty.

1 Corinthians 13:3, "And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."

Do you see this verse as indicating Christians should have "voluntary poverty"?

Or is poverty a curse--when we do not have enough to supply our own needs and give to the poor, is this a curse?

What are your BIBLICAL beliefs about poverty--are we to embrace the 'name it and claim it'/'blab it and grab it' doctrine of prosperity or are we supposed to walk in some kind of voluntary poverty?

Were is the balance?
What bible verses do you base your beliefs on?

Answer 1

I think this is a good question and needs to be looked at in context. There are groups of religious people all across the religious spectrum who think that by DOING something (and a life of voluntary poverty is an affirmation of DOING something FOR God) they will somehow gain merit FROM God for doing it.
Paul was writing to correct this by introducing motive - the word charity is best translated as love. Giving - true giving - is always an act of love and compassion from God to us. We give thanks to the Father of Lights for all good gifts.
But there is an eastern tradition called Asceticism: It is this to which Paul was referring I believe:


Asceticism
Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia - Cite This Source

asceticism, rejection of bodily pleasures through sustained self-denial and self-mortification, with the objective of strengthening spiritual life. Asceticism has been common in most major world religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity: all of these have special ascetic cults or ascetic ideals. The most common ascetic practice is fasting, which is used for many purposes—to produce visions, as among the Crow; to mourn the dead, as among various African peoples; and to sharpen spiritual awareness, as among the early Christian saints. More extreme forms have been flagellation (see flagellants) and self-mutilation, usually intended to propitiate or reach accord with a god. Asceticism has been associated with taboo in many non-Western societies and in such well-developed religions as Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. See Essenes; fakir; hermit; Rechabites.

See W. J. Sheils, ed., Monks, Hermits and the Ascetic Tradition (1985).

In India where I have just been poverty is beyond that seen in the west. It is however used by some to live a chosen life of begging. Poverty is relative and by comparison there is little poverty in the US compared with the developing world of Africa and India.

The prosperity gospel as taught by many today is a false gospel. It is taught as a form of Christianized magic by the likes of Paul Yongi Cho and is a form of imagineering or visialization, that is found in distinctly non Christian cults. It appeal to the base nature of greed. It is well documented, criticized and refuted in a number of good books.

4. False Teachings on PROSPERITY

FALSE: Prosperity teachings which claim (erroneously) that not only was Jesus wealthy on earth, but that God desires all believers to be wealthy - and that prosperity, in health and wealth, is guaranteed in the covenant of salvation.

TRUE: God desires for us to have "abundant life" in Christ, living in the power of the Holy Spirit and experiencing the fruits of the Spirit. But oftentimes God's will may include such things as suffering, infirmities, sickness, trials, tribulation, persecution, or even martyrdom as Scripture and history so clearly testify. Jesus lived on earth without even a "place to lay His head," and Scripture teaches that His lifestyle was far from the wealthy lifestyle some have erroneously taught Christ lived. This lie originates in an effort by such teachers to not only justify their own indulgent lifestyles, but also to promote their popular prosperity teachings and increase giving to their ministries from those who are seeking the promised health and wealth, especially since the two are often tied together in a not-so-subtle method of deception. Christ calls us not to seek after worldly riches, but instead to store up our treasures in Heaven and to give our lives as "living sacrifices.” As we seek first to serve His Kingdom, and of course, work as God's Word commands, we can be assured that He will provide our needs.

Name it and claim it is also false teaching:
3. False Teachings on FAITH

FALSE: "Hyper-faith" or "word-faith" teachings, which seem to promise that believers can "name it and claim it," or speak their desires into existence (similar to meta-physical teachings). Attributing power to words as if they were "containers" of faith, with power in and of themselves. Also called "positive thinking" or "possibility thinking" in the milder (though still unbiblical) sense. Sometimes this teaching on the power of the spoken word becomes more like that of occultism.

TRUE: God answers our prayers and petitions according to His will. God is not obligated to do our will, but as we seek Him with our whole heart, He gives us His desires so that our heart is aligned with His, and answers our prayers accordingly, in His time.

Such teachers are -
Word Of Faith teachers like Kenneth Copeland - Benny Hinn - this is by no means comprehensive but it exposes the false teachers here - in a Biblically intelligent manner.

Go directly to these exposes:
Reinhard Bonnke, William Branham, Paul Cain, Tony Campolo, Paul (David) Yonggi Cho, Gerald Coates, Paul Cunningham, Gene Edwards, John Hagee, Christian Harfouche, Jack Hayford, Ruth Helflin, John Hinkle, David Hogan, Jack Van Impe, T.B. Joshua, Bob Larson, Roberts Liardon, Lord Maitreya, Arnold Murray, Carlton Pearson, Oral Roberts, Pat Robertson, Robert Schuller, Gwen Shaw, Don Stewart, Tommy Tenney, Bruce Wilkinson

A superb web site with book resources. The writer (the respondent) has had much to do with working out these difficulties on real life. God is generous as He has given us everything. Paul is saying here that giving without love is worthless and giving even a little with love is acceptable to God.

Recall the widow's mite and the story Jesus tells us about giving:

Luke 21

1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.

3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:

and remember this also -
Hosea 6:
6For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Let the Word be the last Word:

2 Corinthians 9:6-8 (King James Version)

6But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

7Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

8And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

Give as you are led by the Spirit of God.

Answer 2

A teacher of God should be paid if that is their exclusive duty.
Paul teaches this.

Paul though "worked". He supported his self he did not rely on the synagogues and temples to feed, clothe, and pay his expenses.

Vow of poverty is man made doctrine and so are the "abundance" teachings.

Jesus did come so we would have life and have life in the "greater amount".

What is the greater amount or "more"? Of course this is to have life everlasting!

Christians should be mature - this is self caring and self supporting. Some choose to give excess to the "poor".

A Christian should have a life that reflects their values and beliefs. This should be a witness to others that we do for ourselves and God has smiled on us.

Wealthy in another place may be to have five coconuts and a goat and in another place your own field and hut.

Wealth in the past may be a castle and serfs or many camels and sheep.

Poverty today may not really be poverty at all.

Jesus said "Poor in spirit" this is the misunderstood maxim.

This has to do with attachment to the physical world and reliance on God.

We can have - but - not be dependent on "things". Our dependency as Christians should always be on God alone.

A vow of poverity has to do with giving up the old self and becoming the new self. The new self follows Jesus Christ.

Poverity has very little to do with what we have so much as how we think of it and where our reliance lies.

This is why Jesus stated that it is very hard for a "rich" person...!

Remember once we are Christian - God will allow us to be stewards to just the extent we are capable. This has to do not only with knowlege of God's word we are to share with others, it is also what we are given possess and care for such as children and property.

Jesus stated this simply in a parable and the conclusion is to those that are capable much is given. See the three servants and the talents parable.

God, Your will be done.
-T2T

Answer 3

1 Corinthians 13 is about love...it is saying that no matter what a person does, if he doesn't have love it is for nothing. You can't pick apart the Bible to make it say what you want it to say. The Bible is a book, not a series of quotes. If you think you will be a better person if you live in poverty then you should do that, but I think it is a sin to scoff at all the things that God has given us to live a beautiful life on earth. Living in poverty is also a poor example to leave for the ones you will try to draw to Christ through your witness...unless you want to be a nun.

Answer 4

II Cr 8:9 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.
Now if Jesus became poor so we could be rich, why would anyone want to be poor? I don't get it. Sounds strange to me.
I Cr 13;8a
I like being rich and I think I'll stay that way.

Answer 5

No, God does not want us living in poverty. God wants us to live in blessing, thru obedience . But, whatever God gives to us, we are not to hoard, but to share with others, including poor ppl, widows, etc.
To list One Bible verse I could not do. This theme is thru the Bible. Its not one verse or two. ITs line upon line, precept upon precept. God tells us that Jesus suffered so we wouldnt have to. God wants us blessed, and to be whole and complete in Christ. HE doesnt want us to barely get by, ...... IF SO, HOW COULD WE HAVE EXTRA TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT?? Thats old and false teaching. We arent to take a vow of poverty, but to know and claim the blessings that God gives to us. BE it financial blessings , or health blessings, blessings of more knowledge, annointing, revelation, etc. OH My, Just having Jesus as our saviour, what a blessing that is alone. But, God does want us to have all HE offers to give to us, so freely. All He requires is that we love and obey Him.
Poverty is a curse that we are not to operate under. We are to be fully blessed in Jesus Christ.
From one end of the Bible to the other, this theme runs thru it.
God bless you for the question.

Answer 6

i think this verse is talking about the fact that you can be endlessly generous with your worldly goods but that in and of itself isn't love

the chapter taken in context is about love not about the handling of worldly materials

in the old testament in proverbs the wise mans prayer was 'lord make me neither too rich nor too poor' as both extremes have their challenges that can threaten ones walk with the lord in life

Answer 7

Not at all.....

This verse is saying.....you can be the best person and give and give and give.....sacrifice and give your life...but if you don't have CHARITY -which is the pure love of Christ in your heart and soul all those things you do are for nothing.....you have to love with out condition....give because you REALLY REALLY love as Christ does.....It is why we are here on this earth....to learn to love.....all the commandments of God...boil down to one thing...LOVE....

Mathew 22: 37-40
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.


The only way to really have charity is to ask for this gift from Heavenly Father....it is not part of our natural man to love...we general are selfish and carnal....so to have a change of heart we have to have this gift from Christ given to us....it is given by really wanting it and doing what it takes to receive it....keeping the commandments and depending on the atonement of Christ to change our nature.

Having wealth is a good thing...you have more ability to serve and love others as you share what God gives you....so poverty is not a virtue to seek after.

Answer 8

one has to take care of ones self in order to give to
others. one can however go on a sabbatical and
use that time for specific prayer and fasting by forsaking
the world. ( not all monasteries are catholic). but the
LORD does care that we have basic needs met.

Answer 9

Poor by who'se yardstick? Jesus said that we'd always have them amoung us,,,So, do YOU help or withold? Your OWN understanding can help.