It says in Corinthians, that: "unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom?" Not bla bla, adulterers etc...
"...nor greedy persons"
Greedy persons???
I always wince when religionists who live in the so-called developed world (North America for instance) claim that 'greed' will stop *other* people going to 'heaven'.
Do they literally think that 'greed' is having 2 cars, 2 computers, countless upgraded cell phones, electric hair-straighteners, curlers, leaf-blowers, 4-foot wide refrigerators and a tumble drier in each household (in a hot climate also!), oh, with AC running 24/7?
Or do they think that 'greed' is having one bowl of rice more than you normally would, or earning 2 dollars a day instead of 1?
What do you think?
2007-10-20 22:29:58 · 11 answers · asked by Bajingo 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Is this one of those instances when Christians accept moral relativism?
2007-10-20 22:35:38 · update #1
So, Johnny, you are saying that 'greed' actually means 'idolatry'. I must say I'm not convinced...
2007-10-20 22:56:05 · update #2
espsai, so you say that I am actually talking about 'ambition', not greed? More line-blurring, I fear...
2007-10-20 23:00:42 · update #3
Here's some help for those of you who are re-defining greed to fit their own worldview:
The (Encarta) dictionary definition is this:
greed
noun
Definition:
strong desire for more: an overwhelming desire to have more of something such as money than is actually needed
[Late 16th century. Back-formation
Repeat in your mind "more than is actually needed".
So you agree that 'need' is a relative concept? Or not...? So how do you define what is more than is needed?
I would think that a VERY important consideration if you believe you will go to hell for greed...
2007-10-21 03:25:10 · update #4
You are sadly mistaken. I am not a Christian, but still, I chose to write you, because you got the basic concepts wrong. You are mistaking ambition for greed. Ambition is one thing and greed quite another. You can aspire for the sky even and it is known as ambition. But, if you desire for some thing and you want it at any cost , which is even at the expense of others, that is called greed.
Naturally, no one would say that a greedy person can see the doors of Heaven open for him.
2007-10-20 22:55:10 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have a couple rich relatives (though my husband and I aren't rich by ANY stretch of the imagination, lol. Single income household, and he's only an E4 in the military, so you can well imagine!), and what *I* think is that it all comes down to intent.
If a person can afford all that stuff you mentioned (we just have the two laptop computers, which we got out of my husband's re-enlistment bonus)(his is really nice, mine is a cheap Sony Vaio, bottom of the line, lol), I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to have it. The question is, what ELSE are they doing with their money?
My uncle, who is VERY wealthy, pretty much lives like a pauper. But he donates money to charities around the world, contributes much to church missions all over the world (who help the second group of people you mentioned), and is basically the loan officer for my family. He doesn't bat an eye at loaning a family member a couple thousand dollars if they need it.
One of my great-aunts is ALSO very wealthy. She lives in a house that can be best described as a mansion, with a heated indoor pool and a jacuzzi. So, she lives exactly the opposite of my uncle. However, she also donates money to charity, spends time volunteering, loans money to relatives, and supports missions around the world.
I believe that if a person keeps all their money to themselves, while living a sumptuous lifestyle, they are being greedy. But there is nothing inherently wrong with being wealthy. If a person has worked hard for it, I have nothing against them. However, I also believe that they should try to help the people around the world whose poverty is mind-boggling.
I've never been to a third-world country, but after visiting a "second-world" country (Poland), I can only imagine. My heart aches for them. I wish my husband and I were rich so I could do something for them.
So again, it all comes down to intent. If a person can afford all the amenities, and a luxurious lifestyle, why not? Only God can judge their hearts. And that is what He WILL be judging.
2007-10-21 05:54:29 · answer #2 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As long as you are sharing your good fortune with others less fortunate than you, you should be fine. And with your church of course.
I would feel guilty if I had so much knowing that others out there needed something as simple as a meal for the night. I haven't go squat, no matter how hard we've worked for things, something always happens to keep us on the low end of the totem pole. But, I VERY thankful just to have a roof over my head right now. The house is yucky, but clean and shelter from the elements. And to have a meal for every night this week. This (the computer) is our only form of entertainment. Well, with cable and phone. Other than that, there is no money to do fun activities weekly. We've never even had a vacation. Once again, no money to go anywhere or do anything. And my oldest is leaving tomorrow for boot camp with the Marines. So, it's not all bad. You appreciate things more. But, if you've ever lived like we do, you'd understand more I believe. So no, greed is not making more money. It's what you do with that money. Are you keeping it all for yourself or are you taking money to help less fortunate people out? Even with as little as we have, we usually do something for charity a couple times a year money wise. It only winds up being a hundred or two, but that's huge to us.
2007-10-21 05:47:32 · answer #3 · answered by shari 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Very good question, and I am so happy to answer it. The truth is Christians (or Christians that been taught by the Lord anyway) don't think that way about people who have convenience in their homes, or even that way about very wealthy people. You wanna know what they think? They consider those people to be blessed by God and just wish that they would give see that He did that for them.
I, however think that not all people with such "possessions" are blessed, but sometimes it is just their stable and reasonable minds that get them to where they are. Good for them! Like it says in Proverbs: "Diligence is man's greatest possession"
When those people talk about greed though in that way they do not mean when a person has everything, but what they are trying to say is something completely different. They are talking about idolatry, when a person's heart goes out to someTHING so much so that he or she doesn't care about God anymore.
2007-10-21 05:44:20 · answer #4 · answered by Yana 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't consider myself greedy, blessed. I know that at any moment God could take my good fortune away from me (it actually happened less than a year ago).
Greed is more a person's mind-set than an inventory of their earthly possessions. If the person who has an extra bowl of rice does so as a reward for working extra hard that day, then more power to them; if they take that rice from their neighbor so the other family goes hungry, then that's greed.
The issue in that passage is people who are not sharing their bounty with those in need--those who are more concerned with clinging to their possessions than helping others. So it's not so much 'moral' relativism as it is 'circumstantial' relativism... that would be my best answer for 230 in the morning.
2007-10-21 05:40:56 · answer #5 · answered by SDW 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Apparently greed keeps you from getting into heaven, but if you have accomplished many good deeds in your life time you will receive treasures upon entering heaven....
Another thing to think about is why are the streets gold in heaven?
Love and light.
Blessed Be.
2007-10-21 05:39:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
GREED = the love of money and deception to get it, GREED=covetiousness Like hoarding "stuff" GREED=wanting what's NOT yours even though you have more than enough. These are a few examples,,,GREEDY!!!
2007-10-21 06:14:59 · answer #7 · answered by hamoh10 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think the poor will inherit the earth, but the rich will inherit the respect of the clergy, who'll promise them a place in heaven for a fat donation.
2007-10-21 05:32:36 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
its putting yourself before anyone on a physical aspect. Like having a huge meal & instead of giving half to the bum down the street you sit in front of him and eat it yourself
2007-10-21 11:12:49 · answer #9 · answered by Incredible 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yes ... when u die u should leave all ur money to the Church - so u can go to heavan -- and the Church can use the money to pay off the Alter boys that were molested by the Priests.
2007-10-21 05:39:34 · answer #10 · answered by Luken 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋