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Desire to be a vessel of honor unto the Lord Jesus Christ?
Join For His Glory for a discussion on how
https://christianforums.net/threads/a-vessel-of-honor.110278/
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Taking the time to pray? Christ is the answer in times of need
https://christianforums.net/threads/psalm-70-1-save-me-o-god-lord-help-me-now.108509/
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Depending upon the Holy Spirit for all you do?
Read through the following study by Tenchi for more on this topic
https://christianforums.net/threads/without-the-holy-spirit-we-can-do-nothing.109419/
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How are famous preachers sometimes effected by sin?
Join Sola Scriptura for a discussion on the subject
https://christianforums.net/threads/anointed-preaching-teaching.109331/#post-1912042
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Christianity and Luxury
- Thread starter Classik
- Start date
Paul1965
Member
Jesus told a wealthy young man that if he wanted to follow Jesus and enter heaven "to sell all that you have and give the money to the poor..."
When the young bloke went away a bit upset, Jesus went on to say that it is hard for the wealthy to enter heaven.
Gathering many (unnecessary) possessions could also be seen as a form of idolatry
We must be humble. How can we be humble owning 4 cars, 5 phones and presumably a large house with a 4 car garage? I think more than two cars is greed, allowing for a dedicated work vehicle such as a pickup or van (not a Benz to take to the office and a Veyeron for shopping)
As an example, Its like the TV preachers who live in massive, I mean MASSIVE mansions telling us "the Lord has blessed me, so it's okay for me to have so much when members of my empire..oops ..Imean parish are losing their houses" and then ask the poor who watch their show to "please help maah min-uh-stree! We don't have enough to go around" With every donation of $100 dollars or more we'll send you a limited edition phial with a grain of biblical sand, guaranteed to be from the time of our Lord"
liars, hypocrites, false prophets, servants of satan, should be jailed for fraud.
Sorry for the rant , makes my blood boil...green tea time
When the young bloke went away a bit upset, Jesus went on to say that it is hard for the wealthy to enter heaven.
Gathering many (unnecessary) possessions could also be seen as a form of idolatry
We must be humble. How can we be humble owning 4 cars, 5 phones and presumably a large house with a 4 car garage? I think more than two cars is greed, allowing for a dedicated work vehicle such as a pickup or van (not a Benz to take to the office and a Veyeron for shopping)
As an example, Its like the TV preachers who live in massive, I mean MASSIVE mansions telling us "the Lord has blessed me, so it's okay for me to have so much when members of my empire..oops ..Imean parish are losing their houses" and then ask the poor who watch their show to "please help maah min-uh-stree! We don't have enough to go around" With every donation of $100 dollars or more we'll send you a limited edition phial with a grain of biblical sand, guaranteed to be from the time of our Lord"
liars, hypocrites, false prophets, servants of satan, should be jailed for fraud.
Sorry for the rant , makes my blood boil...green tea time
We can have anything we want.
But we have to ask ourselves:
Does the flesh control me or does the spirit control me?
But we have to ask ourselves:
Does the flesh control me or does the spirit control me?
Gary
Member
Matthew 19
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
It would appear that it is possible to live in luxury and still make it into the Kingdom. But the Word points out that it is extremely difficult. I'm assuming that you would have to be perfect in every way. Not one spot or blemish.
As Peter points out:
1 Peter 4
18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
"Scarcely" means just barely. If the common believer just barely makes it by the skin of their teeth, where does that leave the rich man? The eye of a needle is pretty small. But as is stated, it's not impossible. That being said, if it were me, I would not want to put Him to the test. You only get one go around.
Now I'm not going to tell you to get rid of your stuff, because it's not my place. I have collections of my own. Granted, they're not as spendy as a garage full of cars or a jet on the runway, but they are things I can live without.
The bible tells us that the gate is narrow and there are few who find it. We need to keep that in mind as we go about our daily activities. Paul tells us in his letter to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
That's something to keep in mind as we're contemplating adding to our pile.
.
Christ_empowered
Member
I read some CS Lewis on the subject. Something about how Christians of means should be living a bit less luxuriously than others of their station. More giving to charity, more focus on simplicity, etc. I dunno. I have wealthy, Born Again relatives and they're hardcore for Christ--missions trips, giving, all that. I find it hard to believe that wealth and comfort *absolutely* prevent salvation, but I can see how/why it'd be something of an issue for a lot of people.
Mike S
Member
I don't think having wealth, by itself, precludes a man living a righteous, Christian life. It depends on what he does with that wealth and whether or not it has become the most important thing in his life, crowding Christ out. A man is certainly lost if money becomes that other god he worships.
As far as C.S. Lewis's comment about living simply, I agree. First, Christ calls us to a life of humility, service and sacrifice no matter how much wealth we have. The humility part can be hard.
I married into a Quaker family 40 years ago, and right from the start admired their commitment to living simply. Simple clothing, simple cars, simple housing, simple ways of entertaining, etc. Some have great wealth but are always conscious of how they interact with even the most humble of people they meet, always conscious of using their wealth to help others.
Sandy Zalecki
Member
It depends on what means more to you, the Lord or the wealth. You can have all the money in the world if you don't make the money your God. However, if God is first in your heart you are going to want to give your money to something He is calling you to give it to. "You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God" (2. Cor. 9:11) NIV The Lord gives us money so we can be generous to others.
Deborah13
Member
Only if they are greedy and their heart is not in the right place. God says He sends, It rains on the just and the unjust alike.
If the unjust become just and their rain continues to fall who am I to judge them.
However, I also agree that there are those who are thieves and lie in order to steal. Are the ones giving not somehow responsible for giving to this kind? Are they giving in order to receive or simply giving to what they see as a Godly ministry?
YosefHayim
Member
Is the following questions the right question to ask?
If Jesus Christ came to walk the earth, would you be willing to leave absolutely everything behind (save maybe the one pair of clothing you are wearing) to follow him?
How connected are you to your items?
What about the items you possess; can they be utilized for the service of God? I've been collecting books to read. They are much. Perhaps God will bless me with knowledge to use for his will.
So is it possible, say you have four cars. Could you use them to serve God?
If Jesus Christ came to walk the earth, would you be willing to leave absolutely everything behind (save maybe the one pair of clothing you are wearing) to follow him?
How connected are you to your items?
What about the items you possess; can they be utilized for the service of God? I've been collecting books to read. They are much. Perhaps God will bless me with knowledge to use for his will.
So is it possible, say you have four cars. Could you use them to serve God?
- Church/ministry transportation?
- Evangelism
- Transportation service for those that have none
- Transporting materials such as bibles, tracts, church info, etc.
- Charity services
- ....or sell for all of the above and more?
Yes Sandy I agree.It is not a sin to be rich but the love of money and greed is a sin.
Making it by the skin of your teeth means no rewards in heaven.I believe the Bible does say that some are going to barely make it into heaven.Although I am a believer in OSAS.Matthew 19
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”
26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
It would appear that it is possible to live in luxury and still make it into the Kingdom. But the Word points out that it is extremely difficult. I'm assuming that you would have to be perfect in every way. Not one spot or blemish.
As Peter points out:
1 Peter 4
18 Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”
"Scarcely" means just barely. If the common believer just barely makes it by the skin of their teeth, where does that leave the rich man? The eye of a needle is pretty small. But as is stated, it's not impossible. That being said, if it were me, I would not want to put Him to the test. You only get one go around.
Now I'm not going to tell you to get rid of your stuff, because it's not my place. I have collections of my own. Granted, they're not as spendy as a garage full of cars or a jet on the runway, but they are things I can live without.
The bible tells us that the gate is narrow and there are few who find it. We need to keep that in mind as we go about our daily activities. Paul tells us in his letter to Timothy:
1 Timothy 6
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
That's something to keep in mind as we're contemplating adding to our pile.
.
Gary
Member
Yes, I know you are. It's a false doctrine, but that's between you and God.
The bible states that the "righteous" are scarcely saved.
1 Peter 4
18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Is there something that exceeds righteousness?
scarce·ly [skairs-lee]
adverb
1.barely; hardly; not quite: The light is so dim we can scarcely see.
2.definitely not: This is scarcely the time to raise such questions.
3.probably not: You could scarcely have chosen better.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scarcely
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Gary
Member
Gary, what are you saying?
That you can be saved and than you can lose it?
Do you really think there is something you can do to get saved?
Did not Jesus do it all?
Gary, do you think you can lose your salvation?
Are you that unsure of what God gives you?
Sandy Zalecki
Member
Yes, we can cause were really messed up without Jesus in our hearts.
Gary
Member
Start a thread where debating is allowed and we'll talk. This thread isn't the place for it..
You can even start it off with the questions you just asked.
.
I honestly think this can be a real danger for us at times.
I also agree with the idea that being rich is not a sin. It's when we put the wealth ahead of our other responsibilities that it becomes a problem. God must always come first. Then I believe our spouses come second, then family, then our church or ministry. I don't believe wealth should be ahead of these.
If one has wealth, it is good to take time to really think about what that wealth does or what role it plays. If it has too much importance then there may be a risk.