should we avoid being rich and wealthy?

[Kathi]

I would buy two homes, one for my husband and I and another to house those who have no place to live until they got back on their feet.

That would be nice but I would only want enough for a humble home for us.

 

[for_his_glory]

Me too, but with a small yard and lots of woods to go four wheeling in. We rent a house with a big yard and lots of yard work that is getting to hard for me to do even though I love it. Hubby doesn't know a weed from a flower, LOL.

 

[Kathi]

Me too, but with a small yard and lots of woods to go four wheeling in. We rent a house with a big yard and lots of yard work that is getting to hard for me to do even though I love it. Hubby doesn't know a weed from a flower, LOL.

That sounds like my place now.Lot of acreage and room but it is a rental.Yes,the yard is big.I would rather not have that.I am not a gardener.

 

[Gary]

What was wrong with the life? I would say he was a just man...judging him by the law he kept. It is nit clear why he would lose all his possession. It was his money. maybe there was something Christ didn't tell us...or we have not fully understood the verses.

The point Jesus was trying to make is, if you want to be perfect you must be willing to part with everything you have for the sake of the Kingdom.

He said it was "hard" for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, not impossible. What He meant by "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle" is that without God all of our efforts are futile. A camel could sooner pass through the eye of a needle than for any one of us to become worthy all on our own.

Jesus wasn't saying He was against having wealth, He was saying it could be a hindrance to our walk.
.

 

[Kathi]

The point Jesus was trying to make is, if you want to be perfect you must be willing to part with everything you have for the sake of the Kingdom.

He said it was "hard" for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, not impossible. What He meant by "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle" is that without God all of our efforts are futile. A camel could sooner pass through the eye of a needle than for any one of us to become worthy all on our own.

Jesus wasn't saying He was against having wealth, He was saying it could be a hindrance to our walk.
.

Yes.

 

[KevinK]

Luke 16:19-31
The Rich Man and Lazarus
19 “There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. 20 But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, 21 desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell[a] from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

24 “Then he cried and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented. 26 And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.’

27 “Then he said, ‘I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father’s house, 28 for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham said to him, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.’ 30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 But he said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.’”
Can you actually say that you do not know how the rich man treated Lazarus by reading this?

Well, yes. There is nothing explicit in the scripture concerning how the rich man treated Lazarus. Any implication that he was abusive, or even neglectful, is assumption. Furthermore, if this was a lesson on how to treat your fellow man, why didn't Abraham address it? He spoke only of their economic disparity.

As far as the distinction between impossibility and mere difficulty, yes that's true. But that's the critical point Jesus was making. He didn't come right out and say being wealthy will keep you from entering heaven, because that's not true. It's only very difficult, but that's far from trivial. If you were given lead shoes and told to run a marathon, it would not be technically impossible to complete the race (let alone win), only very, very difficult. But would you really want to try and run a race under such conditions?

 

[Kathi]

Well, yes. There is nothing explicit in the scripture concerning how the rich man treated Lazarus. Any implication that he was abusive, or even neglectful, is assumption. Furthermore, if this was a lesson on how to treat your fellow man, why didn't Abraham address it? He spoke only of their economic disparity.

As far as the distinction between impossibility and mere difficulty, yes that's true. But that's the critical point Jesus was making. He didn't come right out and say being wealthy will keep you from entering heaven, because that's not true. It's only very difficult, but that's far from trivial. If you were given lead shoes and told to run a marathon, it would not be technically impossible to complete the race (let alone win), only very, very difficult. But would you really want to try and run a race under those conditions?

Well,he gave him crumbs from his table while he was eating a feast.That is not abusive?

 

[agua.]

The point Jesus was trying to make is, if you want to be perfect you must be willing to part with everything you have for the sake of the Kingdom.

He said it was "hard" for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, not impossible. What He meant by "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle" is that without God all of our efforts are futile. A camel could sooner pass through the eye of a needle than for any one of us to become worthy all on our own.

Jesus wasn't saying He was against having wealth, He was saying it could be a hindrance to our walk.
.

Gaz how do you line this up with how prosperity teachers suggesting Jesus wants us all to be rich ?

 

[Kathi]

Gaz how do you line this up with how prosperity teachers suggesting Jesus wants us all to be rich ?

Prosperity teachers will tell you anything to get an extra buck or preferably a couple hundred extra bucks.And I know I am not Gary.Sorry if I intruded.

 

[KevinK]

Well,he gave him crumbs from his table while he was eating a feast.That is not abusive?

It doesn't say that, either. It says Lazarus was laid at the rich man's gate desiring to be fed crumbs which fell from his table. For all we know the rich man gave him food, wine, and the keys to his finest camel. But even if he was abusive, that's not what the story is about. Sorry, Kathi, but this time you're just not reading the scripture. :neutral

 

[Kathi]

]

It doesn't say that, either. It says Lazarus was laid at the rich man's gate desiring to be fed crumbs which fell from his table. For all we know the rich man gave him food, wine, and the keys to his finest camel. But even if he was abusive, that's not what the story is about. Sorry, Kathi, but this time you're just not reading the scripture. :neutral

For all we know?Does Scripture say that?Don't you think it is kind of dangerous to speculate?So what is the story about to you?

 

[KevinK]

For all we know?Does Scripture say that?Don't you think it is kind of dangerous to speculate?So what is the story about to you?

I think you're just slinging mud now, Kath. Why don't we just both get some rest for now. I'll discuss what Matthew 19 means to me another time.

Also, is there some kind of problem with the spacebar on your keyboard?

 

[Kathi]

I think you're just slinging mud now, Kath. Why don't we just both get some rest for now. I'll discuss what Matthew 19 means to me another time.

Also, is there some kind of problem with the spacebar on your keyboard?

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

[Angel]

Two reasons i want wealth
1.that I can live in a small house in the east on a white sanded beach close to the dark ocean.
2. That I may be a philanthropist, especially for those in Africa

 

[agua.]

Two reasons i want wealth
1.that I can live in a small house in the east on a white sanded beach close to the dark ocean.
2. That I may be a philanthropist, especially for those in Africa

I'm guessing you like the Old Spice add.

 

[KevinK]

Perhaps if I can come up with my own parable...

Suppose I strapped on you a 50-lb weight belt, the kind that scuba divers use. But instead of lead, the weights are made of solid gold. Then I threw you overboard from a ship, with your only chance of survival swimming to shore a mile away. How many people would release the belt, allowing it to drop to the bottom of the ocean never to be seen again, in order to give themself the best chance of survival? And how many people would refuse to release the belt, even as they finally sank into the ocean depths, preferring to drown rather than give up all that money?

 

[JLB]

Well,he gave him crumbs from his table while he was eating a feast.That is not abusive?

Actually it says the beggar desired to fed with the crumbs...

This seems to say, he didn't even expect to receive the crumbs, but desired to at least be fed with them.

I think I agree with your take on this, I would have to say the rich man, in his abundance, neglected Lazarus in his hardship, right outside the rich mans gate.

This scripture comes to mind -

41 Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;
Matthew 25:41-42

 

[Christ_empowered]

I think money is fine as long as the wealthy person can keep his mind on Christ...

 

[His_nee (Jeff)]

I think money is fine as long as the wealthy person can keep his mind on Christ...

....... keep his mind on Christ......

what did Jesus say to all His disciples that they had to do to be His disciples ? (several times, many time, many ways making the same point)

and as to 'love of money' not just being the root of all (ALL) evil, (including the root cause beginning and continuation of most disease today, as well as oppression, war, and poverty) ....
as if 'love of money' is not sin..... what did Jesus say ?

.....called to work, be back later Yhwh Willing....

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I'm already rich.
I have a roof over my head, transportation, a shirt on my back, and food on the table.
And a God that loves me.