Christians And Wealth
This is a very very very controversial issue in the "Christiandom" today. Some churches believe Christians should be poor, or that Christians should not have wealth, because blessed are the poor, (lol) Matthew 5:3. And at the same time, some other churches believe that God is evident in your life through what you have, and that our God is not poor, so also, His children shouldn't be poor.
While I can't tell who is right or wrong, I'd briefly share with us some Biblical truths concerning wealth in the next few paragraphs. NB: wealth here means a large amount of money and valuable possessions; the state of being rich; a large amount. (Source: Oxford English Dictionary).
1. Matthew 6:33. The bible says seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you. As children of God, the first thing that should be our major is seeking our Father's Kingdom and living righteously. I tell you, if that is not in place, seeking wealth and affluence would only make you one of those that God is talking to when He says "The rich fool I will destroy" Luke 12:20. But when you seek first His Kingdom, you can be rest assured that God would bless you with every other thing you need.
2. Yes, God is not poor, you can confirm through the life of Abraham, this is a man that God gave wealth to (Genesis 12:2-3). So categorically speaking, God is the giver of wealth, Proverbs 10:22. But actually, wealth is not a factor to measure if the presence of God is with a man. No, don't be among those who mock Pastors and men of God because of their physical state of 'poverty'. The disciple weren't wealthy people, were they? But they were the ones who had direct access to Jesus Christ.
3. This wealth is just for this earth alone. Once death comes, that's the end. The Bible says, "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away" Matthew 24:35. Actually, what matters the most is the Kingdom of God. As rich as King Solomon was, his conclusion was still that wealth and affluence are nothing but vanity, Ecclesiastes 5:20.
"Store up your treasures in Heaven where thieves or moth cannot destroy" Matthew 6:20. Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had and give to the poor, not because of anything, but to prove to Him that money is not a criteria to knowing God, Luke 18:22. That choosing to follow Christ is a life that is purely based on faith, that is, you are not even sure of where you next meal would come from. Where you rely totally on God for everything.
4. Deuteronomy 15:11 NLT "There will always be some in the land who are poor". That is what God Himself has said, but has he put there the name of anybody? No, but for as many as won't utilize the talent He has given them, or have gone ahead to bury them, even what little they have would be taken from them, and added to those who are making use of theirs, Matthew 25:28-30.
In conclusion, Lazarus didn't make heaven because he was poor, and neither did the rich man made hell because he was rich, Luke 16:19-31. One sought first the Kingdom of God and lived righteously, the other didn't. Dear friends, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and live righteously and He will give you all that you need, (Matthew 6:33).
"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." Luke 12:21 NLT. Shalom.
While I can't tell who is right or wrong, I'd briefly share with us some Biblical truths concerning wealth in the next few paragraphs. NB: wealth here means a large amount of money and valuable possessions; the state of being rich; a large amount. (Source: Oxford English Dictionary).
1. Matthew 6:33. The bible says seek ye first the Kingdom of God and its righteousness, and all other things shall be added unto you. As children of God, the first thing that should be our major is seeking our Father's Kingdom and living righteously. I tell you, if that is not in place, seeking wealth and affluence would only make you one of those that God is talking to when He says "The rich fool I will destroy" Luke 12:20. But when you seek first His Kingdom, you can be rest assured that God would bless you with every other thing you need.
2. Yes, God is not poor, you can confirm through the life of Abraham, this is a man that God gave wealth to (Genesis 12:2-3). So categorically speaking, God is the giver of wealth, Proverbs 10:22. But actually, wealth is not a factor to measure if the presence of God is with a man. No, don't be among those who mock Pastors and men of God because of their physical state of 'poverty'. The disciple weren't wealthy people, were they? But they were the ones who had direct access to Jesus Christ.
3. This wealth is just for this earth alone. Once death comes, that's the end. The Bible says, "heaven and earth will pass away, but my words shall not pass away" Matthew 24:35. Actually, what matters the most is the Kingdom of God. As rich as King Solomon was, his conclusion was still that wealth and affluence are nothing but vanity, Ecclesiastes 5:20.
"Store up your treasures in Heaven where thieves or moth cannot destroy" Matthew 6:20. Jesus told the rich man to sell all he had and give to the poor, not because of anything, but to prove to Him that money is not a criteria to knowing God, Luke 18:22. That choosing to follow Christ is a life that is purely based on faith, that is, you are not even sure of where you next meal would come from. Where you rely totally on God for everything.
4. Deuteronomy 15:11 NLT "There will always be some in the land who are poor". That is what God Himself has said, but has he put there the name of anybody? No, but for as many as won't utilize the talent He has given them, or have gone ahead to bury them, even what little they have would be taken from them, and added to those who are making use of theirs, Matthew 25:28-30.
In conclusion, Lazarus didn't make heaven because he was poor, and neither did the rich man made hell because he was rich, Luke 16:19-31. One sought first the Kingdom of God and lived righteously, the other didn't. Dear friends, seek ye first the Kingdom of God and live righteously and He will give you all that you need, (Matthew 6:33).
"Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." Luke 12:21 NLT. Shalom.
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