My feeling is that the story has nothing to do with wealth, but rather with what someone ***ociates to that wealth. See, Jesus knew that the young man cared more about his personal wealth and status than he did about getting into heaven. He cared more about the here and now.

If you look at other figures in the Bible, you'll find there were many riches blessed on them...but you'll also find that they honored their relationship with God far more than the blessings they were given on Earth. Further more, they praised God by the moment for the blessings that were bestowed on them.

So, can Christians be wealthy? I believe that the answer is yes. I believe that God wants his children to have blessings in life, but I also believe that God wants to make sure his children realize where those blessings come from and that they place the thanks not on themselves, but on the one that provided them. Also, that they not define themselves by that wealth, but rather by the relationship they have with the Lord.

What's your thought on this?

-Krylar

When the Bible talks about ***hing, God says he will return 10(100?) times what you offer to him. God wouldn't give us something that we shouldn't have.

But true, like anything in life, money can become an obsession for people.

Consider these commands:
Matthew 28:19, Jesus tells us, "Go and make disciples of all nations"

Acts 1:18, Jesus tells the disciples that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them and they will be His witnesses "in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth"

How can we go if we have no finances to do it? How can a church send a family to Africa or Norway and support them in the mission field if there are no finances behind it? Who knows that if people in a church aren't successful (and obedient to God in ***hes and offerings), that churches don't have the money to do that?

Consider also:
Solomon was the richest and wisest man who ever lived. (2 Chron 1:7-12)
God told Solomon, "ask for whatever you want me to give you" (v7) and in response to this, Solomon didn't seek riches -- he sought wisdom and knowledge to rule God's people (v10) and God told him because he didn't seek riches, he would receive the wisdom he asked for, and "I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have." (v12)

Consider also:
Judas, who betrayed Jesus -- he's the only disciple who was named in a specific role or ***le -- what was it? Treasurer! Who knows that you don't need a treasurer if you don't have any money? And not only that, but there was apparently enough there for him to help himself to the money -- "...He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put in it" (John 12:6)

Many people quote Jesus' response to the rich young ruler, as well as misquoting that "money is the root of all evil" -- that's a HORRIBLE misquote -- it says, "the LOVE of money is the root of all evil" and say that Christians should be downcast and poor -- I don't think that's the case.

HOWEVER!

Do not wear yourself out to get rich;
have the wisdom to show restraint.
-Proverbs 23:4

Whoever trusts in his riches will fall,
but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf.
-Proverbs 11:28

A faithful man will be richly blessed,
but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.
-Proverbs 28:20

A stingy man is eager to get rich
and is unaware that poverty awaits him.
Prov. 28:22

"I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven"
Matt. 19:23

"Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful"
-Mark 4:18-19 (another translation says the 'pursuit of wealth')

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where theives break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
-Luke 6:19-21

So what does all this mean?

I think it means that, as long as we seek first the Kingdom of God and His righetousness, all these things will be added to us. If our eyes are fixed on the Kingdom, God will prosper us, but it will be first and foremost to advance His kingdom. I think if we ***he and give offerings, thereby not robbing God (See Malachi 3) then, yes, we'll prosper. We just have to be careful that we know where our treasure is, who gives us the power to create wealth (Deut. 8:17-18) and fix our eyes not on what is seen, and temporary, but that which is unseen, and eternal, then we'll be successful and it won't be a problem.

-Ascent
http://home.mem.net/~ascent/
http://www.unseenthings.com/ (coming soon)

-Krylar

Along these line: I believe God is leading me to a new job. All the jobs he's given me have all followed a pattern, and this one is along the same pattern. At my new job, I'll be making half again what I'm making now.

BTW: The pattern for my jobs is: Working at current job 1.5 to 2 years. Without trying, a new job presents itself. New job has more interaction with people, more computer related, better pay. I don't feel worried or stressed at all about the new job.

Oh, and a little FYI: I don't think I'll get as much time on the internet on this new job as I do now. I'll try to get in the habbit of going online at least one day per weekend to visit the message boards.

But let's not forger that this theory was made up by people (not god), mostly to make other people behave good and have a point in their life- getting to heaven.

I personaly don't believe in heaven or hell, I think that this life is all we got, so we shouldn't spend it, doing charaty and hoping to get to heaven. So I prefer to be a wealthy snob on this earth, then a poor welshear, with a dream of paradise.

I'm not trying to insult anyone, it's just my oppinion. But we also shouldn't forget how many people were hurt by religy, in those (for example) middle ages, where people were scared by scenes from hell all the time... and the witch hunts... they were also started in the name of god...

Hiya Snob (great name! ),

I understand where you're coming from...totally. I no longer carry the opinion you have, but it took me a LONG time of study and honest searching before I changed my thoughts. Also, please don't feel that you're insulting anyone (well, at least not me). One of the purposes of this website is to have dialogs such as this, and I truly appreciate your honesty.

Before I became a Christian I would fight tooth and nail to prove Christianity wrong. I would site various things such as the Crusades and the Inquisition, not to mention things like helpless mothers holding their starving children in a 3rd world countries. How could a loving God allow such an atrocity? These issues, and many others, bring out challenging questions that many Christians simply skirt around and say "well...ya just gotta have faith". For me, that just didn't cut it. Don't get me wrong, I believe that faith is extrememly important. But it's not something that just poped into my head one day. It's something that grew over time.

So, how do I answer this? It comes down to freedom of choice. We choose to do things our way and not His. Third World leaders choose not to accept the aid of larger countries (which is one reason why children die of starvation). We choose to do awful things to each other, and to act as if it's God's will.

Couldn't He just get in the way and stop us from doing the wrong thing? Sure He could. But if He did, where would our freedom to choose Him or not be? We would be robots at that point. Imagine having a relationship with someone who never disagrees with you, never questions you, never makes mistakes...that's not a relationship, that's a robot. And I don't believe God had robots in mind when He created us.

To me it's clear that if God gave His only Son to die for us (the very beings that do these terrible things), He's got to be far more comp***ionate than we give Him credit for. So, it's my opinion that it's not God that doing these things, it's us...and He allows it because He loves us. I know that's tough to swallow, but think about it and take a little time to think about the logic behind that and open mindedly study various Biblical pieces.

Please don't sit down and grab one or two sentences as support for your arguments (as I was so fond of doing). Rather, read those two sentences in the context of the entire chapter, you'll be amazed at the difference in their meaning. Also, try to honestly find the answers for yourself. Fellowship and discussions are great, and can be VERY helpful, but the ultimate decision maker will be you.

I'm not trying to persuade you to think like I do, but I am trying to persuade you to study the Bible (and other books too) and to really think about this issue. Take the analytical approach to really hone in on things so you can make a very logical decision. Nobody *convinced* me of anything (though many tried), it took study and research for me to determine that Christ is the only way to salvation. And I can honestly say that I firmly believe that to be truth.

Thanks again!

-Krylar

1. Abraham had ALOT of stuff. God gave him all kinds of things, and Abraham freely gave it to those in need.

2. I think that in these last days God needs Christian who can make alot of money, so that they can support the gospel, in all it enterprises. I personally believe that this is part of what has called me to do. The other part is that God told me through prophesy that i am to be an inventor. Still waiting for God to give me ideas that i can sell, but when he does, i'll be ready.

Veritech