Jesus's teaching on wealth

[valentino]

when Jesus preached He went to the poor or common man.He never taught that people should seek for a cushy life.He spoke with the rich man who His advice was to sell what you have and give to thte poor and come follow Me.He remarked how difficult it was for a rich man to get to Heaven but He said what was Impossible for man is not impossible for God.We know that there are many wealthy Catholics(millionaraies,and that would have to be considered wealthy even in today’s standards).My question:what do Catholics think of the chances for these people to get into Heaven?Wasn’t Christ really saying that no true follower should be rich and he should seek to do good on earth and try to get into Heaven through the narrow gate?My knowledge of Christ tells me that very few people will get to heaven because that doesn’t appear to be most people’s aim in life.It seems that people first seek to have a happy life here but they try not to do anything which will keep them from Heaven.

 

[antonivs]

No man knows what is going on in someone else’s heart. I wouldn’t dare speculate about who’s going to heaven or hell. I just pray for God’s mercy on everyone.

 

[DPMartin]

when Jesus preached He went to the poor or common man.He never taught that people should seek for a cushy life.He spoke with the rich man who His advice was to sell what you have and give to thte poor and come follow Me.He remarked how difficult it was for a rich man to get to Heaven but He said what was Impossible for man is not impossible for God.We know that there are many wealthy Catholics(millionaraies,and that would have to be considered wealthy even in today’s standards).My question:what do Catholics think of the chances for these people to get into Heaven?Wasn’t Christ really saying that no true follower should be rich and he should seek to do good on earth and try to get into Heaven through the narrow gate?My knowledge of Christ tells me that very few people will get to heaven because that doesn’t appear to be most people’s aim in life.It seems that people first seek to have a happy life here but they try not to do anything which will keep them from Heaven.

Valentino

Jesus Christ is the narrow Gate. No one rich or poor gets to heaven but through Him. It would be ridiculous to think that God judges by what possessions you may or may not have. If you where born into the world a royalty of England, is that your fault? How can you be guilty of riches, or be guilty of poverty, in the site of the Lord God?

The Lord our God sees the hearts of men, and in that does He judge according to what He sees. Note Jesus saw the heart of that particular rich man. But he also saw the heart of King David, King Solomon, Abraham who was well to do, and Jacob was quite prosperous in his day. If riches doesn’t make you righteous nether does poverty. If poverty doesn’t make you unrighteous nether does riches.

Is that which you have unto the Lord, or unto yourself, which is truly in a man’s heart, and that is what the Lord God sees.

 

[Prophesy]

Valentino

Jesus Christ is the narrow Gate. No one rich or poor gets to heaven but through Him. It would be ridiculous to think that God judges by what possessions you may or may not have. If you where born into the world a royalty of England, is that your fault? How can you be guilty of riches, or be guilty of poverty, in the site of the Lord God?

The Lord our God sees the hearts of men, and in that does He judge according to what He sees. Note Jesus saw the heart of that particular rich man. But he also saw the heart of King David, King Solomon, Abraham who was well to do, and Jacob was quite prosperous in his day. If riches doesn’t make you righteous nether does poverty. If poverty doesn’t make you unrighteous nether does riches.

Is that which you have unto the Lord, or unto yourself, which is truly in a man’s heart, and that is what the Lord God sees.

Good response!

 

[valentino]

Valentino

Jesus Christ is the narrow Gate. No one rich or poor gets to heaven but through Him. It would be ridiculous to think that God judges by what possessions you may or may not have. If you where born into the world a royalty of England, is that your fault? How can you be guilty of riches, or be guilty of poverty, in the site of the Lord God?

The Lord our God sees the hearts of men, and in that does He judge according to what He sees. Note Jesus saw the heart of that particular rich man. But he also saw the heart of King David, King Solomon, Abraham who was well to do, and Jacob was quite prosperous in his day. If riches doesn’t make you righteous nether does poverty. If poverty doesn’t make you unrighteous nether does riches.

Is that which you have unto the Lord, or unto yourself, which is truly in a man’s heart, and that is what the Lord God sees.

You can’t speak of King David,ect.because Jesus was given us a new way from the way God wanted the Jews to follow Him.Anyway they were very rich but everyone else for the most part were average for the day or below.God wanted those kings to be wealthy way above all others and again that wasn’t in Jesus’s time.I dont think you are interpreting the passages i was referring to the same way I am.But it clearly does state what I am saying.Now I know that most of the clergy doesn’t say what I say but certainly the desert fathers and many of the saints(St Francis)thought that man should not seek to have money.Jesus’s made definite reference to the rich man I say that possessions do play a part in a person getting to Heaven.When Jesus said"When I come back will there be any faith on the earth?Isn’t thant implying that there will be very few who will be saved at that time?

 

[valentino]

I want to make it clear to all who have posted that i;m not saying that my opinion is any more right than you’res.Like i said I believe the Church takes you pt.of view.I just happen to read and interpret it the way it looks like it says.

 

[nespero]

This has always been a troublesome teaching for me. Not that I’m rich, far from it, but it’s all relative. I’m certainly richer than a homeless person, and richer than the average person in third world countries. So does this apply to me: “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry."? (Luke 6: 24:25)

It may be self-justification, but I think Jesus is differentiating between worldly riches, which are neither good nor bad in themselves, and our use/attachment to them versus our attachment to God. I do think it’s more difficult to detach ourselves from our possessions the richer we are. Even though I’m not rich, I’m pretty attached to things I value such as my car, my home, etc. Sometimes I ask myself, suppose everything was taken away by a tornado tomorrow, how would I feel? (as has happened to so many recently). It’s good to ask ourselves that question, because it sheds light on where our heart is. Although it’s easy to say that we would accept it as God’s will, unless and until it actually happened, how would we know how we would react?

I like 1 Timothy 6: 17-18, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.”

I think this passage puts wealth in the correct light. Richness can certainly lead to arrogance and false hope in material things, and we can all think of examples from the news. On the other hand, back to Luke, “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned." So all we can do is guard ourselves against our own arrogance and fase hope, and treat our possessions as a temporary gift from God to provide for ourselves and help our fellow man. I frequently pray for an increase in generosity, of which I consider myself lacking.

God Bless

 

[hazcompat]

I’ve been taught…“the rich glory in their poverty, and the poor rejoice in their wealth…”

peace

 

[Big_Ro]

I’ve been taught…“the rich glory in their poverty, and the poor rejoice in their wealth…”

peace

I’m sorry, but that confounds me. Could you please explain?

 

[Ben_F]

Valentino

Jesus Christ is the narrow Gate. No one rich or poor gets to heaven but through Him. It would be ridiculous to think that God judges by what possessions you may or may not have. If you where born into the world a royalty of England, is that your fault? How can you be guilty of riches, or be guilty of poverty, in the site of the Lord God?

The Lord our God sees the hearts of men, and in that does He judge according to what He sees. Note Jesus saw the heart of that particular rich man. But he also saw the heart of King David, King Solomon, Abraham who was well to do, and Jacob was quite prosperous in his day. If riches doesn’t make you righteous nether does poverty. If poverty doesn’t make you unrighteous nether does riches.

Is that which you have unto the Lord, or unto yourself, which is truly in a man’s heart, and that is what the Lord God sees.

Very good D.P. Martin. God bless:thumbsup:

 

[JRKH]

I want to make it clear to all who have posted that i;m not saying that my opinion is any more right than you’res.Like i said I believe the Church takes you pt.of view.I just happen to read and interpret it the way it looks like it says.

I have gone through the same thing in trying to best understand this issue of “wealth”. I found that it is far more complex than I first thought.
When Jesus speaks of selling all possessions an following him, the Rich young man went away sad…Why? Because of his attachment to those possessions. If he was not so attached, he would not have gone away sad…Their loss would have meant little. This idea of possession and attachment is just as true today. IF God called you to sell all, would you be able to do it? Would it sadden you?

Another thing - tied to the idea of attachment, is how one views the resources (monetary) that is attributed to one.
A person can be listed as rich for a number of reasons not having to do with either greed or attachment. Suppose for instance that a man owns three companies each of which he started himself, has partnerships in three other companies because he invested money with friends to start their businesses. His personal income from these is substantial and so he is listed as being “worth” 2 million dollars.
Yet this same person, far from being greedy, works because he Loves it - it is his gift - he takes very good care of his employees, is very generous to charities. Carefully invests his liquid assets so that they provide the greatest number of Jobs for the greatest number of people, and himself lives modestly but comfortably. He is a good spouse and parent, who teaches his children the value of faith, honest work and good stewardship.
In short. This person’s focus is not on money or possessions for himself, but on those things that can be accomplished through the proper use of money and hard, and smart, work.

Now take another person in a similar situation, owning several businesses etc…Who’s focus is only on “what can I get out of it”. He does whatever he can to maximize profits regardless of the effect on employees or the community. He invests in those things with the highest returns, regardless of any moral or social implications. He is not above dirty dealing or blurring (even crossing) the line of legality - just to increase the “bottom line”. He chooses to live ostentatiously, flaunting his power and position and teaches his children these same lessons of grab all you can for yourself no matter who else gets hurt.

Both these people are “Wealthy” on paper…But who is richer in the sight of God…

Peace
James

 

[hazcompat]

I’m sorry, but that confounds me. Could you please explain?

James 1:9-12

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business

peace

 

[adrift]

Nicodemus was wealthy. He used that wealth to bury Jesus. Jesus did not tell him to get rid of his wealth nor did He condemn Nicodemus for his wealth. You string a lot of different scripture together to form an idea that I don’t believe Jesus was intending. It is not the wealth that is wrong but the use of the wealth that is. The Love of Money is the root of all evil not money itself.

 

[Big_Ro]

James 1:9-12

The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business

peace

Cool. Thanks.

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Funny, Scripture says that Jesus spoke to all people, rich and poor. Um, Zaccheus, anybody? Nicodemus? Joseph of Arimathea? The scribes and Pharisees and Saduccees who invited Him for dinners? Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were also not ‘poor’. Even the apostles were not necessarily poor by their standards. Matthew, as a former tax collector, probably did quite well. Fishermen who owned enough to have a boat were not paupers.

Jesus spoke of our having our treasure where our heart is, and of building up treasure in heaven which wouldn’t decay. He didn’t say that in doing so we must perforce do nothing BUT.

Unfortunately a lot of people get the (mistaken) idea that we can only do one thing. Therefore, they “reason”, IF it is the case that Jesus is telling us that earthly wealth is not so important as heavenly wealth, then earthly wealth must be all wrong and nobody should try to have anything whatsoever.

Skewed logic. Black-and-white misunderstanding. Cherry picking. All sadly wrong.

Earthly wealth is not ‘all wrong’. Um, mind telling us how people can ‘help the poor’ if they have nothing themselves?

But attachment to earthly wealth beyond attachment to God IS wrong.

You could be literally dressed in rags and living in a cardboard box (poor in earthly goods) and yet be so attached to those rags and that box, poor as they are, that you would disdain Christ Himself for them. In spite of being ‘the poor’ if you are so attached to your ‘goods’, or think you yourself, your mind, your body, are ‘greater’ than God’s, you are putting your ‘earthly wealth’ ahead of God.

Conversely, you could have a nice house with all the amenities, money to ‘burn’, and if your whole focus is not on what you ‘have’ but on trying to use it to help as many people as possible to learn about Christ, despite being that ‘horror’, a ‘rich person’, you aren’t attached to your wealth as wealth but are instead working on your heavenly treasure.

 

[fhansen]

when Jesus preached He went to the poor or common man.He never taught that people should seek for a cushy life.He spoke with the rich man who His advice was to sell what you have and give to thte poor and come follow Me.He remarked how difficult it was for a rich man to get to Heaven but He said what was Impossible for man is not impossible for God.We know that there are many wealthy Catholics(millionaraies,and that would have to be considered wealthy even in today’s standards).My question:what do Catholics think of the chances for these people to get into Heaven?Wasn’t Christ really saying that no true follower should be rich and he should seek to do good on earth and try to get into Heaven through the narrow gate?My knowledge of Christ tells me that very few people will get to heaven because that doesn’t appear to be most people’s aim in life.It seems that people first seek to have a happy life here but they try not to do anything which will keep them from Heaven.

Jesus said that with man, nothing is possible, but with God, all things are possible. The key to salvation, from our side, is humility before God. Rich people tend to see themselves as self-sufficient, not needing anyone else including God. IOW wealth breeds pride and this is why Jesus refers to wealth as deceitful. But we’re probably all too proud in the relative sense and yet God can break through this problem and turn our stony hearts to hearts of flesh, regardless of our status. It could take a tragedy or an insight, or someone who’s just plain tired of looking for satisfaction in all the wrong places and not finding it there but the main idea, in the end, is to have our hearts and minds turned towards Him before all else. He’s after our *wills *being in alignment with His. Then our justice is complete.

 

[DPMartin]

You can’t speak of King David,ect.because Jesus was given us a new way from the way God wanted the Jews to follow Him.Anyway they were very rich but everyone else for the most part were average for the day or below.God wanted those kings to be wealthy way above all others and again that wasn’t in Jesus’s time.I dont think you are interpreting the passages i was referring to the same way I am.But it clearly does state what I am saying.Now I know that most of the clergy doesn’t say what I say but certainly the desert fathers and many of the saints(St Francis)thought that man should not seek to have money.Jesus’s made definite reference to the rich man I say that possessions do play a part in a person getting to Heaven.When Jesus said"When I come back will there be any faith on the earth?Isn’t thant implying that there will be very few who will be saved at that time?

valentino
thanks for the reply

Jesus has always been the Way since the beginning.

Jesus Christ is the Lord come into the flesh my friend, and Heaven and earth are His. Always was always will be. Not even mentioning eternal Life, and the Seat at the Right Hand of the Father. What is richer then that? God the Father has entrusted His Creation into His Hand.

If a man is entrusted with charge of what God has created, unto who should it be? Some one has to be in charge of something. Whether is be goods and services as in business dealings or property or means (money) or political power, or execution of law and order. Should men be condemned if they are entrusted with these things and the like? If this were not so you would have to scratch out a meager existence and hope no one stronger then you would take what little you had. It seems, that what you didn’t get was, the rich man you referred to, valued his possessions more then following Jesus. Which Jesus could see in the rich man’s heart. Jesus didn’t judge the man’s riches, Jesus judged the man’s values in his heart. No matter what the man’s possessions might be.

And honestly, if the rich man would have agreed whole heartedly, would the Lord Jesus actually require the man to do so?

Bottom line is, if you value your life more then the Life God has given you in Jesus Christ then you won’t receive the Life of Christ, that He has given, but nothing is impossible with God.

 

[antonivs]

Nicodemus was wealthy. He used that wealth to bury Jesus. Jesus did not tell him to get rid of his wealth nor did He condemn Nicodemus for his wealth. You string a lot of different scripture together to form an idea that I don’t believe Jesus was intending. It is not the wealth that is wrong but the use of the wealth that is. The Love of Money is the root of all evil not money itself.

Excellent point. Money is neutral in and of itself. It can be used for good for for evil. But it is love of money, i.e. greed, that causes some to do anything to obtain it.