Richness vs. Poverty - Catholic brain twister

[dianeeh]

What’s better? To seek a vocation that will make you rich so you can give money to the church or to seek a vocation such as holy orders or social work where you make no money but you are giving up everything you have to serve the community? Or is it important to have a mix of both types in any parish?

 

[water]

The better one is the one that God calls you and you respond to and follow the call faithfully.

 

[Malcolm_McLean]

What’s better? To seek a vocation that will make you rich so you can give money to the church or to seek a vocation such as holy orders or social work where you make no money but you are giving up everything you have to serve the community? Or is it important to have a mix of both types in any parish?

The second is better. However the first can be good. The priest who renounces wealth and family to serve God totally is better than something good, not better than something bad. You can spend most of your time and energy amassing wealth, and as long as you are chaste within marriage and give a reasonable amount to those less fortunate, you are leading a good life.

 

[blldg13]

From Sacred Scripture (Matt 19:23-24):

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God."

In general, it is better to give our time and life to Christ and the Church than trying to amass wealth, so we can have money to give to the Church. None of our salaries, whether measly or large truly belongs to us, but to God (and His Church), so with faithful workers, the Church will obtain the money needed. The folks who serve more will typically give more as they will know what is required.

Hope this helps!!