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christcnection1
Guest
Our Lord warns us about the dangers of money in regards to our salvation.
How do we know who the rich are?
How do we know who the rich are?
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BobP123
Guest
Our Lord did not say the rich cannot attain salvation, only that it is difficult. But you present a good point. What determines whether you’re rich enough to make it tough to get to heaven? Having two houses? Having a bank account in Switzerland? Living in a capitalistic country? Having wealthier relatives or superior pension? Hmmm. To be honest I don’t know.
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pigtown
Guest
I think this refers more to the worship of money. In other words those who put money and material possessions first in their lives. There is nothing wrong with having money but it is wrong if you use the money in the wrong way.
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marci
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BobP123
Guest
Very tough to do. An accumulation of money (or rather as many IOU’s as possible, we have no real money anymore) represents a certain amount of security for ourselves and our families, which in itself is not immoral. It enables us not to have to depend on others to survive as well as afford us some individual luxuries as well. At the point where we start accumulating more (of anything) at the expense of others through mischievous, deceitful, fraudulent, or other crooked means, then it becomes immoral.
What one should be careful of is judging others on how much they seem to have. Those others may indeed owe more than they actually have but that’s a different can of worms in the morality department. Or is it?
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tvdxer
Guest
That’s an interesting question.
In Christ’s time, society was essentially divided into two major groups, the very rich overlords and the poor peasants. The rich had a great amount of power and a generally opulent lifestyle. The poor had no power and few material possessions.
I’m not sure how his “rich” would apply to the world today. Americans, Canadians, and Western Europeans are generally very wealthy by world standards, but I have a difficult time associating the American or German middle class with the Roman-era rich.
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puzzleannie
Guest
it only matters if we know if we have become too rich, i.e. placing the aquisition and spending of material resources above the worship of God and the needs of others.
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hillariouslov
Guest
**]The rich according to the question refers to those who are rich in their religious aspect of life, i am so suprised that some of our Brethren are giving other dimension of answer to it.
I understand this to be those who are true to their religious duties,like the poor widow she gave out of the abundant of her heart, there friend this is what it means to be christanly rich. We just need to add other good virtue and religious functions to it and we be rich, i mean christainly rich, like our lord Jesus Christ**.
YOU CAN ONLY EDUCATE A MAN BY TEACHING HIM,BUT U CAN’T FORCE HIM TO THINK.
I understand this to be those who are true to their religious duties,like the poor widow she gave out of the abundant of her heart, there friend this is what it means to be christanly rich. We just need to add other good virtue and religious functions to it and we be rich, i mean christainly rich, like our lord Jesus Christ**.
YOU CAN ONLY EDUCATE A MAN BY TEACHING HIM,BUT U CAN’T FORCE HIM TO THINK.
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chewchoo
Guest
yes, similar to the previous poster, there are many ways to refer to or interpret the word rich (or poor)
and just recently i have come to understand the rich (in the negative light) are those who are spiritually over confident. they are good and holy and doing everything that god wants them to do; therefore, they don’t need jesus anymore. jesus came to save sinners as we all know, and if you don’t think you sin anymore or are self-righteous then you don’t need the “doctor”
and just recently i have come to understand the rich (in the negative light) are those who are spiritually over confident. they are good and holy and doing everything that god wants them to do; therefore, they don’t need jesus anymore. jesus came to save sinners as we all know, and if you don’t think you sin anymore or are self-righteous then you don’t need the “doctor”
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BobP123
Guest
Remember also about the parable of the Workers in the Field. The last shall be first and the first last. How much you get (or have) is not as important as honoring your contracts and obligations.
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m134e5
Guest
Mostly, I think this talks about those who have many worldly comforts and do not recognize that God really is all they need. The Church gives us days of fast and abstinance, and seasons of penance to guide us so we do not be the kind of people Jesus warned us about being.
Of course, those who are rich because they do not give their workers an honest wage, or because they are involved in organized crime, or who con the gullible out of their money, and some other types of people as well.
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PaulinVA
Guest
Well, the people in Africa wondering where their next meal will come from probably think all of us are ‘rich’.
I take this at face value - if you have a lot of worldly comforts, a high net worth, it’s harder to be humble and harder to realize that you can’t depend on your own talents. Well, your talents (and parents if the wealth is inherited) have gotten you where you are - it’s hard to remember that it doesn’t’ matter, only your faith in God matters.
I think it’s harder to be prideful if you can barely make ends meet, you know?
I take this at face value - if you have a lot of worldly comforts, a high net worth, it’s harder to be humble and harder to realize that you can’t depend on your own talents. Well, your talents (and parents if the wealth is inherited) have gotten you where you are - it’s hard to remember that it doesn’t’ matter, only your faith in God matters.
I think it’s harder to be prideful if you can barely make ends meet, you know?
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christcnection1
Guest
I agree with most of these posts. I just raised this question because I thought it would be a good topic of discussion.
Relative to most people in the world, Amercians live like royalty compared to those in third-world countries. In fact, we live better than the kings of old.
God is looking into the heart above all things. Still, I believe He is looking for sacrifice and dedication, because our resources have profound influence in bringing the gospel to the world.
It sounds ridiculous, but it’s not our fault we are so wealthy (since we were often born into it). However, it is our choice how we will use these resources to advance the salvation of the world and help those in most need.
If we neglect this, we neglect Christ Himself.
Blessings,
JB
Relative to most people in the world, Amercians live like royalty compared to those in third-world countries. In fact, we live better than the kings of old.
God is looking into the heart above all things. Still, I believe He is looking for sacrifice and dedication, because our resources have profound influence in bringing the gospel to the world.
It sounds ridiculous, but it’s not our fault we are so wealthy (since we were often born into it). However, it is our choice how we will use these resources to advance the salvation of the world and help those in most need.
If we neglect this, we neglect Christ Himself.
Blessings,
JB
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drafdog
Guest
Jesus was not speaking about money when he said this. All he said was that those who are rich would find salvation difficult. There is a lot more to riches than money. There is knowledge, wisdom, health, strength, power, any talent that you can name, etc. If you are blessed above the average in any of these things, you have a responsibility to use them for society at large. Jesus would be astounded to think that we hadn’t figured this out in 2000 years.
Matthew
Matthew
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KathleenElsie
Guest
We need to look at whom we praise for the gifts given to us. ME
or THEE
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When we take all the praise and glory for what God has given us then we put God last. I know many in this category.
When we give God all the praise and glory for what we have then we have placed God first. I know few that truly fall within this category.
or THEE .When we take all the praise and glory for what God has given us then we put God last. I know many in this category.
When we give God all the praise and glory for what we have then we have placed God first. I know few that truly fall within this category.
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cyberwolf001
Guest
I’m reminded of a quote by a raper for Insane Clown Posse (Horrible, horrible band but the quote is still good)
“I was never a Millionare. I merley HAD a million dollars at the time.”
Think about it
“I was never a Millionare. I merley HAD a million dollars at the time.”
Think about it
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BobP123
Guest
You also need to include those who borrow on borrowing with no intentions of ever paying it back, leaving it to their heirs to pay it back or claim bankruptcy. Very prevalent these days.
But buying a $1 million house with $0 down doesn’t make you a millionaire either.
Now your credit matters more than talents. The higher your credit rating, the wealthier you are? Looks like we’ll have to look at credit with God from now on.
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R2D2
Guest
How about:
1 - William Gates III
2 - Warren Buffett
3 - Carlos Slim Helú
4 - Ingvar Kamprad
5 - Lakshmi Mittal
6 - Sheldon Adelson
7 - Bernard Arnault
8 - Amancio Ortega
9 - Li Ka-shing
10-David Thomson
11-Larry Ellison
12-Liliane Bettencourt
13-Prince Alwaleed
14-Mukesh Ambani
15-Karl Albrecht
16-Roman Abramovich
17-Stefan Persson
18-Anil Ambani
19-Paul Allen
20-Theo Albrecht
Oh, and um, I’m not on the list
Mother Theresa once said “You can never be too rich to receive, and you can never be too poor to give.”
So if you’re worried that you’re a little too rich-- and that it will be difficult for you to enter the Kingdom, you’ll have to take that up with Him. :twocents:
1 - William Gates III
2 - Warren Buffett
3 - Carlos Slim Helú
4 - Ingvar Kamprad
5 - Lakshmi Mittal
6 - Sheldon Adelson
7 - Bernard Arnault
8 - Amancio Ortega
9 - Li Ka-shing
10-David Thomson
11-Larry Ellison
12-Liliane Bettencourt
13-Prince Alwaleed
14-Mukesh Ambani
15-Karl Albrecht
16-Roman Abramovich
17-Stefan Persson
18-Anil Ambani
19-Paul Allen
20-Theo Albrecht
Oh, and um, I’m not on the list
Mother Theresa once said “You can never be too rich to receive, and you can never be too poor to give.”
So if you’re worried that you’re a little too rich-- and that it will be difficult for you to enter the Kingdom, you’ll have to take that up with Him. :twocents:
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PaulinVA
Guest
Bob, I mentioned high net worth - you know, a lot of assets, not credit.Now your credit matters more than talents. The higher your credit rating, the wealthier you are? Looks like we’ll have to look at credit with God from now on.
People who truly could retire tomorrow and live on what they have right now. Hard to be humble and hard to trust in God, in my opinion. I mean really approach God with humility.
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BobP123
Guest
I suppose God expects a little more from those who don’t have to worry about themselves so much. And, of course, we expect them to go to Church every day too.
Remember the song from Fiddler on the Roof? If I were a rich man…
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