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Thank you for sharing the video Jim @Wired 4 Fishen
I do not know of any churches like that here.
Blessings
The preachers getting rich from poor Americans
Thank you for sharing the video Jim @Wired 4 Fishen
I do not know of any churches like that here.
Blessings
Loyal
You are Welcome.
I have met Church folk that turn their backs but for the most part there really are a lot of Churches who go out of their way.
I posted the video in hope of bringing some light unto the darkness of all this mention of sad churches. They are not all that messed up.
Blessings
Loyal
No....Not all.
Loyal
Jesus talked about the dangers of money in half the parables , if any preacher is not warning us about the dangers of money they are not following Jesus teaching, they are probably following there flesh.
Most people think the more money they have the better, that is not the case, just look at all the lottery winners and how they end up.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
-------lesson to be learned is the more you have the more you want
Most people think the more money they have the better, that is not the case, just look at all the lottery winners and how they end up.
Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
-------lesson to be learned is the more you have the more you want
Loyal
Its not money or anything else.
Its the love of. Making Things including money the most important thing in their lives.
God is NOT apposed to His People having money or things but is apposed to money and things having His People.
A Grounded and Rooted Believer does not think that way.
Blessings
Loyal
For the first time in a few years I'll have some spare money in my pocket. And already I've started thinking about the things I can buy and do that I've not been able to until now.
It's a bit of an eye-opener. Now I can see that the things I desire would easily consume twice my income. I'm not by nature too interested in wealth or possessions, but I see how easily it could take hold of me.
Back to the beginning of this thread. Those who use the gospel to profiteer from vulnerable people will have to give account to God for their actions. I don't think it's especially healthy for us to devote too much attention or energy to them.
It's a bit of an eye-opener. Now I can see that the things I desire would easily consume twice my income. I'm not by nature too interested in wealth or possessions, but I see how easily it could take hold of me.
Back to the beginning of this thread. Those who use the gospel to profiteer from vulnerable people will have to give account to God for their actions. I don't think it's especially healthy for us to devote too much attention or energy to them.
Loyal
Don't forget the other side to this. Those who are Falsely Accusing Gods Servants WILL Be Held Accountable as well.
Loyal
Dave, you misunderstand....Jesus is talking about the love of money, the lust for money....If it was just money He is talking about, He could say the same of a hammer or any other tool...Money in itself is not dangerous, or evil...
Loyal
Dave M. -- you Do have some good points -- the lottery winners who go a bit crazy at times. All that money all of a sudden , but at the same time, they have to go into recluse at times because of all the people who are After their money.
Some years ago, at my husband's place of employment, a new superintendent was looking through employees records and found that my husband had an M.A. degree and gave him a raise in accordance with his degree. My husband was totally surprised. That's was the 1st time his Bible college degree had been noticed. The superintendent said that a person who was able To attain that degree had earning potential that needed to be appreciated by an employer. So he received a substantial raise of salary. And 'now' We were able to get some things we'd never been able to have and do previously.
And, yes, there Are those who have the mindset that the more money they have the better. And Then the question -- when is 'enough' really 'enough'.
My 'thing' Now is that I Could afford a fairly nice house on what I'm getting from various retirement sources. When 'this' property gets sold - that is. I Could easily get by on say $90 but will Probably end up in a nicer place. My interests are in a good Bible teaching church and those are not a dime a dozen. And retirement communities are actually expensive.
So -- I Could decide to 'sell all I have' and give to the poor / needy. And then find a mobile home somewhere and live as modestly as possible. But there's really nothing Wrong with enjoying the retirement income that Doug's job was able to provide us/ me with. And helping to support the local church.
And the local church pastor is very mild-mannered. A family retired and died and left a substantial amount to the church. It was decided immediately that those funds would go to missions. That our normal giving would take care of the church as usual. Pastor and wife are very content with a Small church. People know people. We can have potluck suppers and socialize. And new people Do come who prefer hymnals and Bible study both evenings and Wednesday evenings.
Some years ago, at my husband's place of employment, a new superintendent was looking through employees records and found that my husband had an M.A. degree and gave him a raise in accordance with his degree. My husband was totally surprised. That's was the 1st time his Bible college degree had been noticed. The superintendent said that a person who was able To attain that degree had earning potential that needed to be appreciated by an employer. So he received a substantial raise of salary. And 'now' We were able to get some things we'd never been able to have and do previously.
And, yes, there Are those who have the mindset that the more money they have the better. And Then the question -- when is 'enough' really 'enough'.
My 'thing' Now is that I Could afford a fairly nice house on what I'm getting from various retirement sources. When 'this' property gets sold - that is. I Could easily get by on say $90 but will Probably end up in a nicer place. My interests are in a good Bible teaching church and those are not a dime a dozen. And retirement communities are actually expensive.
So -- I Could decide to 'sell all I have' and give to the poor / needy. And then find a mobile home somewhere and live as modestly as possible. But there's really nothing Wrong with enjoying the retirement income that Doug's job was able to provide us/ me with. And helping to support the local church.
And the local church pastor is very mild-mannered. A family retired and died and left a substantial amount to the church. It was decided immediately that those funds would go to missions. That our normal giving would take care of the church as usual. Pastor and wife are very content with a Small church. People know people. We can have potluck suppers and socialize. And new people Do come who prefer hymnals and Bible study both evenings and Wednesday evenings.
Loyal
Its about priorities. How much time do you spend making money versus spending time with people and helping them IN PERSON, how much do you depend on it (money) instead of the Lord to provide for what you NEED and then share some of the extra with those with less? This is just a couple of examples. Its about priorities, money in itself is not bad, its simply a medium for getting the supplies you "need" for yourself and your family and out of any other abundance, you better be helping others with it, or fall into the same trap as the pharisees.
Loyal
Each person needs to determine --depending on age and geographical location -- where they are going to live -- what kind of job is available to provide income needed for food, clothes and housing.
A person who has a job Should be spending his Working hours Working -- doing the best job he can to earn his paycheck,
There are Many ways a person can help others --either directly or indirectly. There are people in missions who we Can support monetarily through our church and praying for them.
Depending on the Lord to provide for what you need and then spending the extra with those with less. How do we go about 'depending on the Lord' for your needs. There have been those who are staying home 'praying' for the job instead of going out Looking / Applying For the job.
So -- when a person needs a job start looking.
A person who has a job Should be spending his Working hours Working -- doing the best job he can to earn his paycheck,
There are Many ways a person can help others --either directly or indirectly. There are people in missions who we Can support monetarily through our church and praying for them.
Depending on the Lord to provide for what you need and then spending the extra with those with less. How do we go about 'depending on the Lord' for your needs. There have been those who are staying home 'praying' for the job instead of going out Looking / Applying For the job.
So -- when a person needs a job start looking.
Loyal
And it can Also reflect the economic conditions they grew up in. My husband grew up in poverty and determined to be a better provider than his father had been. He was a good money manager. And we most always went to church.
I'm thinking you're referring to -- look at a person' checkbook -- see where his money goes -- and you'll see where his priorities are. Which is pretty much saying what You just said.
I've always been fairly frugal with my money. But I Do give to church every Sunday. I just was just figuring it out -- I actually do give 10% -- but didn't plan it that way at all.
I don't spend money on anything. Well -- now my housing is going to be interesting. When my property sells, I could, theoretically afford a nice splashy house for the area I'd be living in.
But I certainly don't Need that much house or that Fancy of a house. But I'll probably end up with a 3 bd / 2 bath home. Most homes are meant for families. Single people have apartments that cost a fortune. Why spend lots on renting, when a person can Buy and build up equity.
Loyal
Loyal
That's because that's 100℅ Gods Way of Doing Things.
Blessings
Loyal
Just realized that the rest of your comment after 'Sue,' did Not show up Here on Forum but did appear when this thread was listed in my gmail list. That you never Had money until you started giving it away --funny how that worked for you'.
What I've been doing with all the books I've got -- I've given a bunch of classical literature to the library where a new Classical Education school is starting in August -- so far up to 4th grade. My older daughter had been very interested in classical literature -- had a Lot of it. So it's all going to that school starting up.
And there's more Christian books going to the library of the church I've been going to. And already donated a bunch to the local school.
One of the neighbor guys said he doesn't do garage sales at all -- just has Good Will or Salvation Army pick up stuff cause that's where it ends up Anyway.
There CAN be a fine line between giving lots away And making sure that you and family have enough To live on. People Don't have to live like paupers to be 'Christian'. We want to be attractive to the 'world' not have 'them' feel sorry for us.
Loyal
The Bible teaches for Christians to rejoice in tribulations. if the preacher you listen to never speaks of such things be very discerning about listening to them
When you persevere through trials, you forge eternal character qualities that cannot be learned any other way. Then comes hope. Finally, God’s love is poured out in us through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:3-5).
Moments of hope ministry
When you persevere through trials, you forge eternal character qualities that cannot be learned any other way. Then comes hope. Finally, God’s love is poured out in us through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:3-5).
Moments of hope ministry
Loyal
Will look up 'moments of hope' ministry.
And, as I'm having to organize paper work in my house -- I'm developing / putting into practice organizational skills that I Should have been doing a long time ago. The self-discipline To do those things.
Those character qualities will be put to use in the 'here and now' -- our present-day molding. And after the fiasco of Yesterday -- I'm apparently 'developing' in Some area that I really haven't wanted to. Wisdom in how to deal with difficult family members.
And, as I'm having to organize paper work in my house -- I'm developing / putting into practice organizational skills that I Should have been doing a long time ago. The self-discipline To do those things.
Those character qualities will be put to use in the 'here and now' -- our present-day molding. And after the fiasco of Yesterday -- I'm apparently 'developing' in Some area that I really haven't wanted to. Wisdom in how to deal with difficult family members.
Active
It is difficult for rich to survive the acid test of modesty. But not impossible.
We can't look entirely to Abraham and even Job on this matter as they were not 'Christians'. Paul had the early Christians sell all they have and live modestly. Modesty is Christianity 101.
As long as there are starving children, I don't see how a devout Christian can justify living in lavishness.
Loyal
Actually, the way a person handles money is a direct reflection of what he knows about money.