Regards to wealth and possessions

[Hannah1]

I stumbled over this one, it describes the wealth possession issue perfectly

 

[Rad]

I stumbled over this one, it describes the wealth possession issue perfectly

Interesting, so what of Christs words further on in the story when he says to his Disciples, "How hard it will be for a Rich man to enter Heaven, it is easier for a Camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man enter Heaven"., nothing to do with attitude but mere possession.

Or what of Matthew 6: 19-21, where Christ says "Do NOT store up Treasure on Earth, .... for where your Treasure is your Heart will be also" and in Matthew 6:24" No man can serve 2 masters, you cannot serve God and Mammon". Christ is saying that if you store up Treasure on Earth then your heart will be with that treasure, there is no "might be with your Treasure", but "will be with your Treasure", whatever we profess our attitude to our riches to be, Christ knows better, and you "CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MAMMON".

Or what of Luke 6:24, "Woe to you who are Rich, for you have received your consolation", There is no mention of our attitude to our riches , just a condemnation of "The Rich"..

And in the parable of Lazarus and the Rich man the Rich man is sent to Hell because as Abraham says to him in Luke 16:25 " Son, remember that in your lifetime you received good things and Lazarus Evil things, now he is comforted and you are tormented". He is condemned to Hell for being Rich, for receiving the good things riches bestow, his professed attitude to his riches matters not, to possess them is cause for condemnation.

It seems to me that Christ is condemning the Rich simply for being rich, its not a question of "attitude" to your riches but the possession of them that Christ condemns and i wonder if this differentiation between attitude to and not just possession of, came about because it suits the rich and powerful, who want to retain their riches and still profess their faith, a situation which to me seems blatantly irreconcilable with Christs words.

 

[Gothedral]

[...] i wonder if this differentiation between attitude to and not just possession of, came about because it suits the rich and powerful, who want to retain their riches and still profess their faith... a situation which to me seems blatantly irreconcilable with Christ's words.

What the Book of Job?
Selfishness and greed are absolutely blatantly irreconcilable with Christ's words. Here are some verses from The Word (NABRE):

Deuteronomy 15:7–8, 11 — The Law of the Open Hand

"If one of your kindred is in need in any of your communities in the land the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor close your hand against your kindred who is in need. Instead, you shall freely open your hand and generously lend what is enough to meet the need... I command you: Open your hand freely to your poor and needy kindred in your land."

+
Leviticus 19:9–10 — The Law of Leaving Wealth for the Poor

"When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, nor shall you gather the gleanings of your harvest... You shall leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the Lord, your God."

+
Luke 12:33 — Jesus' Command to Disinvest from Worldly Wealth

"Sell your belongings and give alms. Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven that no thief can approach nor moth destroy."

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1 John 3:17 — The Diagnostic of False Faith

"If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him?"

Without divulging affairs, I am going through something like this right now. (And in this "economy, who isn't?) A man I know fell on very hard times, but is trying to get back in business. He took the money I had paid him to complete a job and used it to solve one of his problems. The immediate perspective seems like injustice. However, I really want him to succeed as much as he does. So, the money I had saved for personal things was instead used to invest in this man getting back on mission. (Sharing this probably makes no sense to the reader.) But, he is doing me a favor with his talents, and thanks to God Almighty, I can not only compensate him for his work, but I can walk a second mile with him so to say.

Saving for a rainy day? Remember Noah's Flood, I say.
That also includes sharing food, as we can read in The Word.
[end rant lol]