BecuzHeLives
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I have this very heated debate with my sister, about dreaming to be rich to serve GOD. I argued that you can serve God being poor or rich both effectively.
Is it ok to dream that you would be rich to serve God???
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charity777
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God knows the heart
I fell we can ask God for money but he will only give it to those that will use it for work of his work. For example, he will give us money to bless others and spread the gospel and so on. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy MOUTH, but thou shalt MEDITATE therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to ALL that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS." I fell a child of God that does not go to the right or the left concering the above words of God will have great success.
I fell we can ask God for money but he will only give it to those that will use it for work of his work. For example, he will give us money to bless others and spread the gospel and so on. Joshua 1:8 "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy MOUTH, but thou shalt MEDITATE therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to ALL that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way PROSPEROUS, and then thou shalt have GOOD SUCCESS." I fell a child of God that does not go to the right or the left concering the above words of God will have great success.
fightngwrmwood
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Hi Becuzhelives - I agree with you that regardless of being rich or poor you can serve God. The dreaming to be rich to serve God - to see needs met, is positive too- If you are meditating on justice and being more equipped for His kingdom, that's good stuff. Like Charity wrote, money for His work, He is eager to give. James 1:9 says "it is right that the brother in humble circumstances glory in being lifted up and the rich in being brought low." However, there's a fine line that gets drawn when our ideas of how His will will be done gets out of hand. So I'm not disagreeing with what you wrote, but I would advise to be careful.
It is interesting all the stories about how hard it is for rich people to serve the Lord
Matthew 19:23 'In truth I tell you, it is hard for someone rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle that for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven." That's pretty strong stuff.
Then there are the passages that emphasize how God chooses the poor (like the beatitudes) I also think of James 2:5 - "Listen, my dear brothers, it was those who are poor according to this world that God chose to be rich in faith and to be heirs to the kingdom which He promised to those who love him."
I don't doubt that God blesses people abundantly financially, but I do doubt it is effective to pray for it, for that specific outcome that way, since we can't serve two Gods, as the Word says.
His ways are not our ways, and if we seek after His will above all, that means we have to let go, not of the expectation that he will meet our need over and above what we ask, but of the expectation that we know what Him meeting the need looks like.
If you assume God will make you rich for His kingdom, you have to assume that he is going to make you rich to accomplish those things. It may not be what He wants to do. He may do it, He may not, but if you pray expecting how He's going to work, you may be in for a surprise. In fact, it seems that regardless of what you pray (or dream or let your heart meditate on), walking with Him is full of surprises! But that's one of the things I love about it!
fww
It is interesting all the stories about how hard it is for rich people to serve the Lord
Matthew 19:23 'In truth I tell you, it is hard for someone rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle that for someone rich to enter the kingdom of Heaven." That's pretty strong stuff.
Then there are the passages that emphasize how God chooses the poor (like the beatitudes) I also think of James 2:5 - "Listen, my dear brothers, it was those who are poor according to this world that God chose to be rich in faith and to be heirs to the kingdom which He promised to those who love him."
I don't doubt that God blesses people abundantly financially, but I do doubt it is effective to pray for it, for that specific outcome that way, since we can't serve two Gods, as the Word says.
His ways are not our ways, and if we seek after His will above all, that means we have to let go, not of the expectation that he will meet our need over and above what we ask, but of the expectation that we know what Him meeting the need looks like.
If you assume God will make you rich for His kingdom, you have to assume that he is going to make you rich to accomplish those things. It may not be what He wants to do. He may do it, He may not, but if you pray expecting how He's going to work, you may be in for a surprise. In fact, it seems that regardless of what you pray (or dream or let your heart meditate on), walking with Him is full of surprises! But that's one of the things I love about it!
fww
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SpiritLedEd
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It sounds as if your sister is trying to bargain with God: "If you make me rich, I will serve you", meaning that, in reality, money is more important to her than God. In other words, she worships money.BecuzHeLives said:
"People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." (1 Tim 6:9).
"How hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mt 19:23-24).
SLE
Coconut
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Is it ok to dream that you would be rich to serve God???
The scripture says NO it is not ok, it endangers the soul;
(that is not to say a christian can`t be rich, but rather we are not to have
our hearts set upon, or our desire to be for earthly riches)
(BBE)1Ti 6:9 But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all evil: and some whose hearts were fixed on it have been turned away from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows.
But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour. (True riches!)
This shows there are two types of 'riches' spoken of in the Word.
What is the riches (or blessing, or prosperty, or success) that are promised to the child of God? It is not earthly gold and silver! The Scripture calls those "unrighteous mammon" and "filthy lucre"
Here are just a few Scriptures that show what our true riches are;
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
This is a key verse about a remarkable man, and one who found favor in Gods sight! Moses, who could have lived his whole life in the kings courts, (and probably done much good in such a position of wealth and power) but he turned his back on earthly possessions to follow God, and viewed himself as being richer than if he had all the treasures in Egypt;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
The scripture says NO it is not ok, it endangers the soul;
(that is not to say a christian can`t be rich, but rather we are not to have
our hearts set upon, or our desire to be for earthly riches)
(BBE)1Ti 6:9 But those who have a desire for wealth are falling into danger, and are taken as in a net by a number of foolish and damaging desires, through which men are overtaken by death and destruction.
For the love of money is a root of all evil: and some whose hearts were fixed on it have been turned away from the faith, and been wounded with unnumbered sorrows.
But you, O man of God, keep yourself from these things, and go after righteousness, religion, faith, love, a quiet mind, gentle behaviour. (True riches!)
This shows there are two types of 'riches' spoken of in the Word.
What is the riches (or blessing, or prosperty, or success) that are promised to the child of God? It is not earthly gold and silver! The Scripture calls those "unrighteous mammon" and "filthy lucre"
Here are just a few Scriptures that show what our true riches are;
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Rom 9:23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
This is a key verse about a remarkable man, and one who found favor in Gods sight! Moses, who could have lived his whole life in the kings courts, (and probably done much good in such a position of wealth and power) but he turned his back on earthly possessions to follow God, and viewed himself as being richer than if he had all the treasures in Egypt;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
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Amen!
"Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face and the things of earth shall grow stangely dim in the light of His glory and grace."
Matthew 6:19-24
19*“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. 20*Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. 21*Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.
22*“Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. 23*But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!
24*“No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
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Wow everyone posted the best Scripture pertaining to this subject. Great thread. Brother, as you read from others' post pray for your sister that her heart is pure and right before GOD. If her heart is for GOD's will then her desires will be fulfilled according to GOD's promises within His will. I am blessed more than I can ask for and the truth is I make more money each month than the previous month due to the way business is done (subscription basis / massive advertisement). However, I pray to GOD that if I ever wane off His will that I would be disciplined and punished to the least.
Never love money or even desire it so greatly. As one already mentioned, that is a fine line right there. I believe GOD expects us to give (tithe) to those in need and to expand His kingdom.
Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 12:24
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
Never love money or even desire it so greatly. As one already mentioned, that is a fine line right there. I believe GOD expects us to give (tithe) to those in need and to expand His kingdom.
Luke 11:13
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”
Luke 12:24
Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?
BecuzHeLives
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HI Brothers and Sisters,
let make it clear that my sister love God, and she don't want to bargain with God. But her dream is to serve him through helping the poor. However, my point is that it's hard to serve God when you're rich. You must go through a lot of test from God before he blesses you. However, my main point is telling her to seek God first like Matthew 6:33 and he will bless her like a promise in Hebrew 11:6. HOwever, we come to a conclusion that she love GOd and all she do is primarily to serve God. But I'm just afraid along that dream she might lost Faith in God because money can change people point of view. Like I Timothy 6:10...My sister faith is really strong but I'm just afraid of her ambition and this dream. So I'll pray for her more. Thank you all for helping. I greatly appreciate the help.
God Blesses you all
let make it clear that my sister love God, and she don't want to bargain with God. But her dream is to serve him through helping the poor. However, my point is that it's hard to serve God when you're rich. You must go through a lot of test from God before he blesses you. However, my main point is telling her to seek God first like Matthew 6:33 and he will bless her like a promise in Hebrew 11:6. HOwever, we come to a conclusion that she love GOd and all she do is primarily to serve God. But I'm just afraid along that dream she might lost Faith in God because money can change people point of view. Like I Timothy 6:10...My sister faith is really strong but I'm just afraid of her ambition and this dream. So I'll pray for her more. Thank you all for helping. I greatly appreciate the help.
God Blesses you all
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Why does she need money to help the poor?
Jesus fed five thousand men (hard to tell how many women and children were there), with two fish and five loaves of bread. God is not limited by materials or money. It's time our faith rise up above these things also.
Acts 3;1-11
1*Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2*As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3*When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4*Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5*The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. 6*But Peter said, “I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
7*Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. 8*He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9*All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10*When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11*They all rushed out to Solomon’s Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.
If God has Called us to do something for Him, He will supply what we need according to His Plan, not ours.
Jesus fed five thousand men (hard to tell how many women and children were there), with two fish and five loaves of bread. God is not limited by materials or money. It's time our faith rise up above these things also.
Acts 3;1-11
1*Peter and John went to the Temple one afternoon to take part in the three o’clock prayer service. 2*As they approached the Temple, a man lame from birth was being carried in. Each day he was put beside the Temple gate, the one called the Beautiful Gate, so he could beg from the people going into the Temple. 3*When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for some money.
4*Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5*The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting a gift. 6*But Peter said, “I don’t have any money for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk!”
7*Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and anklebones were healed and strengthened. 8*He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking, leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
9*All the people saw him walking and heard him praising God. 10*When they realized he was the lame beggar they had seen so often at the Beautiful Gate, they were absolutely astounded! 11*They all rushed out to Solomon’s Colonnade, where he was holding tightly to Peter and John. Everyone stood there in awe of the wonderful thing that had happened.
If God has Called us to do something for Him, He will supply what we need according to His Plan, not ours.
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Good thread. There is great scripture pointed out here.
Think about this for a min. The $ you and I earn is not ours. It is the Lords' money. He gives it to us to be good stewards of it. If the Lord wants to give $1 million to a homeless shelter he could give a good Christian $10 million, and have them tithe to the shelter, OR he could get 1 million of his people to each give $1. Both result in $1 million to the shelter, but which one do you think pleases God more? One sheep following him, or one million sheep following him?
Remember how Jesus reacted to the poor woman giving a few coins for an offering, as apposed the the "elite" giving thousands? Which gives Him more glory? I think we all know.
Luke 21:2-5 (KJV)
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Mark 12:43-44 (KJV)
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
God bless
Think about this for a min. The $ you and I earn is not ours. It is the Lords' money. He gives it to us to be good stewards of it. If the Lord wants to give $1 million to a homeless shelter he could give a good Christian $10 million, and have them tithe to the shelter, OR he could get 1 million of his people to each give $1. Both result in $1 million to the shelter, but which one do you think pleases God more? One sheep following him, or one million sheep following him?
Remember how Jesus reacted to the poor woman giving a few coins for an offering, as apposed the the "elite" giving thousands? Which gives Him more glory? I think we all know.
Luke 21:2-5 (KJV)
2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
Mark 12:43-44 (KJV)
43And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
44For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living.
God bless
Coconut
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AMEN! There are many ways to minister to the poor without money...our burning desire should be to minister with the power of God, not with the power of riches...
Act 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
Glory to God!
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Coconut
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These people think religion is supposed to make you rich.
And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have.
We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave.
So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.
People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them.
The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much that they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.
**********************************************************
Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life.
Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have.
This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so that they will know what true life is like.
Timothy, guard what God has placed in your care! Don't pay any attention to that godless and stupid talk that sounds smart but really isn't.
Some people have even lost their faith by believing this talk. I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!
-text from 1Timothy 6 CEV
And religion does make your life rich, by making you content with what you have.
We didn't bring anything into this world, and we won't take anything with us when we leave.
So we should be satisfied just to have food and clothes.
People who want to be rich fall into all sorts of temptations and traps. They are caught by foolish and harmful desires that drag them down and destroy them.
The love of money causes all kinds of trouble. Some people want money so much that they have given up their faith and caused themselves a lot of pain.
**********************************************************
Warn the rich people of this world not to be proud or to trust in wealth that is easily lost. Tell them to have faith in God, who is rich and blesses us with everything we need to enjoy life.
Instruct them to do as many good deeds as they can and to help everyone. Remind the rich to be generous and share what they have.
This will lay a solid foundation for the future, so that they will know what true life is like.
Timothy, guard what God has placed in your care! Don't pay any attention to that godless and stupid talk that sounds smart but really isn't.
Some people have even lost their faith by believing this talk. I pray that the Lord will be kind to all of you!
-text from 1Timothy 6 CEV
fightngwrmwood
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BecuzHeLives said:
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BecuzHeLives
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Amen brothers and sisters, you guys know exactly how I feel. I was thinking somewhere along the line of you guys. But it's so hard to explain to my sister what I meant. She sometime think I'm doing it to judge her or to make her feel bad. And something she think I'm too spiritual when it come to money. Thank you guys a lot, this really help my confident of what I'm thinking. I guess I'm not the only one who feel that, all we need is Jesus Christ and then everything would follow us. Happiness, Joy, and many more things that God can do and provide for all of us. Thank the Lord for that. Thank you for sharing your experience and praying for my sister and I, FWW and thank you all for helping me.
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