What does the Bible say about being poor?

[Dave M]

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

this is the type of scripture I believe that gets taken out of context by the health and wealth prosperity false teachers, he is not talking about money rich, he talking about eternal rich, Jesus himself left paradise to come live in the squalor of this miserable world, and make no mistake he chose to poor and we all know he was and is already rich in spirit, so then, when the text says he became poor it could only mean poor in human materialistic terms IMO

 

[Bendito]

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

this is the type of scripture I believe that gets taken out of context by the health and wealth prosperity false teachers, he is not talking about money rich, he talking about eternal rich, Jesus himself left paradise to come live in the squalor of this miserable world, and make no mistake he chose to poor and we all know he was and is already rich in spirit, so then, when the text says he became poor it could only mean poor in human materialistic terms IMO

Interesting....He came to preach the gospel, the good news, to the poor. You know that your post is sooo contradictory to the scriptures....
Jesus DID come to the poor..to preach His good news. Why?
Proverbs 10:15 (CJB)
15 The wealth of the rich is his fortified city;
the ruin of the poor is their poverty.
Poverty (of any kind) destroys people. God does not want anyone to be poor in any way.

 

[Bendito]

Bendito it sounds like your talking about the prosperity gospel for it is written, (I included the whole entire text.) I highlighted a couple things I am willing to bet that you will never here a property gospel teacher preach, and if they leave out part of the gospel are they not false teachers?

False Teachers and True Contentment

Teach and urge these things. 3If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the soundb words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7for we brought nothing into the world, andc we cannot take anything out of the world. 8But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Most of the so called prosperity preachers do not preach 'another gospel' ...OMGoodness! I've never seen the link here before!! I'm not even going to finish what I started to write. The bible is full of scriptures that say God will make you rich IF.....
Proverbs 10:22 (KJV)
22 The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.


Look up the word rich in Strongs You will see that it says;
to be or become rich or wealthy, enrich, pretend to be rich

1. (Qal) to be or become rich
   
   
2. (Hiphil)
   
   1. to make rich
      
      
   2. to gain riches

What did I just see? What link did I see? To say that poverty is good for a Christian (or anyone else) is 'another gospel' being preached! Anyone who says that riches are bad bad bad is preaching another gospel...Anyone who say God wants us poor is preaching another gospel...

Poverty is not blessing.. Poverty is under the curse..

I think some Christians need to get their heads out of doctrine and get into Word

 

[Dave M]

I left out the word be poor

Jesus chose to be poor, my typo mistake.

Benidito
But I just want to make sure we are clear about something, the word Rich in the above scripture means eternal riches not humanly materialistic riches. From what your saying you think "rich" that means human materialistic riches is that correct?? a simple yes or no answer will be sufficient.

 

[Bendito]

I left out the word be poor

Jesus chose to be poor, my typo mistake.

Benidito
But I just want to make sure we are clear about something, the word Rich in the above scripture means eternal riches not humanly materialistic riches. From what your saying you think "rich" that means human materialistic riches is that correct?? a simple yes or no answer will be sufficient.

Um....Where does it say that? People used to tell me that Isa 53:4-5 meant spiritual healing only too. They were wrong

I mean Riches in all senses of the word

 

[Dave M]

it says that right in front of you in the scripture, those with spiritual eyes will see it. Those with human eyes only see what they want to see. God bless

 

[Bendito]

Listen! I think I'm done discussing this...We have a right to translate the Word. We do NOT have the right to interpret the Word. We do not tell God what He means when He says something. Period....

 

[Dave M]

Yea its probably best we end the discussion, but I will leave it at, all we have to do is look at the apostles, they all gave up everything the owned to become rich.

God bless


Matthew 19:21
Jesus told him, "If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Never did Jesus tell anyone to go an accumulate things

Luke 12:33-34
Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

1 Timothy 6:9
But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.

John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world.

 

[rag4aCrown]

And the rich young ruler said to Him, Lord what must I do? Jesus said, if thou wilt be perfect sale what you have and give to the poor and come, follow me. And the rich young ruler went away sorrowed in the heart, for he was very rich.

 

[rag4aCrown]

To the writer of the OP; this is a good post, but as usual they have stopped up their ears, for the Word of truth does not appease itching ears. Yeah, We want the best of both world's and never sacrifice a thing, the Word says they have their reward.

2 Timothy 2:4
Do I need 15 more scriptures to prove right? No, one will suffice.

Luke 6:40
Luke 14:26,27
Luke 14:33

To be a disciple; one must forsake ALL.
Only one who is called by God to be a disciple receives these words; but not all. Amen

 

[Bendito]

And the rich young ruler said to Him, Lord what must I do? Jesus said, if thou wilt be perfect sale what you have and give to the poor and come, follow me. And the rich young ruler went away sorrowed in the heart, for he was very rich.

Finish the verse...'and you will have riches....' Jesus simply asked the young man to make an investment.

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 6:24; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

 

[Dave M]

Benidito I would ask you to look at the following scripture, and ask God to open your eyes to see the difference between worldly rich and eternal riches and see Jesus is talking about about spiritual in the following scripture period.

2 Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.


Now in the following scripture I again ask you to pray to God to open your eyes and see Jesus is talking about worldly riches. God bless

Matthew 19:23
And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven.



Here are 2 great examples of Jesus using the same word to clearly mean two different things. I humble my self in front of God and thank him for giving me eyes to see for with out God I am nothing.

 

[Bendito]

Matt 6:24; “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Define the 'Blessings of Abraham' What are those blessings?

 

[rag4aCrown]

Finish the verse...'and you will have riches....' Jesus simply asked the young man to make an investment.

Finish it... And you will have riches... in HEAVEN. Amen. We do not labor for the riches of this world or the meat which perish.

To be an overcomes of this world, just as HE is, We must forsake ALL, (deny the flesh, the lust of it, and the pride of this life, pick up the cross of our testimony, and follow HIM.

Yes, praise God; Amen.
Now, who is doing it?

He stretches forth the sky as a giant tent for our dwelling.
Have we trusted Him yet? I believe it is time to begin.

Not only people, but nations, the entire world needs to REPENT!!! for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Amen

 

[rag4aCrown]

Define the 'Blessings of Abraham' What are those blessings?

First seek ye the Kingdom of God and HE will provide all we need.
When God blessed us He hands it to us. He gives us FAVOR with men; maybe we already are rich and have all we need, who needs God! I can buy for myself. Shouldn't I buy my neighbor one too? If I thought of my neighbor above myself, God just may bless such wealth.

 

[KingJ]

I believe Jesus summed up all He wanted to say on earthly prosperity in Matt 6:19 & 26. It has become so clear to me these last few weeks that God looks at us with eternity in mind. We are not God, so we can be forgiven for bumping heads on this.

For all eternity Job will be known as a person who endured hell on earth and kept his faith. For all eternity I will be known as the person who endured a lessor hell and kept his faith. For all eternity you will be known for your suffering for Jesus. Whatever they may be.

It is so easy for God to print paper money and heal our flesh. If humans created beneath angels can re-create body parts in labs / make coins at a mint, rest assured God can do so without even trying. So if we the children He has given His life for do not have what not blessing from Him, it has to be for a reason. Earth is the perfect setting for God to test us and I believe He will do so to the maximum.

Will you be closer to the spouse that endures hell with / for you? Yes or No? It is the one thing money / power cannot buy. It is something that can only be discovered from trials and tribulations of the flesh.

 

[KingJ]

Define the 'Blessings of Abraham' What are those blessings?

Not sure about the blessings, but the promises in Gen 17 are:

1. More descendants then can be counted.
2. Father of many great nations.
3. Some descendants will be kings.
4. The whole land of Canaan.

This can all be summarized into Jews / Israel / His chosen people. Perhaps even space for the UK and the USA with many great nations. I don't know. The important issue to grasp though is that Apraham was chosen for Jesus. IE the Jews. We all become His chosen people today when are born again. So we all inherit this promise. Paul had to make that clear to us, especially the Jews who felt they were giving up their right.

Moving on, it is clear that God made many promises to the Jews. But we are not Jews. We are in a better covenant and as such don't need to work on a blessings / promises basis. That was a covenant between God fearing humans and God. We have a covenant between a child and a Father. A child does not count the promises from their Father. They should know their Father. This is what Jesus is pushing in Matt 6:26.

 

[Bendito]

LO

First seek ye the Kingdom of God and HE will provide all we need.
When God blessed us He hands it to us. He gives us FAVOR with men; maybe we already are rich and have all we need, who needs God! I can buy for myself. Shouldn't I buy my neighbor one too? If I thought of my neighbor above myself, God just may bless such wealth.

LOL If we were the richest people in the world and were without God, we would be among the poorest.

 

[Bendito]

THE SIXTY PROMISES OF THE ABRAHAMIC COVENANT

Genesis 12:1-3

1. I will show thee a land (v.1)

2. I will make of thee a great nation (v.2).

3. I will bless thee (v.2).

4. I will make thy name great (v.2).

5. Thou shalt be a blessing (v.2).

6. I will bless them that bless thee (v.3).

7. I will curse them that curse thee (v.3).

8. In thee shall all families of the earth be blessed (or bless themselves) (v.3).


Genesis 13:15-17


9. All the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it...forever (v.15).

10. I will also give the land to thy seed forever (v.15).

11. I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth (v.16).

12. Walk through the land...for I will give it unto thee (v.17). Genesis 15:1-21

13. I am Thy shield (v.1).

14. I am Thy exceedingly great reward (v.1).

15. He that shall come forth out of thine own loins shall be thine heir (v.4).

16. Abraham believed in the Lord and he counted it to him for righteousness (v.6).

17. Thy seed shall be as the stars of heaven (v.5).

18. I am the Lord who brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees to give thee this land to inherit it (v.7).


These next three blessings are not direct blessings, but I include them anyway.


19. Thy seed shall be in bondage (in Egypt) for 400 years (v.13). (Not a blessing but it is interesting to note that it was 400 years to the day.)

20. That nation whom They shall serve (Egypt) will I judge (v.14).

21. Afterward, I will bring them out (of Egypt) with great substance (v.14).



(And when He brought them out they were stinking rich in Earthly wealth.)



22. Thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace (v.15).

23. Thou shalt be buried in a good old age (v.15).

24. In the fourth generation, they (thy seed) shall come here again (v.16).

25. Unto thy seed have I given this land (v.18).

26. In my covenant with you, I will set the River of Egypt and the great Euphrates River as the boundaries of the promised land (v.18).


Genesis 17:1-22


27. I will make my covenant between me and thee (Abraham) (v.2).

28. I will multiply thee exceedingly (v.2).

29. My covenant is with thee (v.4).

30. Thou shalt be a father of many nations (v.4).

31. Thy name shall be called Abraham rather than Abram (v.5).

32. I will make thee exceedingly fruitful (v.6).

33. I will make nations of thee (v.6).

34. Kings shall come out of thee (v.6).

35. The covenant between God, Abraham, and his seed in their generations coming after Abraham is an everlasting covenant (v.7).

36. I will be a God unto thee (v.7).

37. I will be a God unto thy seed after thee (v.7).

38. I will give all the land of Canaan to you and to your seed as an everlasting possession (v.8).

39. And I will be their (thy seed's) God (v.8).

40. Circumcision is the seal of the covenant for both Abraham and his male children (vv.9-14).

41. Sarai's name shall be changed to Sarah (v. 15).

42. I will bless Sarah (v.16).

43. I will give thee a son of Sarah (v.16).

44. I will bless her (v.16).

45.

Sarah will be a mother of nations (v.16).

46. Kings of people shall be of Sarah (v.16).

47. Sarah's son shall be named Isaac (v 19).

48. I will establish my covenant with Isaac for an everlasting covenant (v.19).

49. I will establish my covenant with Isaac's seed after him for an everlasting covenant (v.19).

50. I have blessed Ishmael (v.20).

51. I will make Ishmael fruitful (v.20).

52. I will multiply Ishmael exceedingly (v.20).

53. Twelve princes shall Ishmael beget (v.20).

54. I will make Ishmael a great nation (v.20).

55. But, my covenant will I establish with Isaac (v.21).


Genesis 22:16-18


56. God guaranteed the covenant with his oath, saying, "By Myself have I sworn..." (v.16).

57. In blessing I will bless thee... (v.17).

58. In multiplying, I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is upon the sea shore (v.17).

59. Thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies (v.17).

60. In thy seed shall all families of the earth be blessed (v.18).


This list contains some overlapping items. Consequently, it could be shortened. On the other hand, some of the sixty statements could be divided even more and the list could be lengthened. For our purposes though, this list suffices.

When God makes rich, He does not differentiate between different types of riches...Rich is rich.

Only us Christians differentiate, categorize things. Types of sin, types of healing, types of wealth. It's sad to see. What nonsense!