All About GOD - Growing Relationships with Jesus and Others
My Take on WEALTH!!
There was a BIG discussion going on in the chat room today about riches. And is it right for a Christian to desire wealth? And the love-of-money-is-the-root-of-all-evil verse was quoted.
So what should our attitude be? And why are there some Christians who are very blessed with money, and then other Christians who have nothing? Doesn't it seem a bit unfair on God's part that some have and some don't?
Well, that is questions I've tackled with for years. But at last, I see some light. And as the would be entrepreneur, I wanted it, but God hasn't given us great wealth. Instead, He has given MORE than money could buy. I am so glad God doesn't always give us what we want.
Now, I am wiser, and I can see the pitfalls we could have fallen into. And I don't believe my relationship with God would be the same if I had material wealth. I find instead, my LIFE is so much richer because God chose not to give me my desire.
I think I can now relate to Paul when he said:
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:11-13, NKJ)
Funny thing that, but that scripture has been the beginning and the continuing of my walk with God. It was through verse 13 (I can do all things....) that I was saved. I learned that with Christ, nothing was impossible. I had suffered a inferiority and lack of self-confidence. I was told, more or less, I'd never amount to anything. But here I could see that God's idea was different. I could do whatever He called me to do.
And then as the years went on in my confidence in the Lord, I learned the other lesson. Well the Lord was teaching me the other lesson, and that is to BE CONTENT with whatever God gave me, and wherever He put me.
And now, I believe I can say with Paul, "I have learned to be content in whatever state I am." I know that the Lord is in control, and He has given me all that I need to do as He wants.
And YES, I know this:
"Godliness with contentment is great gain."
That is found in the same passage as "the love of money is the root of all evil."
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim 6:6-10, NKJ)
I pray that you, my brothers and sisters, will discover this truth too.
And a word about the poor:
"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5, NKJ)
So what should our attitude be? And why are there some Christians who are very blessed with money, and then other Christians who have nothing? Doesn't it seem a bit unfair on God's part that some have and some don't?
Well, that is questions I've tackled with for years. But at last, I see some light. And as the would be entrepreneur, I wanted it, but God hasn't given us great wealth. Instead, He has given MORE than money could buy. I am so glad God doesn't always give us what we want.
Now, I am wiser, and I can see the pitfalls we could have fallen into. And I don't believe my relationship with God would be the same if I had material wealth. I find instead, my LIFE is so much richer because God chose not to give me my desire.
I think I can now relate to Paul when he said:
"Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:11-13, NKJ)
Funny thing that, but that scripture has been the beginning and the continuing of my walk with God. It was through verse 13 (I can do all things....) that I was saved. I learned that with Christ, nothing was impossible. I had suffered a inferiority and lack of self-confidence. I was told, more or less, I'd never amount to anything. But here I could see that God's idea was different. I could do whatever He called me to do.
And then as the years went on in my confidence in the Lord, I learned the other lesson. Well the Lord was teaching me the other lesson, and that is to BE CONTENT with whatever God gave me, and wherever He put me.
And now, I believe I can say with Paul, "I have learned to be content in whatever state I am." I know that the Lord is in control, and He has given me all that I need to do as He wants.
And YES, I know this:
"Godliness with contentment is great gain."
That is found in the same passage as "the love of money is the root of all evil."
"Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (1 Tim 6:6-10, NKJ)
I pray that you, my brothers and sisters, will discover this truth too.
And a word about the poor:
"Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?" (James 2:5, NKJ)
Views: 34
Comment
-
Comment by Jeanette B on February 20, 2009 at 9:00pm
-
Do you struggle a bit with it? Well, you're doing better than me.
English is my ONLY language!! I wouldn't understand you if you spoke to me in some other language!! :-)
-
Comment by felixpadua on February 20, 2009 at 8:52pm
-
how i wish english were my first language.
-
-
Thanks for that, Charles.
It's all in God's hands, and I was thinking that He can also change our circumstances so quickly. And it looks like that could be the case for us this coming week.
On Thursday, out of the blue. I got a phone call of an offer for a job. They are desperate for a bookkeeper. The last one had finished before Christmas, and the lady who rang had been semi-retired, but has been filling in since. She wants to get back to retiring. They had my resume there from another job I'd applied for back in September. That job was as a Service Coordinater (office machines), not a bookkeeper. Apparently, they kept my resume on file.
I had been applying for jobs for over 6 months, but every effort has been futile. I couldn't understand what the Lord was doing. And now, I get a positive response. The Lord's timing is perfect!
Anyhow, here's some things I was thinking about this morning. I shared this with one of my online buddies....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Morning!!!
And I got to sleep in without feeling guilty.
I've been thinking about things this morning, as I lay in bed. About our finance and the mortgage, etc! It seemed that everything hinged on me as to whether we kept the house or not. I needed to make more money for us. So I guess my feeling has been one of responsiblity, and then one of guilt if I wasn't meeting it.
In the back of my mind all the time, has been the thought of needing to make money for us. That meant either I build up my side of the business, or get another job. But the getting another job seemed the harder bit. I was tired of the futility of looking for work and applying for jobs where I was one of many other applicants. Chances of landing the job were slim. Like trying to win the lottery!!
But this job is different. It would seems by our chat on the phone on Thursday, that I'm the only one being interviewed, and it was more a come-and-have-a-chat kind of thing. Very informal! And it would seem that it is up to me whether I want to take the job or not.
So, next week, I'm imagining that after the interview on Monday, I'll go to work for there for a couple of days to try out, and then decide if I want the job. Oh, and they'll decide too, if I suit the job. I don't feel nervous about it. It feels more like I'm going to go and help someone out.
So now, I'm not feeling guilty about my time online. I feel it is like a ministry here, and that now I'm free to do it, and not having to worry about meeting the mortgage repayments. And...
"The blessing of the Lord--it makes [truly] rich, and He adds no sorrow with it [neither does toiling increase it]." (Proverbs 10:22, Amp.)
That's grace!! We are blessed without striving!!
Anyhow, that is all speculation about the job. But it's hard not to imagine what will happen. That's what I'm hoping will happen, but maybe it won't. If it doesn't, well that means the Lord has a better plan.
But if I get the job and I like it, we won't sell the house!! I think that is the thing I'm most excited about. None of us really want to move.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I wanted to share that. Maybe it may help someone else!
-
Comment by PaulDF on February 20, 2009 at 6:18pm
-
Interesting discussion! But I really think it's true what I tell our kids - if you can't be happy with what you have now, you won't be happy with what you have tomorrow - no matter what it is. Because the truth is, no matter what or how much you have, there is ALWAYS more you don't have. And there is ALWAYS something you CAN'T have.
And, as I am thinking about it, what I have now is God's gift to me. Isn't terribly ungrateful to always be looking for the NEXT present?
-
-
the rich detest poorness than the poor. the poor are used to it, so most of them do not bother to get out of it. plus the fact that it is easier to remain poor than struggle to become rich.
the rich will do their best to remain rich, they will not allow themselves to become poor. plus they have the facilities to remain rich.
the poor has an uphill climb to get out of poverty, they don't have the resources, they don't have the acumen to earn richness. a baby born to poor parents have very small chance to become rich in the future. he can be lucky, but luck plays a very small role in getting rich in this world.
but to answer bev's question -i can do more if i am rich...more for whom? if you have read my page, you will find that my interest are varied -travel, nice food, good health, sports, driving, internet and books. all these if i want to do them requires a lot of money. so i want to be rich to do these things i like. so i want to be rich for these things i want to do in this life.
my page also shows my passion in life -financial freedom and time freedom. i can have only these two freedoms if i am rich. if i am not rich, i'll be tied down to a job, to a job that will lead me nowhere but old age.
it's bad enough to be poor or old, but it's worse to be poor and old. i like to live rich and i don't like to die poor, dying has become an expensive event anywhere in the world. you need money to die with dignity.
.
-
-
I think I can understand what you're saying. I think how we see things can depend a lot on what culture we come from. If you have grown up with seeing poorness, what you say is so true.
And for me, I've grown up with affluence around, and I see how people become trapped in it, and squeeze God out.
-
-
hi Jeanette, nothing is said in your blog that it's not good to be rich. and nothing is said that it's bad to be rich either. So i say, i'd rather be rich than poor. it's better for me to be rich than poor. i can do more if am rich. i can enjoy life more if i am rich. if i am poor, oh i don't like to be poor. i detest poorness.
Welcome to
All About GOD
The Good News
Meet Face-to-Face & Collaborate
© 2024 Created by AllAboutGOD.com.
Powered by
You need to be a member of All About GOD to add comments!
Join All About GOD