Again, you seem to be suggesting that the poor are cursed.
You know, I've addressed this claim about four times now. It is getting irritating that you keep accusing me of this same mistruth.
I am not suggesting that the poor are cursed. I am saying that people, not necessarily the poor, choose to walk away from the blessing and walk instead in the curse. God has told us it is our choice: blessing or curse.
If you feel that the statement quoted above is true, then read my words here again. And again if necessary. Until you understand the difference between the two.
You don't have to accept it as the truth that you believe. You can believe, if you so do (which I don't think you do), in the statement quoted above. But I do not.
Poverty certainly comes out of the curse. People who embrace poverty are walking in the curse. The Bible is clear that when we walk in the blessing that God gives us prosperity. In fact it is His hope for us.
"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. -- Jer 29:11
Lets look at the scripture you used.
ABM said:
28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
I don't think that the Lord is referring to actual earthly wealth. Its an analogy.
Well, it is a parable. Thus, certainly an analogy. But it certainly includes wealth. It is anything of value that the Lord entrusts to us. This is a parable about mishandled resources.
Are you suggesting that money is NOT included? That if the Lord gives us monetary resources and we squander it that there will be no consequence?
Consider this below scripture below. This is talking about earthly wealth.
ABM said:
2 Corinthians 8:13 Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality.14 At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, 15 as it is written: “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”
Most certainly. So to understand this let's first take a look at some other translations:
13 For
I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; (NKJV)
13 For it is not [intended] that others be relieved [of their responsibility] and that you be a]'>[
a]burdened [unfairly], but b]'>[
b]that there be equality [in sharing the burden]— (Amplified)
Interesting. The NKJV doesn't mention equality in any manner. The Amplified dies, but it is not an equality of the money being shared, but rather the burden being shared.
So to really understand this let's go to the source: the Greek.
13 οὐ γὰρ ἵνα ἄλλοις ἄνεσις, a]'>[
a]ὑμῖν θλῖψις· ἀλλ’ ἐξ ἰσότητος
literally:
for not that for others release, and ye pressured, [do I speak]
In the Greek there is absolutely no concept for equality. There is a concept of sharing a burden.
The word above literally translated as "release" is
anesis. It means rest, liberty or to be eased. The word above literally translated as "pressured" is
thlipsis. It means tribulation, affliction, trouble, persecution, burdened, pressure, distress.
This is about sharing the burden of helping others. When you have plenty and others don't, you share. Later they will have plenty and you will be in need. They will share.
Verse 14 says exactly this. Now, your abundance meets their needs. Some day, their abundance will meet your needs.
If there was the equality that you speak of, then there would never be a need to be met, for the resources will be spread evenly and all will have the same amount. Scripture simply does not give this viewpoint. What scripture does say is that we all need to share the burden of helping the less fortunate.
So what of verse 15?
as it is written: " The one who gathered much did not have too much , and the one who gathered little did not have too little ."
2 Cor 8:15 (NET)
Let's understand it in context. Paul is writing a letter. In the very next page (chapter) of this letter Paul says:
My point is this: The person who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the person who sows generously will also reap generously.
2 Cor 9:6 (NET)
Is it contrary? 8:15 seems to say that the money will be evened out. But 9:6 says that if you are lazy you reap lazy results; if you are diligent you reap diligent results.
If you take the context of chapter 8 and 9 we easily see that the message is how willing a person is to give.
Each one of you should give just as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, because God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Cor 9:7 (NET)
What is being taught here. Well: Grace. That we don't look down on and ignore the less fortunate. Rather we give and we give with a happy heart. This is about helping, not equalizing.