‘Sell all you have, and give to the poor'

[LottyH]

Right now I feel like the rich man that went away sorrowful after hearing Jesus say that to him. (Matt 19:21,22)

Although I’m not rich by western standards I am so filthy rich compared with so many millions of people in the world that have nothing. I just feel so blessed to be born in a rich country but I feel that I have a greater responsibility before God in how I live my life and how I spend my money.

‘..For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..’ Luke 12:48

The thought of continuing to live a ‘normal,’ happy, prosperous life, buying new things, going on holiday, etc etc makes me feel ill inside because I feel such a great burden and responsibility. I hate what I see in this world like materialism, corruption, greed, selfishness and people being exploited. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer – I just hate it. Yet if I lived like those in a developing country I would be miserable because I would miss all the comforts that I currently have.

Jesus said sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me. If Jesus was here in person I would drop everything without hesitation and follow Him. However I think (ye of little faith) that if I walked out the door right now with just the shirt on my back that I would just fall flat on my face and be among the thousands of other homeless poor people out there.

Please note I’m not just talking about one scripture here, the same messages of self denial, for example, ‘pick up your cross’ and ‘whoever shall lose his life shall find it’, and the rebukes to the rich are throughout the whole of the new testament. Most of Jesus teachings are not taught in churches because He gives a lot of warnings which are not popular feel good messages. So I’m not expecting many people to understand where I am coming from.

But please respond if you can relate to this?

 

[Esdra]

In Catholicism and orthodoxy there're monk and nun orders who live that. They're called medicant orders. Most well known are the Franciscans.

 

[A New Day]

I do not think that Jesus wanted us to be homeless, he was homeless Luke 9:58 Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

but he did not want us to be homeless, what he wants is that we follow him in whatever situation where we are, and to not consider what we are given our mammon. For example if I see someone that needs help and I can help him/her and I make that decision I should not look back, because what if I lay my hand on a woman and I look back to consider what if I help that woman to cross the road and the car hit us?

That starts with the look on Jesus alone that gives us the purity in our heart to not have more than a one mind and to not let the foxes have dens inside us, or thoughts about the hesitation in the christian life. Song of Solomon 2:15 Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom.

So you see that it all starts in the heart, let us say that you go further and you follow Jesus, if you have the heart of Judas Iscariot then what good will that be, the same is in the smallest things.

May God bless you that you have that mind in you, why not use it to help the homeless or the people that need help.

 

[x141]

Right now I feel like the rich man that went away sorrowful after hearing Jesus say that to him. (Matt 19:21,22)

Although I’m not rich by western standards I am so filthy rich compared with so many millions of people in the world that have nothing. I just feel so blessed to be born in a rich country but I feel that I have a greater responsibility before God in how I live my life and how I spend my money.

‘..For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..’ Luke 12:48

The thought of continuing to live a ‘normal,’ happy, prosperous life, buying new things, going on holiday, etc etc makes me feel ill inside because I feel such a great burden and responsibility. I hate what I see in this world like materialism, corruption, greed, selfishness and people being exploited. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer – I just hate it. Yet if I lived like those in a developing country I would be miserable because I would miss all the comforts that I currently have.

Jesus said sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me. If Jesus was here in person I would drop everything without hesitation and follow Him. However I think (ye of little faith) that if I walked out the door right now with just the shirt on my back that I would just fall flat on my face and be among the thousands of other homeless poor people out there.

Please note I’m not just talking about one scripture here, the same messages of self denial, for example, ‘pick up your cross’ and ‘whoever shall lose his life shall find it’, and the rebukes to the rich are throughout the whole of the new testament. Most of Jesus teachings are not taught in churches because He gives a lot of warnings which are not popular feel good messages. So I’m not expecting many people to understand where I am coming from.

But please respond if you can relate to this?

He did say the poor would be with you always, but the poor do not truly live without the word of God, even if we have all the things we ever wanted.

 

[ThunderTongue]

I think this is probably what matters most to God, yet is the most overlooked.

The only person Jesus mentions actually going to hell is a rich man who overlooked a poor man. That is something to take note of

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

This story is found in Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18:18-23.

Mat 19:16-22 KJV And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

The question he asked Jesus seems a good one but of course there is nothing good one can do to produce salvation. This rich guy was trusting in something he can do to get him eternal life and wanted Jesus to tell Him what he can do. He never trusted Jesus as his saviour.

Jesus obviously gave Him the law. He told him to keep the commandments. Why? When you try to keep the law, you realise very quickly that it is impossible and that will lead you to Jesus. All through the old testament it is quite clear that one could keep the law.

Gal 3:23-25 KJV But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

This rich young ruler actually lied that he had kept the law and so Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor and this guy proved that he could not keep the law because right there and then he broke the first one.

Exodus 20:3 KJV Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Contrast this with the story of rich tax collector called zacchaeus and you will notice that Jesus never told Zacchaeus to sell all he had.

 

[LottyH]

Thanks for your replies I guess what I am saying is that the realisation of how blessed I am (even though I'm not rich in the eyes of the western world), it makes me feel rich in the eyes of God so has made me feel a burden and a greater responsibility before Him.

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

You are welcome LottyH. God keeps on blessing us to be blessings to others and the peace from God in our hearts is a great indicator to follow.

Colossians 3:15 AMP
And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state to which as members of Christ's one body you were also called to live. And be thankful (appreciative), giving praise to God always.

 

[LottyH]

Sometimes I think of this subject in the context of the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself' (Matt 22:39).

What does it mean when you love yourself? I think it means that no matter what we think of ourselves we normally do everything within our power to feed and clothe ourselves, make sure we are warm and comfortable, not hungry or in pain, to seek comfort from others.

It doesn't matter how unselfish a person may be they normally meet their own needs first. Parents often give to their children before they give to themselves and this is an example of loving your neighbour as yourself. But how many people lay down their lives and love strangers or their enemies like they would their own children?

I don't, that's why I am feeling like this.

 

[Catherineanne]

But please respond if you can relate to this?

Yes, I can relate to what you are saying. We are rich, others starve to death. There is no way we can escape from the reality of this; even if we did give away all that we have, people would still starve.

I think the answer is to stop watching the news, and to focus on our own calling; where we are. We have been born in a particular place, at a particular time, and God must have a purpose for us being here. Our job is to find out what that purpose is, bearing in mind all that you have said; that we have a great responsibility as the rich of this world to behave as he would want us to with all that we have.

If we look at the scale of the problems of the world we might well fall into despair. Instead I think we should find a situation or place where we can make a real difference, and then make it. If every Christian on earth were to do this, the world would become a better place to live.

There are ways of sponsoring children and communities in the third world, and I think this is a very good thing to do. But equally good is to find somewhere local where we can serve, and then to do that to the best of our ability. If we also earn a living then all the better; we can offer both time and money. If all we have to offer is time, then that is fine. God will accept whatever we offer to him.

There is no reason to feel guilty about living a normal life; most people are called to do so. If you are called to a different kind of life, then you will know it, and you will not be able to rest until you find that different life. If you think this is the case then the place to start is by talking to your minister.

God be with you.

 

[Catherineanne]

Thanks for your replies I guess what I am saying is that the realisation of how blessed I am (even though I'm not rich in the eyes of the western world), it makes me feel rich in the eyes of God so has made me feel a burden and a greater responsibility before Him.

I am very low income and disabled. But some years ago I went to Bangladesh; in relation to the ordinary people there I am very rich indeed. Poor people there will clean car windscreens at traffic lights, and beg the equivalent of a penny for doing so. Rich people let them wipe the windows, and give them nothing; they say they can't give a penny at every light; God help us all!

Most people with any money at all have no idea whatsoever how rich they are; even those of my friends with the highest incomes still think themselves on the poor side of good. If you can recognise the riches that you actually have in relation to the rest of the world, then you have a very valuable sense of proportion. It is far more important to look at those who have less than we do, than those who have more.

 

[seeingeyes]

Sometimes I think of this subject in the context of the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself' (Matt 22:39).

What does it mean when you love yourself? I think it means that no matter what we think of ourselves we normally do everything within our power to feed and clothe ourselves, make sure we are warm and comfortable, not hungry or in pain, to seek comfort from others.

It doesn't matter how unselfish a person may be they normally meet their own needs first. Parents often give to their children before they give to themselves and this is an example of loving your neighbour as yourself. But how many people lay down their lives and love strangers or their enemies like they would their own children?

I don't, that's why I am feeling like this.

This is the Spirit talking to you. Don't ignore it.

Ask yourself how many people you would sell your house or car for in order to help them out financially. 3? 4? Don't be vague, put a number on it.

 

[shturt678]

Sometimes I think of this subject in the context of the command to 'love your neighbour as yourself' (Matt 22:39).

I cannot read your heart, but I can see the part where you have a genuine heart for the Cross! The + off-setting side. There is another side, the correctable "-" side, first and foremost the Kingdom of God is veiled to most today, i.e., rather than give the reasons for this, would rather be a part of the solution and move you immediately to Matt.13:44, etc.

Once in the Kingdom of God, then the agape, including the stunning warning in Lk.12:48, contextually, that you don't need to be made aware of yet, will come to pass, God's way. Hope this helps?

 

[QueSi]

This story is found in Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22 and Luke 18:18-23.

Mat 19:16-22 KJV And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

The question he asked Jesus seems a good one but of course there is nothing good one can do to produce salvation. This rich guy was trusting in something he can do to get him eternal life and wanted Jesus to tell Him what he can do. He never trusted Jesus as his saviour.

Jesus obviously gave Him the law. He told him to keep the commandments. Why? When you try to keep the law, you realise very quickly that it is impossible and that will lead you to Jesus. All through the old testament it is quite clear that one could keep the law.

Gal 3:23-25 KJV But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

This rich young ruler actually lied that he had kept the law and so Jesus told him to sell all he had and give to the poor and this guy proved that he could not keep the law because right there and then he broke the first one.

Exodus 20:3 KJV Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Contrast this with the story of rich tax collector called zacchaeus and you will notice that Jesus never told Zacchaeus to sell all he had.

How do you know he didn't trust Jesus as his savior?
Why do you think it is impossible to keep the law?
How do you know he lied and hadn't kept the commandments?

 

[QueSi]

Right now I feel like the rich man that went away sorrowful after hearing Jesus say that to him. (Matt 19:21,22)

Although I'm not rich by western standards I am so filthy rich compared with so many millions of people in the world that have nothing. I just feel so blessed to be born in a rich country but I feel that I have a greater responsibility before God in how I live my life and how I spend my money.

'..For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required..' Luke 12:48

The thought of continuing to live a 'normal,' happy, prosperous life, buying new things, going on holiday, etc etc makes me feel ill inside because I feel such a great burden and responsibility. I hate what I see in this world like materialism, corruption, greed, selfishness and people being exploited. The poor are getting poorer and the rich are getting richer - I just hate it. Yet if I lived like those in a developing country I would be miserable because I would miss all the comforts that I currently have.

Jesus said sell all you have, give to the poor and come follow me. If Jesus was here in person I would drop everything without hesitation and follow Him. However I think (ye of little faith) that if I walked out the door right now with just the shirt on my back that I would just fall flat on my face and be among the thousands of other homeless poor people out there.

Please note I'm not just talking about one scripture here, the same messages of self denial, for example, 'pick up your cross' and 'whoever shall lose his life shall find it', and the rebukes to the rich are throughout the whole of the new testament. Most of Jesus teachings are not taught in churches because He gives a lot of warnings which are not popular feel good messages. So I'm not expecting many people to understand where I am coming from.

But please respond if you can relate to this?

I can relate and have over the last few years given away almost everything that I owned save for gifts from friends and family which I find difficult to give away gifts as it makes me think the gift giver might assume that I didn't appreciate the gift. I love...love the feeling of not owning much and giving away what I had to the needy. I recommend it to everyone.

 

[REPHAIAHPEDAHEL]

John 3:16 is how to have everlasting life and the reason why Jesus pointed him back to the law is because he didn't trust Jesus as his saviour.

John 3:16 NKJV
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

The law was given to strengthen sin.

1 Corinthians 15:56 NKJV
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

James 2:10 NKJV
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

You have to keep the whole law in order for God to bless you and when you break one commandment, you are guilty of breaking all the commandments.

Those commandments have to be kept in the heart also!

Matthew 5:27-28 NKJV
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' [28] But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Jesus is the only one who kept the whole law for us.

Romans 8:3 NKJV
For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,

Romans 10:4 NKJV
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Galatians 2:21 NKJV
I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

 

[Bobinator]

Thanks for your replies I guess what I am saying is that the realisation of how blessed I am (even though I'm not rich in the eyes of the western world), it makes me feel rich in the eyes of God so has made me feel a burden and a greater responsibility before Him.

Keep in mind that our prosperity came at the cost of blood, tears and sweat from our country's forefathers. Other countries did not pay that price and are reaping what they sowed. King Solomon and his subjects all greatly benefited from the blood, sweat and tears during King David's time. Solomon was the richest man alive during his time. But fear not. In a short while, we may all be in the poor house. Enjoy it while you can.

Regarding the rich young man Jesus spoke to, you need to consider that scripture in the right context. The young man wasn't asking about salvation. He wanted what Jesus had. He wanted to heal the sick, perform miracles and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. He shared how he had followed the letter of the Law from his youth. In one gospel, it said that Jesus loved him, but that he lacked one thing- he had too much money. Those who want to follow Jesus and accomplish the things He did, must deny themselves and follow after the Spirit. Having lots of money will prevent you from walking in faith and depending totally on God.

It is not a sin to be rich. Otherwise, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Solomon, etc. would all have been in trouble. The exception I would make are for those in the ministry living in mansions and flying around in Lear jets, making merchandise of the people through the gospel. At least the men of the Bible made their wealth through commerce and fair trade.

 

[LottyH]

Thanks everyone for your replies, its good to hear different perspectives. I fully accept that we are saved by grace and not works and there is absolutely nothing I can do to earn my salvation. I know faith without works is dead (James 2:17) but that doesn't condemn me, as there are many good works we can do. But its something I feel deep inside me and I believe its from God, just not sure where this is going to lead me..

 

[Catherineanne]

Thanks everyone for your replies, its good to hear different perspectives. I fully accept that we are saved by grace and not works and there is absolutely nothing I can do to earn my salvation. I know faith without works is dead (James 2:17) but that doesn't condemn me, as there are many good works we can do. But its something I feel deep inside me and I believe its from God, just not sure where this is going to lead me..

Well, as I said above, the first place might well be to see your minister and talk to him or her about this. Every journey begins with the first step; that is yours, I think.

God be with you, Lotty.

 

[LottyH]

Thanks again for all your replies. Although I haven't replied individually I have read each one thoroughly and really appreciate your thoughts and efforts to reply.