Desiring to be rich is a snare.

[Phil 1:21]

Im thinking lifestyle of the rich and famous. 8000 square feet would be closer.

Good to know.

Yes. I seek the kingdom and the Lord supplies my needs.

Perhaps He also supplies someone else with a 8,000 square foot home.

 

[RaymondG]

Im sure you know what a mansion is. I use my computer for fellowship, and also for learning skills online, and as far as a roof over my head goes, its not a mansion. My home is about 800 sq ft.

To a man who has never had a home....your home would be a mansion. You could have gotten a 400 Sq ft home and gave the rest of the money to the poor. Maybe you feel this is the minimum requirement.........but there are some who are in small homes who say you could do with less. It is all subjective. When we judge...we are immediately judged.....like the bible states.

 

[W2L]

Sure and keeping up with the Jones can be coveting. They have a new car, I want a new car so I will look as well off or as important as they do, or even out doing them with something better.

Mat 23:5 `And all their works they do to be seen by men, and they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the fringes of their garments,
Mat 23:6 they love also the chief couches in the supper, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

Thanks Hank77

 

[Hank77]

Per google

man·sion
ˈman(t)SH(ə)n/
noun

1. a large, impressive house.
   
   So I would say a larger and costlier house than what is needed for shelter for and individual/single family. If a house takes away from your resources to care for your neighbor, it may be a mansion.

I'd say that one might have a couple extra bedrooms for visiting family or friends without it being considered too big.

Now that we have an empty nest and two extra bedrooms most of the time, we have been considering volunteering our home as a safe house for abused women and their children. Years ago I knew a retired Christian couple who did this in a partnership between the courts, the women's resource center, and the church.
I only mention this for the consideration of others on this forum who may be able to do the same or something similar where your mansion can be a blessing to those in need.

 

[RaymondG]

1 Timothy 6:9 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.

Any thoughts on this scripture?

Our father is rich.....so we shouldnt desire to be rich. Because we are already.....

What you are suggesting is for everyone to remain stationary and do nothing to improve themselves and, by extension, doing nothing to be able to help others more.

The rich dont desire to be rich....because they already are. Only the poor can desire to be rich...... so it seems that you wish for the poor to stay poor.

I want the poor to get everything they want.....and until they are able to realize that they can, I am willing to give it to them.

 

[claninja]

Anything bigger than a cardboard box?

John the Baptist lived in the wild and Jesus had no place to lay his head. So if God gives a cardboard box to further the kingdom, I suggest you put it to good use.

 

[christianforumsuser]

It carries more meaning than that
Be poor in spirit

So seek spiritual things...not just seeing what your eyes know and call it spiritual
The carnal person might seek visible fortunes...or say they're content with the riches they have
Such is not a spiritual man.
Be spiritually poor

 

[claninja]

I'd say that one might have a couple extra bedrooms for visiting family or friends without it being considered too big.

Now that we have an empty nest and two extra bedrooms most of the time, we have been considering volunteering our home as a safe house for abused women and their children. Years ago I knew a retired Christian couple who did this in a partnership between the courts, the women's resource center, and the church.
I only mention this for the consideration of others on this forum who may be able to do the same or something similar where your mansion can be a blessing to those in need.

I agree, maybe if more Christians did this, there would be less homeless. But the American Dream is a dangerous snare and we often Choose comfort (myself included)

Deuteronomy 15

 

[Phil 1:21]

John the Baptist lived in the wild and Jesus had no place to lay his head. So if God gives a cardboard box to further the kingdom, I suggest you put it to good use.

I use it to store my summer clothes.

 

[claninja]

I use it to store my summer clothes.

Well if it furthers the kingdom, then Praise God!

 

[W2L]

Good to know.

Perhaps He also supplies someone else with a 8,000 square foot home.

I don't believe that God would bless a man with a mansion when some people are homeless and others are in poverty, hungry and struggling to survive. You see, its not the money here that is an issue, but rather the love of money, in the form of a luxurious mansion.

 

[RaymondG]

I don't believe that God would bless a man with a mansion when some people are homeless and others are in poverty, hungry and struggling to survive. You see, its not the money here that is an issue, but rather the love of money, in the form of a luxurious mansion.

So are you saying that the devil is the one blessing people with mansions?

 

[W2L]

To a man who has never had a home....your home would be a mansion. You could have gotten a 400 Sq ft home and gave the rest of the money to the poor. Maybe you feel this is the minimum requirement.........but there are some who are in small homes who say you could do with less. It is all subjective. When we judge...we are immediately judged.....like the bible states.

Its not subjective but is spiritual. So i'm judging? Is that it? Are we not to judge the truth?

Matthew 7:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 

[Phil 1:21]

I don't believe that God would bless a man with a mansion when some people are homeless and others are in poverty, hungry and struggling to survive.

But he'd bless them with a smaller house and a computer?

 

[christianforumsuser]

He gives people what they want. If people wanted what the Bible promises, He wouldn't let them down for becoming a humble childlike listener. I really hope and believe even the richest people will see how little is to be found in the world. Some poor people like sin and have more hope in the world still.

It's more blessed to give. I don't need a sports car to be happy. Why not help a soul. Have your own helped first. Be a rich and wise steward

 

[Phil 1:21]

Its not subjective but is spiritual. So i'm judging? Is that it? Are we not to judge the truth?

Matthew 7:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Perhaps he’s pointing out the irony of calling others “carnally minded” for having more than you while ignoring the fact that you have more than others. It’s that whole plank in the eye thing.

 

[W2L]

So are you saying that the devil is the one blessing people with mansions?

No, people work for them, or some steal for them.

No where in NT doctrine do i see godly rich men living in mansions. I see Godly men selling their land and giving to the poor. This world is passing away. They knew this and built their house on the Lord.


1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

2 Corinthians 8:14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”[a]

Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

 

[RaymondG]

Its not subjective but is spiritual. So i'm judging? Is that it? Are we not to judge the truth?

Matthew 7:19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

I see no fault in you judging. Just letting you know that you are spiritually judged when you judge others. "Judge not!" was not a command given to stop the one being judged from feeling bad.....It is to help the one doing the judging. Everyone is free to accept or reject the help.

The scripture you posted will always be true every time you post it. But ones interpretation of it depends on where their heart is. Heaven is the bees knees.....so I could care less about material riches anyone here has. You want a mansion? Get it... But let me also tell you about the mansion in the sky.....the one that will never deteriorate or break down....

 

[RaymondG]

No, people work for them, or some steal for them.

No where in NT doctrine do i see godly rich men living in mansions. I see Godly men selling their land and giving to the poor. This world is passing away. They knew this and built their house on the Lord.


1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short, so that from now on even those who have wives should be as though they had none, 30 those who weep as though they did not weep, those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, those who buy as though they did not possess, 31 and those who use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away.

2 Corinthians 8:14 but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. 15 As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”[a]

Acts 4:32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.

How do you decide which parts of the bible to interpret spiritually, and which to apply to the outward world?

 

[Anguspure]

I saw this piece doing the rounds a while ago:

"If you have food in your fridge, clothes on your back, a roof over your head and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of the world.

If you have money in the bank, your wallet, and some spare change you are among the top 8% of the world’s wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness you are more blessed than the million people who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the agony of imprisonment or torture, or the horrible pangs of starvation you are luckier than 500 million people alive and suffering.

If you can read this message you are more fortunate than 3 billion people in the world who cannot read it at all."