Should we sell our possessions to gain eternal life?

MartyF said:

Nope. It isn’t there.

Are you thinking of this?

Acts 4:32-37 NLT
[32] All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. [33] The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God's great blessing was upon them all. [34] There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them [35] and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. [36] For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means "Son of Encouragement"). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. [37] He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

It explained how the apostles were financed. It does not say “If everyone sold their possessions and gave to the poor, then everyone would have their needs met.”

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Of course not everyone. The poor especially don't have to sell anything. What they possess is more likely an essential need for their survival.

MartyF said:

Yep, a bunch of Marxist doo-doo.

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I hope you find what you are looking for.

OP - You raise a very important topic here. While I do not believe that we have to sell our possessions, we had better remember that Jesus emphasized the need to help the poor. If we do little or nothing to share our resources with the poor, then we may be in for a shock when we die and stand before God.

Basil the Great said:

OP - You raise a very important topic here. While I do not believe that we have to sell our possessions, we had better remember that Jesus emphasized the need to help the poor. If we do little or nothing to share our resources with the poor, then we may be in for a shock when we die and stand before God.

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It's about the command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

1 John 3:17-18 love involves actions too.

Kaon said:

I hope you find what you are looking for.

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Not lookng for anything. Just calling it what it is.

timewerx said:

It's about the command to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

1 John 3:17-18 love involves actions too.

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Right. If everyone though of each other as brothers and sisters, then "economy" wouldn't be an issue.

What brother or sister wouldn't give the clothes off of their back to help their family?

There is really no earthly system that promotes that - it certainly isn't in any economic system conceived of by man.

timewerx said:

Ironically, the value of a Honda and Toyota is well met by its reliability and low cost maintenance.

A bit more expensive than local brands. But if you keep a Honda or Toyota for a long time, you will actually save more money than having cheaper local brands.

Obviously, a large and powerful SUV of any brand would be over the top if you only commute around the city. In fact there are plenty of simpler and economical options for more rugged or offroad applications, like a basic, diesel pickup truck.

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the question is not how reliable something is, its how much excess it is so there is no irony. rather than get a import or domestic why not the bus? why not carpool? our western mindset says I can afford a car (or I can afford payments on a car) and I have daily travel needs so I must need a car.

If excess is what we are trying to avoid, rather than look at ferraris and lamborghinis as your litmus test could maybe $20/30 grand for a car be better spent? not living in excess requires an adjustment of living but looking at what you got and saying at least I don't have the gold plated edition is not a responsible way of approaching it. what would be better is looking at what you got and asking can I do without not looking at what you don't have and patting yourself on the back.

DamianWarS said:

the question is not how reliable something is, its how much excess it is so there is no irony. rather than get a import or domestic why not the bus? why not carpool? our western mindset says I can afford a car (or I can afford payments on a car) and I have daily travel needs so I must need a car.

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If there is safe and reliable public transport available then you should go with public transportation.

Yes, I'm aware of the Western mindset. "It's MY money that I worked hard for so I'm spending it on things I can afford...for myself or my own family...."

But that is not the instructions given to us by Christ through the Bible. Christ said to use worldly wealth to gain friends....In context, it means to use our money to find the lost sheep, to make disciples and to help them in their time of need.

If excess is what we are trying to avoid, rather than look at ferraris and lamborghinis as your litmus test could maybe $20/30 grand for a car be better spent? not living in excess requires an adjustment of living but looking at what you got and saying at least I don't have the gold plated edition is not a responsible way of approaching it. what would be better is looking at what you got and asking can I do without not looking at what you don't have and patting yourself on the back.

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You're right, I should mind my own business.

But what I'm saying is rarely preached in churches anymore. How else would other Christians know in the face of rampant false teachings if I don't say anything?

The less you spend on yourself, the more you can spend for things Jesus instructed us to do. Jesus told us not to save/find/love our lives here on Earth. Those who do will forfeit their chance to have eternal life. The less you care for your own life on Earth, the more resources you have for God. And remember it is never our money no matter how hard or honest we worked for it. The money doesn't belong to us. It belongs to God and how we treat the least is how we treat Him.

mcarans said:

Should we sell our possessions to gain eternal life? The article considers Mark 10:17-25.

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No - unless the Lord specifically commands us to.

When Jesus said to the man, "you know the commandments", he only quoted those that pertained to loving your neighbour. The first few commandments are about loving God, having no other god and not making an idol. It would seem that money was this man's first love; an idol that came between him and God - so Jesus told him to give it up. This is entirely consistent with his teaching about putting God first, Matthew 6:33, and the first commandment which is to love God.
The rich young man could not do this; he went away sad, because he had much money.

The church needs money, charities need money, putting on huge events for non Christians, needs money.
It's not wrong to have money and help finance these things; as long as getting, making and spending money isn't our priority/goal/god.

mcarans said:

Should we sell our possessions to gain eternal life? The article considers Mark 10:17-25.

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I thought this story was told to explain a spiritual truth, rather than a natural one. That this man is looking at what Jesus said in only a natural way, so he misses the point of how to enter the kingdom of heaven. He thinks he has to give all his natural possessions, but it's actually about selling what he has spiritually-a wealth of knowledge and experience- to the poor in spirit. Selling always refers to preaching the Word. If he focuses on spiritual things, he will find the Way

mcarans said:

Should we sell our possessions to gain eternal life? The article considers Mark 10:17-25.

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In Mark 10:17-25, Lord Jesus could see this young man's heart, that he was a slave to all that wealth and status. In his case, he needed to unload in order to be free to follow Christ. This is obviously not always the answer for everyone who has money, or any talents or gifts. We see all through the Old and New Testaments of those who did have wealth, and their hearts were dedicated to God, for instance: Job, Abraham, Isaac, Joseph, Daniel, and some of the Kings of Israel to name a few. In the NT we see many Christians who had wealth, as mentioned in Acts and some of the Epistles. So, in the case of Christians who do make good money honestly, or whatever gifts we may have, our new life purpose in this world is to follow Christ into a life of service to others - to radiate the love of God to others. In this way, we fulfill the entire law of God. So, as followers of Christ we now have a New purpose for living... Only those who listen to and follow Christ receive Eternal Life, which is the New Life in Christ. The New Life is living by the Spirit of Christ who empowers our faith to live out that life of Love. You cannot live by the Spirit if you have not repented of your life of slavery to selfish ambition, and then, have committed your life to following Christ. That is why Christ said that to receive life we must deny self, take up your cross and follow Him. And this command of Christ to those who believe is taught and expounded upon throughout the New Testament, and is represented in Baptism - dying to the old self and rising to a New Life. So the New Life is more about re-purposing your talents, gifts, wealth, and even status to help others, and to share the Gospel. That is now your mission in life as a Christian.

Karola said:

You didn't answer the question. Have you given up everything you have for Christ? Including, a laptop, computer or mobile phone with the internet on it?

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The question misses the entire lesson. If the laptop, computer or mobile phone with the internet is used to communicate with family and friends in the Lord, and to use for the purpose of radiating God's Love and the Gospel, then why would we want t take those tools away from Christians? I mean, writing materials were high end items in the times of the Apostle Paul, but look how wonderfully he used these tools to serve Christ. Should Paul rather have said, sorry I can't write any of this down because I should be giving it all away.

timewerx said:

In the advent of automation, soon, even the basic manual jobs will disappear.

Jesus also told us to be wise as serpent. IT is the way to go and probably one of the few remaining jobs in the future if you're not a business owner.

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Jesus also said to take no thought for the morrow, what you will eat or wear..... So you cannot use this as an excuse to make your luxuries acceptable while condemning the luxuries of others. You have to understand that when you judge other, you are immediately judged.

Basil the Great said:

OP - You raise a very important topic here. While I do not believe that we have to sell our possessions, we had better remember that Jesus emphasized the need to help the poor. If we do little or nothing to share our resources with the poor, then we may be in for a shock when we die and stand before God.

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I believe those who believe that the amount of poverty they live in or the amount of money they give away will help their chances of getting into heaven, will be in for a shock at well.

Kaon said:

Right. If everyone though of each other as brothers and sisters, then "economy" wouldn't be an issue.

What brother or sister wouldn't give the clothes off of their back to help their family?

There is really no earthly system that promotes that - it certainly isn't in any economic system conceived of by man.

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I would say that I love you as a brother or sister......therefore I wish for you to be rich....and receive everything your heart desires....

Are you telling me that If i, instead, looked at the poorest person around you and wanted you to have no more than they (and give away everything you have more than them), I would be loving you more?

timewerx said:

If there is safe and reliable public transport available then you should go with public transportation.

Yes, I'm aware of the Western mindset. "It's MY money that I worked hard for so I'm spending it on things I can afford...for myself or my own family...."

But that is not the instructions given to us by Christ through the Bible. Christ said to use worldly wealth to gain friends....In context, it means to use our money to find the lost sheep, to make disciples and to help them in their time of need.



You're right, I should mind my own business.

But what I'm saying is rarely preached in churches anymore. How else would other Christians know in the face of rampant false teachings if I don't say anything?

The less you spend on yourself, the more you can spend for things Jesus instructed us to do. Jesus told us not to save/find/love our lives here on Earth. Those who do will forfeit their chance to have eternal life. The less you care for your own life on Earth, the more resources you have for God. And remember it is never our money no matter how hard or honest we worked for it. The money doesn't belong to us. It belongs to God and how we treat the least is how we treat Him.

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It seems that you are ok with everyone owning what you consider a need for yourself (internet, computers etc..) and give reasons for why it is ok (maybe fellowship, future of jobs etc...) And you condemn the possession of anything that you dont have.... It also seems clear that you would add things to your list of (ok to own and be saved) that you start feeling you need or came to possess. Do you not see this?

Llleopard said:

I thought this story was told to explain a spiritual truth, rather than a natural one. That this man is looking at what Jesus said in only a natural way, so he misses the point of how to enter the kingdom of heaven. He thinks he has to give all his natural possessions, but it's actually about selling what he has spiritually-a wealth of knowledge and experience- to the poor in spirit. Selling always refers to preaching the Word. If he focuses on spiritual things, he will find the Way

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Indeed, our ingrown beliefs are the only thing we own that doesnt belong to God......and it is the hardest thing to give up. We would fight and debate to the end to defend them and keep them intact.

RaymondG said:

It seems that you are ok with everyone owning what you consider a need for yourself (internet, computers etc..) and give reasons for why it is ok (maybe fellowship, future of jobs etc...) And you condemn the possession of anything that you dont have.... It also seems clear that you would add things to your list of (ok to own and be saved) that you start feeling you need or came to possess. Do you not see this?

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I used to have a car but gave it up when situation in life changed - moving back to the city - didn't need a car anymore when public transporation was actually more convenient and a lot cheaper.

Anyway, try not to look at me but look at what the scriptures say and what the disciples did. Those verses or teachings of Christ and St. John in the Bible that supports what I'm saying is rarely preached in churches. It's pretty obvious why even pastors don't preach it

Basil the Great said:

Jesus emphasized the need to help the poor.

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No. He never emphasized that. You missed the entire point of the Gospel.