Renouncing Wealth?

[hithesh]

Paraphrasing Christ:

"And the first shall be last, and the last shall be first; we should be the servants of humanity. Surrender your wealth and belongings for the welfare of those who suffer from no possessions, not even the bone.

Love all, even your enemies. Be merciful. There is no greater love than to renounce your life for the anguish of others. Do not value your own life, for life is momentary. For those that value life, will see that I quickly take it away.”

‘Everyone's suffering is also your suffering’

I find these ideas to be so moving, and yet the least discussed, or talked about among Christians. Do we really love all as ourselves?

As a former atheist, then deist, then agnostic, and finally someone who has found such meaning and yet such internal conflict in the moral teachings of Christ, I have come here in hopes that someone well guide me, or perhaps someone will guide you, into what it really means to be a Christian.

But before I start, I want to tell you about a Christian father I knew.

He had three young boys, and him and his wife both worked, and they were saving as much money as they could to buy a Camry, not just a car to get around, but a Camry--because Camrys are status symbols in my small community.

They both worked small jobs, so in order to save enough, they starved their own children. These three boys were very thin and malnutritioned, and their teeth were rotting, because their parents wouldn't take them to the dentist, because the dentist was too costly. After a number of years, such sacrifice had provided a green Camry, all at the cost of the lives of three children's childhoods.

I don't think many of us will argue the tragedy in such thinking.
How selfish of parents to desire wealth, over the welfare of their children.

Then I think of the story of the wealthy man who stored all his grain, to enjoy on a later date, and God calling him a fool, because the wealthy man's life was set to be taken away that same night.

And the other day I seen a picture of a child eating another man’s piece of bread from the floor, and other pictures of children whose faces showed such hunger and misery. And I've only mentioned children’s suffering because many of us are at least somewhat moved by the image of children.

It isn’t hard to see that there is so much suffering in this world. And if we feel such injustice, by the image of the 'father' I described, shouldn't we also feel such pain at the image of ourselves? As Christians we are commanded to love everyone as ourselves, and yet we seek the most trivial of wealth, while those we are told to love, starve.

When I say the trivial of wealth, I mean everything above what we need to sustain our own life. Should we really enjoy the fruits of our labor, at such cost?

To make this issue even more complex can we agree, that a purchase of luxury items: BMWs, designer purses, fine woven sheets, pretty furniture, leather seats, are really only desires of the flesh? Is it selfish to pursue these vanities, in a world of so much suffering?

Can we see the power in such a gesture, of Christians renouncing their wealth, for their true Christian love for humanity? Wouldn't that message be so much more powerful, than any sermon, or 'track', handout? Do we love our neighbor and enemy enough to save him? How can we preach God's love to others, when our own love for others, rarely goes beyond words. And if our love for others is suppose to be as strong as how we love our own friends and family, why do we allow these others to starve and suffer, when we can sacrifice so little, for their well being?

I am in deep despair thinking of these things. I deeply love this message of Christ, and yet like so many I enjoy feeding my flesh. I so deeply wish that I could renounce these desires of mine, for such a worthy cause, and yet I feel so weak, and selfish. What do I do? What should you do?

 

[wayfaring man]

This is the Law of The Spirit .

Hear and understand God's Word , and then apply The godly principles therein , as it is within your capacity to do so willingly , joyfully , ( " for God Loves a cheerful giver " See 2nd Cor. 9:7)

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. <-----> 2nd Corinthians 8:12

Then as we reap the fruits of our labors , we receive confirmation as to the degree of the quality of the viability amongst the seeds we have sown .

Which , if confirmed as , " full of life " , promise , and potential ; then we are encouraged and embolden to pusue the realized objective yet more and more , unto completeness . While others also are inspired and encouraged by the testimony of Jesus shining forth in our life .

But if , our returns lack evidence of God's Goodness & Grace ; then it's time to reevaluate our concepts , our applications , our motivations , and approach ; taking notes along the way regarding any lessons we have learned ; pressing onward in our quest to serve God acceptably bringing Praise and Honor to Christ , in the sight of man and angels ; remaining also as students of God's Word ; seeking the sharpening of our senses via the gift of discernment opening unto us the context and meaning of Scripture .

Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
For every man shall bear his own burden.
Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. <-----> Galatians 6:2-10

We're all under the same definite godly principles , and it's important that each of us honor those principles in and by our life ; but the exact manner , or details of how we honor those principles is where the excitement of our Liberty as individuals in Christ can be found !

Failing this wonderous approach , we likely either settle in an unprincipled , spiritually depressed , defiling and defeated lifestyle , or end up as robotic , copycat , oppressive , religious , regimes which feel it's our place to coerce and dictate even the smallest aspects of discipline upon others , and how they should think , feel , speak , and do .

When instead we could be leading by example ,like Jesus Did , with the calm joy and loving meekness of One with a secure inner peace , which is Sustained by a good conscience towards God , which none can take away , for it is founded upon The Rock of Truthful Identification , with The Power of God's Own Spirit Bearing Witness . Amen .

As it has been given me to describe a small portion of This Revelation . For Jesus' Sake , and all who are finding their life in Him . Amen .

wm

 

[Amylisa8]

Amen to both of you, both of your posts.

This is something that too much of the church doesn't think about often enough. I am guilty of that too.

Please forgive us and help us, Yeshua! Only You can make us truly see.