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Sell your possessions and give to the poor

tonychanyt

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Matthew 19:21 Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

If you are convicted of this, you can do so. However, Jesus didn't demand this from every Christian.

Luke 12:32 Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Joseph of Arimathea was not convicted to sell all his possessions.
Mat 27:57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. 58 He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock.

Many of the early believers in Jerusalem were convicted when they first joined the church.
Acts 2:44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need.

Not everyone was asked to sell their possessions. Logistically, it wasn't practical. Later, Jerusalem church was running out of money. Paul wrote concerning a gift collection to help them out in
2 Corinthians 9:5 So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

It is up to you to decide whether to give or not.

6 The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.​

It is up to you to decide how much to give.

7 Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.​

In any case, do it cheerfully.
 

notworthconsideration

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There aren't any apostles like the 12 today. So no one's feet to lay the proceeds at.
The church has taken over the job of receiving the combined contributions of the people. And they faithfully use it as God expects them to, yes? They use the money primarily to take care of the poor, as God instructed us. So yeah, there are people who stepped in to take the responsibility that was given to them by God… and through that, we give to the poor, sorta…
 
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Gregory Thompson

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The church has taken over the job of receiving the combined contributions of the people. And they faithfully use it as God expects them to, yes? They use the money primarily to take care of the poor, as God instructed us. So yeah, there are people who stepped in to take the responsibility that was given to them by God… and through that, we give to the poor, sorta…
They're not like the apostles though. So that trust factor is reduced significantly.
 
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notworthconsideration

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They're not like the apostles though. So that trust factor is reduced significantly.
Yeah, I’m sorry- I was in a bit of a sarcastic mood when I responded… never a good way to enter a conversation.
However, it is true that with the expense of buildings, programs, & choir robes, pooling our resources to support each other has been misdirected into budgets and expenses. Church is run like a business because the instructions for our meeting together as a family have been replaced by preaching.
Church marketing firms have paved the way for pastors to earn up to 60% of the tithe that they tell you is your duty to give to God.
Payroll, property costs/maintenance, curriculum, utilities, all dilute God’s instructions for us to thrive together.
 
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ozso

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I remember in Exodus when the people were asked to contribute their gold and possessions to the building of the Tabernacle, they were so generous they were finally told they could stop giving because more than enough had been donated. Exodus 36:4-7
 
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Gregory Thompson

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the tithe that they tell you is your duty to give to God.
I recall a verse in the proverbs that says giving to the poor is giving to God, so it's not a good marketing strategy if enough people decide to cut out the middle man.
 
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Gregory Thompson

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I remember in Exodus when the people were asked to contribute their gold and possessions to the building of the Tabernacle, they were so generous they were finally told they could stop giving because more than enough had been donated. Exodus 36:4-7
I recall they had Moses, and lots of wonders of God lavished on them as well.

What I take away from it is that people only treat an effort as "of God" when it is obvious God is joining in the work.
 
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notworthconsideration

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I recall a verse in the proverbs that says giving to the poor is giving to God, so it's not a good marketing strategy if enough people decide to cut out the middle man.
People are too weak to do what God instructed in that regard. They’re regularly told that is in addition to supporting the ‘church’ first. There’s a very strong co-dependency between the people & the building.

As long as the sheep feed the shepherd, the shepherd will tell them what they want to hear, and status quo remains.
 
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tonychanyt

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People are too weak to do what God instructed in that regard. They’re regularly told that is in addition to supporting the ‘church’ first. There’s a very strong co-dependency between the people & the building.

As long as the sheep feed the shepherd, the shepherd will tell them what they want to hear, and status quo remains.
Good insights. Thanks :)
 
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Gregory Thompson

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People are too weak to do what God instructed in that regard. They’re regularly told that is in addition to supporting the ‘church’ first. There’s a very strong co-dependency between the people & the building.

As long as the sheep feed the shepherd, the shepherd will tell them what they want to hear, and status quo remains.
That's kind of like the levites in the old testament, they were dependent on the land owners to pay them offerings .. so they acquiesced to their demands.
 
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notworthconsideration

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That's kind of like the levites in the old testament, they were dependent on the land owners to pay them offerings .. so they acquiesced to their demands.
So true, and if they act the same toward their people as the priests did, they’ll get the same… (and is the reason why there’s a mere remnant left for God)
 
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