Standing for money

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I occasionally listen for an hour or so (about as much as I can stand) to "Christian financial advisor" Dan Celia and his "Financial Issues" program on American Family Radio. He characterizes his work as a "ministry." He touts something that he calls "biblically responsible investing," a concept so flawed and utterly bogus that I want to weep. Unbridled greed is "being a good steward" of the "resources" with which God has "blessed you." Caller after caller is obsessed with earning 3.29% rather than 2.47%. Many of them are almost orgasmic over the way Dan's "ministry" has "blessed" them. It's utterly obscene. (Lest you wonder why I listen to AFR at all, I do like to keep in touch with just how crazy this segment of "Christianity" is getting.)

When the eye is dark, (greedy, stingy, unmerciful, not towards God)
the whole body is full of darkness - no light at all.
Where the treasure is, the heart follows.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Keep in mind that most of money is being used to fuel the most wicked and evil organizations on Earth.

NO.

Keep JESUS IN MIND. Those whose mind is STAYED ON CHRIST< is KEPT (Guarded Fiercely, Strongly with A Strong Guard, by God) IN PERFECT PEACE!)

 

[AlexDTX]

For those who got their knickers in a twist, I perhaps should make clear that I am NOT suggesting that the VAST MAJORITY of people are greedy, money-consumed, immoral, unethical, ungodly fiends. That VAST MAJORITY obviously includes a wide spectrum of attitudes toward money and God.

I simply say, "For the VAST MAJORITY of all people, money is more important than God - money is what is worshipped."

Many Christians in the USA have never experienced poverty as believers. When money is not available, it is the rare time when a believer can see how God can take care of them without the usual means of support. If one is poverty struck without Christ, poverty will also blind you to God's provision and increase idolatry of money in a poor person's heart because they don't realize that the minimum standard is contentment with food and clothing. But believers who understand this will see that God always provides the minimum standard for survival. Everything above that is simply blessing. Living at that minimum standard means a willingness to eat food with raven spit, or being content with wild locust and honey.

My point being that it is easy to lose sight of the Lord's minimum standard and get caught up in the higher standard the world says we should live in. Electronic toys is an example. Having a functioning computer or cell phone is not enough for the world. Upgrades are constantly foisted on us to continue sales. I fell into that trap for a long time and realized that it is a money trap built on purpose to constantly take money away from us. I turned to Linux for a long while because they remain stable and functional without a need for upgrades, though one can upgrade for free. Likewise I refused to have a smart phone for a very long time since my flip phone still worked. Later I got a generic smart phone because carrying a small wireless computer with phone capacity was very helpful.

My take away in this reply is that it is possible to keep track of God's standard and to continue living by faith, but it takes a resolve of mind to do so. Otherwise we get swept away in the commercial traps.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Many Christians in the USA have never experienced poverty as believers. When money is not available, it is the rare time when a believer can see how God can take care of them without the usual means of support.

As the believers in ACTS , those following Jesus today also give up everything to be His disciple. He shows us how to live, as we are His permanent disciples in His training, as His Word Says, as they were in ACTS. The "rich are brought low" and rejoice in being brought low, while the poor are lifted up (in Ekklesia), and rejoice in being lifted up.

 

[S.O.J.I.A.]

the OP is off base.

everything in moderation.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

Jesus never said to SIN in moderation.
Nor to practce greed nor idolatry in moderation.
Nor to TRUST JESUS in moderation .... and
Jesus said never to trust in mammon, nor in the flesh (i.e. no moderation involved at all, in these things)

 

[Toro]

It is more, where money rests in your heart, than what it is spent on.

Jesus said to give to Ceasar that which is Caesar's... and that which is God's to God.

IF I give money to the world, taxes, groceries, rent/mortgage, travel expenses (car/plane whatever).... etc. etc... am I not giving to the world that which is the world's? IF I give my heart to God... that which is God's... created to love worship and look to Him as a Father...open to being made more in His likeness.... am I not walking in obedience to that purpose?

Does God value the money a person spends more than He desires their heart?

That is not to "stand up for money" but to simply say that money is a great tool, but a horrible master.

The power that one gives it is their own choice. Just like any other sin... but one must choose what place they give it in their life... even inaction is a choice.

The flesh, excellent tool, horrible master.

Food /drink, great to be used for energy, horrible to allow it to rule over you.

IS money to be thrown around carelessly because it is a tool? No... it.. like every tool is to be used responsibly and with purpose... but using the tool is not evil.... it only becomes evil if it moves ftom "tool" to "master".