Wealth or Poverty?

[GreenMunchkin]

I've known Christians who believe we are all called to a life of financial poverty. Have heard sermons by pastors who preach that we're to "name it and claim it" and live a life of great wealth... what are your thoughts, please?

Thank you

 

[desmalia]

In short? They're both wrong.
God blesses us each in different ways according to His plan. We should not be focused on whether we have great finances or not, and instead seek after HIM. He is what matters. Material possessions are nothing in comparison. And if He does bless some with financial wealth, it is their/our responsibility to use it wisely, remembering that He is the one who provided it. Financial gain is not a direct result of higher levels of faith. In fact there are many who have nothing, but greater faith than most. Nor are we called to live dirt poor. We do the best with what we are given, according to His plan and His glory.

 

[Carolyn H]

In short? They're both wrong.
God blesses us each in different ways according to His plan. We should not be focused on whether we have great finances or not, and instead seek after HIM. He is what matters. Material possessions are nothing in comparison. And if He does bless some with financial wealth, it is their/our responsibility to use it wisely, remembering that He is the one who provided it. Financial gain is not a direct result of higher levels of faith. In fact there are many who have nothing, but greater faith than most. Nor are we called to live dirt poor. We do the best with what we are given, according to His plan and His glory.

I have been richer and poorer than I am now. But I am in one of the best spiritual places I have ever been in. Spiritually, I am rich indeed!

 

[JustAsIam77]

In short? They're both wrong.
God blesses us each in different ways according to His plan. We should not be focused on whether we have great finances or not, and instead seek after HIM. He is what matters. Material possessions are nothing in comparison. And if He does bless some with financial wealth, it is their/our responsibility to use it wisely, remembering that He is the one who provided it. Financial gain is not a direct result of higher levels of faith. In fact there are many who have nothing, but greater faith than most. Nor are we called to live dirt poor. We do the best with what we are given, according to His plan and His glory.

I agree. I can find nothing in scripture regarding this current day "prosperity preaching" that tells Christians God wants and desires for them to be materially wealthy on earth. The treasure God has in waiting for us after our time here... is beyond our ability to fathom. The material things of this earth rust and fade away. Not so in the eternal kingdom.

I especially agree with "we do the best with what we are given, according to His plan and His glory".

 

[Rhamiel]

In the Lords prayer we are to ask for our daily bread, not daily lobster

 

[Carolyn H]

I like that...our daily Lobster.......LOL

 

[Apollo Celestio]

In short? They're both wrong.
God blesses us each in different ways according to His plan. We should not be focused on whether we have great finances or not, and instead seek after HIM. He is what matters. Material possessions are nothing in comparison. And if He does bless some with financial wealth, it is their/our responsibility to use it wisely, remembering that He is the one who provided it. Financial gain is not a direct result of higher levels of faith. In fact there are many who have nothing, but greater faith than most. Nor are we called to live dirt poor. We do the best with what we are given, according to His plan and His glory.

Well said. Let us be content with what we're given and also remember that those who receive more have more expected of them. (Though this doesn't only apply to monetary blessings.)

 

[BAFRIEND]

In the Lords prayer we are to ask for our daily bread, not daily lobster

Actually, when translating from the Greek there is no direct translation for the Greek term epiousios.

"Give us this day our [supersubstantial] bread.

It is more accurately asking for tomorrow's bread, but like I stated, there is no direct English translation. But the closest would be that it is a prayer for Divine Providence for the future. In his book The Lord's Prayer, by Fr. Romano Gaurdini he explains much better and thouroughly than I do.

That being said, I always feel more like praying for lobster than bread myself .

 

[BAFRIEND]

A stint in the monastery taught me that your sole possession in the world could be two copper pennies and that does not mean you are not the stingiest person on the face of the earth.

I learned something about myself.

 

[porterross]

The desire to have more than we need is a problem, but who's to judge that? Having loads of money doesn't appeal to me, but the stress caused by not having enough to care my household in the event of an emergency is unbearable and it would indeed hinder my ability to relax and not focus on it with sinful worry. Now, that amount of a cushion necessary to alleviate my stress might not be enough for another person and might also seem excessive to another, so by who's measure are we to determine wealth or poverty?

There should be no shame is being monetarily rewarded for work done to earn it. We all have different gifts and talents which are unfortunately valued on a scale according to the world market and that false sense of worth is easily adopted by some who's sinful human nature blurs our value in Christ's eyes.

I have a much bigger problem with those who won't work or do what's possible to provide for themselves or their families, but there should be no shame in either being less or more financially successful as a Christian. There should never be any shame associated with hard work, no matter what manner of work it is, unless it's illegal or immoral, of course.

2 Thessalonians:6-15


Warning Against Idleness

6In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example. We were not idle when we were with you, 8nor did we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not be a burden to any of you. 9We did this, not because we do not have the right to such help, but in order to make ourselves a model for you to follow. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat." 11We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. 12Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat. 13And as for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.
14If anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of him. Do not associate with him, in order that he may feel ashamed. 15Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

 

[Jim47]

My greatest hope is to remain poor so that I can work till the very day that I am called home

who needs to retire heh?

 

[Simon_Templar]

I've known Christians who believe we are all called to a life of financial poverty. Have heard sermons by pastors who preach that we're to "name it and claim it" and live a life of great wealth... what are your thoughts, please?

Thank you

If your interested, there is a book I would recomend. Its relatively thin. The book is called Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton.

The book addresses a number of different things, but I thought to recommend it because the last two questions you've asked have both reminded me of what I read in that book.

I highly recommend anything by GK Chesterton, but Orthodoxy is a great starting point.

Anyway,

I think the answer is that both views are right, and both views are wrong Some, perhaps many, Christians run into the problem of believing that God has given everyone the same call that he has given them. They feel a calling or a conviction, and so they think anyone else who doesn't feel the same thing isn't doing it right!

The reality is that God calls different people to different things. He calls some people to marry, and others to celibacy. He calls some people to poverty, and others to wealth. He calls some to fame, and some to obscurity.
Its not that one is better than the others... but that each person lives to the glory of God in the calling that God has given them.

Christian balance (this is from Orthodoxy the book) is having everything in its rightful place, not having everything muted towards the center. The proper Christian balance between poverty and wealth is not that everyone must be wealthy, or that everyone must be poor, nor is it that everyone must be in the middle with neither 'excess'. It is that those whom God calls to be poor, serve God with their poverty and those whom God calls to be wealthy, serve God with their wealth.

God is honored by both when they are in their rightful place.

 

[BAFRIEND]

The Grapes of Wrath
.

 

[GQ Chris]

I'd forego riches for a nice Christian Conservative girl

 

[Sketcher]

I have a special hatred for the name-it-claim-it stuff, and I don't think vows of poverty are necessary. But if a brother or a sister is convinced that God has called him or her to poverty, that's between them and God.

 

[Nadiine]

I'd forego riches for a nice Christian Conservative girl

hey, you're a child of the King... ask fer both

 

[GQ Chris]

hey, you're a child of the King... ask fer both

I just feel like I'd be asking for too much if it were both, I just want all my bills paid, and I can live without being as rich as Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn

I'd like a few extra dollars for my GQ duds though

 

[Simon_Templar]

I'd forego riches for a nice Christian Conservative girl

They have those???

 

[Apollo Celestio]

They have those???

Nah, that's just a nasty rumor spread on the internet.

 

[Blank123]

I've known Christians who believe we are all called to a life of financial poverty. Have heard sermons by pastors who preach that we're to "name it and claim it" and live a life of great wealth... what are your thoughts, please?

Thank you

i think both are too extreme. Yes some God may call to live in extreme poverty and some God may bless richly but that doesn't mean God intends to work in all our lives the same way. And its ridiculous to think He intends to.

actually the career path i'm going down is pretty much going to guarantee that i will never be rich but you know what? I don't care. I don't have a great desire to be fabulously wealthy and living in mansions with 20 cars to choose from when i feel like going for a drive on my private island.. not that that wouldn't be nice if the Lord so chose to surprise me with it but i'm not looking for it