What should you do with your millions?

[Whyayeman]

The Gospels claim: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

According to number of american millionaires at DuckDuckGo there are more than 15 million American millionaire households.

I dare say some of them post here. Are they condemned to be denied entry to the 'Kingdom of God'? Or is there another route to Heaven for the rich?

 

[Lost4words]

Deposit some into my bank account!

 

[Whyayeman]

Deposit some into my bank account!

What would be the going rate to book a place in Heaven?

A tithe (say 10%)? Half? Everything he hath?

 

[ozso]

The Gospels claim: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

According to number of american millionaires at DuckDuckGo there are more than 15 million American millionaire households.

I dare say some of them post here. Are they condemned to be denied entry to the 'Kingdom of God'? Or is there another route to Heaven for the rich?

You're forgetting the follow-up. When Jesus said that about a rich man, it shocked those listening, and they asked "how then is it possible for anyone to be saved?!" And Jesus replied, "with man it's impossible, but with God all things are possible".

 

[atpollard]

The Gospels claim: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

According to number of american millionaires at DuckDuckGo there are more than 15 million American millionaire households.

I dare say some of them post here. Are they condemned to be denied entry to the 'Kingdom of God'? Or is there another route to Heaven for the rich?

A tangentially related story that my mother-in-law tells:

After she found herself with no husband and four children to raise on $85 per month ... a time her friends describe as "I remember when you didn't have a pot to ____* in (they actually did have outdoor plumbing)" ... she says it was easy to pay her $8.50 tithe because she knew that there was no way that she could make it without God's help. God blessed her and she got promotions and raises. She says that it was much harder to pay a $100 tithe per week on a $1000 per week salary because now that tithe felt like "real money".​

Just a general observation about HUMAN NATURE that explains Jesus statement about wealth and trust in God. It really is easier to trust in God when you have no possibility to trust in your own resources.

*it is a common phrase and a direct quote ... but I am taking no chances with the profanity filter.​

 

[Allen of the Cross]

Let's see what the bible has to say.

1Ti 6:17 KJV Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 KJV That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 KJV Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Pretty clear. The rich: dont be poor towards God!

That's what Jesus meant in this parable I think:
Luk 12:16 KJV And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 KJV And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 KJV And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 KJV And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 KJV But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 KJV So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Rich toward God, you might ask? Yes, you can be rich on this earth and impoverished towards God, and someone could be impoverished on this earth and rich towards God. But what does rich towards God even mean?

Mat 6:19 KJV Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 KJV But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 KJV For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth. The treasures on earth are fading pleasures and are temporary, but the true riches to be gained are in heaven. Therefore, obey Jesus and be rich towards God by laying up beaucoup treasures in heaven.

God bless you!

 

[Whyayeman]

Let's see what the bible has to say.

1Ti 6:17 KJV Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
1Ti 6:18 KJV That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate;
1Ti 6:19 KJV Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Pretty clear. The rich: dont be poor towards God!

That's what Jesus meant in this parable I think:
Luk 12:16 KJV And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 KJV And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 KJV And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 KJV And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
Luk 12:20 KJV But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 KJV So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

Rich toward God, you might ask? Yes, you can be rich on this earth and impoverished towards God, and someone could be impoverished on this earth and rich towards God. But what does rich towards God even mean?

Mat 6:19 KJV Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
Mat 6:20 KJV But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Mat 6:21 KJV For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth. The treasures on earth are fading pleasures and are temporary, but the true riches to be gained are in heaven. Therefore, obey Jesus and be rich towards God by laying up beaucoup treasures in heaven.

God bless you!

Lots of bible quotes, but what are those millionaires to do to enter that K of H?

Rich toward God? Does that mean anything relevant to the question? Lay up treasures in Heaven - like doing good works, I suppose. And hanging on to the money?

There is a real question for Christians here. (And for others too.)

 

[essentialsaltes]

Looking more and more like my cat and various secular charities will split it. (Assuming the spouse predeceases me.)

No kids, and the nephew is turning out to be a sociopath.

But for the moment, I'm still using it.

[No one need cry for me, but it turns out that being a millionaire is very different from what it was in the days of Thurston Howell III.]

 

[BrotherJJ]

Lots of bible quotes, but what are those millionaires to do? There is a real question for Christians here. (And for others too.)

Abraham was by today's standards a millionaire. I'm sure he is in or heaven bound. It's the LOVE/prioritizing of money that is the root of evil.

As to what should they do?

Understand they are sinners against a sovereign creator God. And deserve sins wage/DEATH (Rom 6:23).

Understand they are in need of rescue. And that the Father sent His Son to rescue them (Jn 3:16).

Confess their sins nature to God. Then trust in Jesus & His sin atoning death & resurrection. (Rom 10:9)

Finally, prayerfully listen to & follow the lead of Gods now indwelling Holy Spirit.

 

[Allen of the Cross]

Lots of bible quotes, but what are those millionaires to do to enter that K of H?

Salvation is a free gift from God, accepted by grace through faith in the finished work of the cross. This is not a poverty gospel - no one is required to be desolate in order to enter.

Look in context what was happening when Jesus said what you quoted about the 'eye of a needle.' He had just told the rich young man to sell all he had. And why? So he could have treasures in heaven. The rich young man walked away sad because he was, well, rich. Then Jesus said those famous words about a camel going through the eye of the needle. And again Christ said all things are possible with God. Again, this is not a poverty gospel.

Rich toward God? Does that mean anything relevant to the question? Lay up treasures in Heaven - like doing good works, I suppose. And hanging on to the money?

The bible literally has commands for people with wealth. You are asking about salvation for the wealthy. I figured biblical commands for the wealthy would be more than relevant. I suppose I was wrong. What exactly are you wanting to hear? Well, I just gave you the answer i imagine. This isnt a poverty gospel. The rich dont have to have treasures in heaven to enter. This isnt a work your way into heaven thing, and this isn't about being desolate in this life to enter.

But i tell you and i tell everyone that many people will enter into the Kingdom, having been rich in this life, and having absolutely no or little treasures in the Kingdom of God. They will enter empty handed. They will enter, but as 1 Corinthians 3 says, as a man going through a house fire - with absolutely nothing.

Being rich towards God means having lots of treasures in heaven. Christ said in several places to sell all you have, give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven.

Being rich towards God doesn't save you but it's the most important thing besides salvation.

If you want the quick and easy version: salvation is by grace through faith. This isnt a poverty gospel. However... Lay up treasures in heaven, not on earth. There you go.

 

[Whyayeman]

He had just told the rich young man to sell all he had. And why? So he could have treasures in heaven.

I don't understand why that young man was advised to sell everything - that means not keeping it - giving it away. It is not surprising that he was glum. Whether he took the advice is not recorded.

Quote-mining seems to have turned up quite a few get-out clauses! Will those millionaires walk away like that rich young man, or follow that advice in the Gospel of St Matthew? Maybe it is different these days!

 

[Allen of the Cross]

I just spent some time in thought and I can offer you an even more concise answer. Now bear with me, this is hard to explain.

Look at Matthew 6:19-21 again: dont store your treasures on earth (19), but store them in heave (20), why? Because where your treasure is, there will your heart be. (21.)

What does that actually mean? I'll explain if you're willing. It's not that it's a sin to be rich or that it will inherently keep you out of heaven. (Remember that this is not s poverty gospel.) The danger is that where you keep your treasures is where your eyes and heart will be set.

Let me try to explain better than that. Someone who has lots of riches on this earth but doesn't care about heaven will not care as much about making it into heaven. Their 'heart' is on this earth.

Storing up treasures in heaven is a way to guard against over-attachment to this world. So treasures on earth can easily breed apathy for God and His Kingdom.

Theres also this: In 1 Timothy which I quoted above Paul commanded the rich to basically put treasures in heaven, and also to not do what? To not put their faith in wealth, which is uncertain. As in untrustworthy. Instead were all commanded to put our faith in God.

So its not a sin to be rich, but it comes with dangers.

You can be rich and enter, but because of the abundant temptations of riches it can very hard to enter, as Jesus said, as a camel going through the eye of a needle.

Now one last point: Jesus gave a parable of the seed. I can try to find it for you if you like. Some seed fell in thorns and the thorns choked the seed out. Jesus said the thorns are the 'cares of this world.' One of the dangers Christians face is that the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and so forth will choke out the seed of faith which grows unto salvation.

Okay, one last thing: sorry if my last comment sounded short or cold, my written word has a tendency to sting. I'm trying to work on that. I'm not upset about anything, I promise.

 

[Blade]

The Gospels claim: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

According to number of american millionaires at DuckDuckGo there are more than 15 million American millionaire households.

I dare say some of them post here. Are they condemned to be denied entry to the 'Kingdom of God'? Or is there another route to Heaven for the rich?

That "eye" was not that small yet also not that big. Camels had hard it kinda hard lol. We are all like the "rich" so to speak. Its hard for them because those riches become there God. We do the same thing. We have things of this world we do not will not let go that easy. Context does matter here. We must keep reading for this is not over yet Lets not think for one moment the rich are some how different or better. Some know God has been asking you to give something up yet you still fight it

 

[Whyayeman]

It's not that it's a sin to be rich or that it will inherently keep you out of heaven. (Remember that this is not s poverty gospel.)

There are four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. What is the poverty gospel? It almost sounds like a repudiation of the very large number of the devout who have lived a life of poverty and sacrifice. The traditions of monks and nuns testfy to that.

I come back to that verse of Matthew: 'Again, I say unto you; it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven'.

It looks to me that you are struggling to reconcile the irreconcilable.

 

[Sketcher]

In Christianity, your body, your life, and your financial assets belong to God - you just steward them.
Which means you should be "on call" to use the resources you have to help people as God directs.
Which means that for the millionaires, buying that second house or that yacht or investing in that expensive hobby isn't a decision to be entered lightly. You should be thinking and praying about where that money should be given before you start spending it on that kind of stuff.

 

[Astrid]

The Gospels claim: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

According to number of american millionaires at DuckDuckGo there are more than 15 million American millionaire households.

I dare say some of them post here. Are they condemned to be denied entry to the 'Kingdom of God'? Or is there another route to Heaven for the rich?

I like to throw it up in the air and let it fall on
my head.

 

[Astrid]

In Christianity, your body, your life, and your financial assets belong to God - you just steward them.
Which means you should be "on call" to use the resources you have to help people as God directs.
Which means that for the millionaires, buying that second house or that yacht or investing in that expensive hobby isn't a decision to be entered lightly. You should be thinking and praying about where that money should be given before you start spending it on that kind of stuff.

Spending it on " stuff" provides employment

 

[public hermit]

The Gospels claim: 'It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.'

According to number of american millionaires at DuckDuckGo there are more than 15 million American millionaire households.

I dare say some of them post here. Are they condemned to be denied entry to the 'Kingdom of God'? Or is there another route to Heaven for the rich?

I think Jesus intended his followers to live without a sense of possessing anything. Of course, if one lacks that idea of possessing things, they will invariably have little. I think Jesus would be shocked at the wealth of Christians throughout history. But American Christianity is simply gross. Its extravagance is revealed in the thousands of churches being maintained for a handful of people. All that property maintenance is a money suck and does no good except to comfort a few (who already have hope). Jesus would not be impressed, I'm sure

 

[Allen of the Cross]

There are four Gospels; Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. What is the poverty gospel? It almost sounds like a repudiation of the very large number of the devout who have lived a life of poverty and sacrifice. The traditions of monks and nuns testfy to that.

I come back to that verse of Matthew: 'Again, I say unto you; it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven'.

It looks to me that you are struggling to reconcile the irreconcilable.

You seem quite tense.

 

[Sketcher]

Spending it on " stuff" provides employment

As a capitalist, I am well aware of this. But which stuff should you get, and for whom is the question.

The power of the market can be used selfishly, and good happens anyway because of that, yes. The good old invisible hand at work. But that same power can be used very effectively for good causes too, and the invisible hand still works and does its good. The difference maker is the choice of the consumer, and when that is informed by a good conscience, that is where Christians with money should seek to be outside of special callings otherwise.