Reading the whole thread saddens me. Its very sad to see Christians who are struggling financially criticizing the wealthy by looking at them. Criticizing means envying.
Proverbs 14:30
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy.
Galatians 5:26
Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Be careful how we judge the wealthy because ONLY God knows which wealthy Christians do give more. We can't. We cannot judge people by the "cover".
Also, we can't just look at "one verse" to justify to tell the wealthy that they have to give more. We need to look at ALL verses in the Bible and look at a bigger picture. Nowhere in the New Testament that the wealthy are ordered to give more than others. In the Old Testament, people are told to "tithe". New Testament teaches that those who are rich are to give for charitable uses through the local church first and then other sources. If we are rich and use our wealth for other reasons, our holy living sacrifices will not be accepted by God. So...if we are wealthy.. we are to use our money wisely and use God's stewardship guidelines... and finally give back to God through Godly ministries.
As an accountant, I discovered reading that from Christian stewardship books that Jesus said more about money than anybody else in the Bible, and He said more about money than any other single subject.
Money is an index to a person's character.
1. A person's character who is wealthy who worship "money".
2. A person's character who is not wealthy envying those who are wealthy and criticizing their wealth.
Through out the Bible, from Old Testament all the way through the New Testament, the Bible is clear that we are not to love (covet) money because the love (covet) of money is the root of all kinds of evil. We're not to make money our god. We are to worship the true God. We are not to put our trust in money.
Nothing wrong for being wealthy.... at the same time, Christians are accountable and should spent wisely and maintain godly stewardship. Christians are to be careful how they manage their funds. Any Christians who covets will fall. Any Christians who do not covet will be very successful and this member of a local church will also be successful!!
I was mentioning in my previous post with 9 verses. I wanted to added other Scripture verses but there is no room and this would be too long.
2 Corinthians 9:6-15
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
Stewardship and tithing are hot subjects today and Christians seem to love to debate them. People did not want to take responsibility for what Gods Word said, or what stewardship really means in applying it to their wallets. Emotions and personal Will blocked reason and Scripture. Beware of your motives. Do not give because you expect to get! If He does give back to you, it is because of your motive, your heart! Or, He may let the devil give to you, but watch out, because you may have nothing in the hereafter! Jesus says, Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap... (Luke 6:38) Maybe God will give all of your money back plus ten times. Maybe He wants you in poverty as He lived; maybe He wants you rich.
I am not rich, I was struggling financially for awhile and now I am below middle class. I have some relatives who are very very wealthy. I know some friends who are very wealthy as well. I have seen what they do with their money behind the scene where people don't see. Like most wealthy (Christians) often give money "quietly" which means they do not want anyone to know. They prefer NOT to boast.