you can't serve both God and money

[Oompa Loompa]

Jesus says you can't serve both God and money but paul says he who does not work does not eat. isn't working the same as serving money?

Could you quote the scripture you are referring to?

 

[Robban]

that ties in with christian teaching that our works (good deeds) are like filthy rags. they won't get us anywhere in the heavenly courts.

"Thought, speech and deeds are the garments of the soul"

white robes or filthy rags

 

[Oompa Loompa]

you are a slave to whoever you obey. if you obey your boss because your boss gives you money, you are a slave to money.

You should probably quit your job then.

 

[John Z. S. Kazi]

Bosses do not give us money. If by "our boss" you mean the owner of the agency or firm or corporation etc. that is employing us, then they are exchanging their money for our labor or for our time not giving it to us. We are not obeying them we are trading with them. We do not obey them we engage in a relationship with them of mutual respect hopefully. They give us what they desire us to do in exchange for their remuneration. We either agree to do so or not. I would suggest that no one is actually a slave to money. People are slaves to their greed and their envy in regard to money but money itself has no prominence over them their slavery is self-imposed and therefore they are slaves to their own desires. Work on the other hand can be selfless and for the good of others and involve money or not involve money. If one is unwilling to labor for their own good or for that of others one is not entitled to reap the rewards of work according to Paul and the little red hen neither of which was offering anyone any money for their labor.

surely you understand that labour is abundant and available work is little. this compels workers to do as the employer says under threat of homelessness and starvation for them and their family.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

and yet He told the rich man to sell EVERYTHING he has. think about that. i don't understand why we christians have to be at the bottom of the pyramid.

He told one rich man to sell everything because of his love for money was greater than his love for God. But why have you not sold everything yet?

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Jesus says you can't serve both God and money but paul says he who does not work does not eat. isn't working the same as serving money?

Jesus was a carpenter and he build furniture for money.

 

[grasping the after wind]

surely you understand that labour is abundant and available work is little. this compels workers to do as the employer says under threat of homelessness and starvation for them and their family.

I understand that there is a labor shortage and that that business cannot fill positions. Surely you understand that even refusing to work in modern western societies will not lead to homeless or starvation due to the plethora of government agencies eager to provide for basic needs like food and shelter for any that desire it. In order to starve of remain homeless in a modern western country one must actually avoid being helped.

 

[John Z. S. Kazi]

I understand that there is a labor shortage and that that business cannot fill positions. Surely you understand that even refusing to work in modern western societies will not lead to homeless or starvation due to the plethora of government agencies eager to provide for basic needs like food and shelter for any that desire it. In order to starve of remain homeless in a modern western country one must actually avoid being helped.

i live in the uk where there are a lot more government benefits than in the us and there is homelessness even here. so according to you, homeless people simply choose to be homeless?

 

[Blade]

Depends I guess on whos eyes your looking through. Many of us right now compared to other 3rd world nations ..to them we live like kings. We have more then they ever will.

 

[John Z. S. Kazi]

Depends I guess on whos eyes your looking through. Many of us right now compared to other 3rd world nations ..to them we live like kings. We have more then they ever will.

that is true. on a global scale, we are much better off.

 

[Ken-1122]

that is not my logic, but the bible's.

I’m not sure which is it, but either the Bible is wrong, or your interpretation of the Bible is wrong; whatever the case, you are on the wrong track my friend.
When you work, you are not a slave, you are trading your labor for the money; that’s it! As far as doing what your boss tells you to do, that’s only when you are on the clock, and even then there are limitations on what he can tell you to do. Once you are off the clock, you can do whatever you want. Slaves are not on or off the clock, they do as told 24/7

 

[Ken-1122]

surely you understand that labour is abundant and available work is little.

You've got that backwards my friend; everywhere you look there are signs posted on business saying "hiring apply inside" that means in today's economy, there are plenty of jobs available for anyone who wants a job. If you don't like your current job, you can quit and easily find another.

this compels workers to do as the employer says under threat of homelessness and starvation for them and their family.

No, it compels the worker to do as the employer says under the threat of having to find another job.

 

[Ken-1122]

i live in the uk where there are a lot more government benefits than in the us and there is homelessness even here. so according to you, homeless people simply choose to be homeless?

I agree! it is said that 70% of the homeless are people who either have mental issues or chemical issues (drugs) that prevent them from holding a normal job. Most of the Homeless shelters do not allow you to do drugs and require you to seek treatment in order to participate in their services so they prefer to live on the streets where they can do all the drugs and live as they want.

 

[timothyu]

 

[Mink61]

i live in the uk where there are a lot more government benefits than in the us and there is homelessness even here. so according to you, homeless people simply choose to be homeless?

YES! Some of them do!

I agree! it is said that 70% of the homeless are people who either have mental issues or chemical issues (drugs) that prevent them from holding a normal job. Most of the Homeless shelters do not allow you to do drugs and require you to seek treatment in order to participate in their services so they prefer to live on the streets where they can do all the drugs and live as they want.

All true, except for the percentage. In the US, it's been estimated that about 50% of the homeless experience addiction issues/mental health issues, and much of the time, those issues overlap.

But if you're free of those issues, it's almost difficult to remain homeless if you don't want to be. Government programs and church resources are in most major cities, and they're more than willing to help those who want help.

As for the OP...

John Z. S. Kazi said: ↑
and yet He told the rich man to sell EVERYTHING he has. think about that. i don't understand why we christians have to be at the bottom of the pyramid.

He told one rich man to sell everything because of his love for money was greater than his love for God. But why have you not sold everything yet?

Jesus told the rich man to sell everything he has because he knew that the guy would become saddened at that prospect. He was too attached to his 'things'

Christ didn't mean that we ALL should get rid of ALL our possessions. But as others have said, it's our attitude toward our things and our money that matters.

Also, some people may start out with nothing. Turn to Christ, and once Christ helps them, they no longer feel like they need Christ.

Gratitude goes a long way. Think about it. How often do people thank GOD for what they have?

 

[timothyu]

Christ didn't mean that we ALL should get rid of ALL our possessions. But as others have said, it's our attitude toward our things and our money that matters.

Basically, are we protective of it or are we willing to share. It's all about looking out for each other rather than just self. Kingdom vs world of man; loving neighbour as self.

 

[RDKirk]

Jesus says you can't serve both God and money but paul says he who does not work does not eat. isn't working the same as serving money?

"To serve" means that person or thing determines what you consider moral actions. If you justify the morality of an action for the sole reason that it will make you more money, then money is your god. When we serve God, we justify the morality of our actions because they are in service to God.

If you work for the purpose of buying food to live--which is what God sentenced mankind to when He shooed Adam out of the Garden of Eden, we do not justify the morality of our actions by work. We work to eat, out of necessity.

 

[RDKirk]

you are a slave to whoever you obey. if you obey your boss because your boss gives you money, you are a slave to money.

Not quite. You are a slave to your boss if you rationalize your morality by obedience to him.

For instance, the Syrian general Naaman became a believer of God, but his position required him to accompany his king into a pagan temple for the king's worship. God gave him leave to serve his king in that way, God knowing that in Naaman's heart he did not justify pagan worship by his obedience to his king, did not hold that against him.

 

[RDKirk]

I believe Jesus is not talking about having money, but about loving money. Or, in other words, He is warning us not to make the accumulation of wealth the priority in our life more so than the Kingdom of God. He is talking about putting God first. We all need money to survive, and it is money that supports many missions and good works. Money is not evil in and of itself. It's what we do with it that can be evil. Our lives should not be about coveting wealth.

Yes. Coveting wealth controls our actions for the sake of gaining wealth itself.

 

[timothyu]

We are all slaves to the world we have made in our own image, an image that is self serving. All of our woes are based on this. The whole purpose of God's teachings is to set us free from our nature of self interest which often seeks personal gain at the expense of others, and set us on the path of caring for each other instead. A sneak peek to life in the kingdom.