Poverty and Wealth

from the Global Pastors Network

Simon Zelikman, at Emmanuel's Doorpost

Providing perpetual "benefits" to the "poor" people by politicians interested in their reelection only, is not helping the "poor". It is enslaving them to the pretentious benevolent providers self interests. 
"Those who will not work should not eat", is also a teaching of the Old and New Word. 
Do Not pretend that your utopian idea of 'social gospel' is anything like the one Christ, or Paul taught, It is NOT! 
Any able bodied man would have to work, and provide for himself, family, or others, in what ever capacity in those days, no self made "poor" bum would be perpetually tolerated, and if You do not understand this, and tech this to your "poor", You are Not teaching Christ! 

Social engineering by those who deem themselves to know better, and care more then that "other side", have always proven themselves false, serving only their self-gratifying interests, knowingly or not! Like a wolfs in sheep's clothing. 

We Are in this together, and the self proclaimed "benevolent" side, is forcing their ideas of "good" and "correct"on that "other" side, as in your proof text above, in the late nineteenth century. 

We are now very accustomed to hearing about the "New World Order", the New Social Justice! 
And Dear John, Kurt, and the rest of your bleeding heart social engineers, better then thou social society builders, are on the side promoting all the equally just for all, abortion, and gay marriage, and so much more of that other "social gospel", which Christ clearly warned His "side" all about! 
And for those who have eyes to see the difference between the "two sides"; Truth is growing clearer, and more in focus, every day!

John Deacon, VP at Deacon Insurance Agencies Limited

Simon: 
I couldn't disagree more. But we've been over this ground before. No use re-hashing what's been rehashed too many times already. 

I do think the judgment James levies against the wealthy in his day is even more true in ours: 
"Look here, you rich people: Weep and groan with anguish because of all the terrible troubles ahead of you. Your wealth is rotting away, and your fine clothes are moth-eaten rags. Your gold and silver have become worthless. The very wealth you were counting on will eat away your flesh like fire. This treasure you have accumulated will stand as evidence against you on the day of judgment. For listen! Hear the cries of the field workers whom you have cheated of their pay. The wages you held back cry out against you. The cries of those who harvest your fields have reached the ears of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 
You have spent your years on earth in luxury, satisfying your every desire. You have fattened yourselves for the day of slaughter. You have condemned and killed innocent people, who do not resist you.' James 5:1-6 

If I weren't wealthy, I would be exempt from the Apostle's severe warning. 
But I am not exempt and it's not likely you are either.

Simon Zelikman, at Emmanuel's Doorpost

I am not wealthy, but I want to be, and a big part of this is being able to give things I am unable to now. 
Wealthy, is NOT a sin, condemning all wealthy unjustly, IS!

John Deacon, VP at Deacon Insurance Agencies Limited

Oh Simon! 
Why would you want to be rich? 
The Lord himself calls the poor 'blessed', that 'theirs is the kingdom.' 
But 'woe' Christ says to the rich - 'you have your comfort already.' 
To his disciples including the wealthy ones Christ says: 'sell your possessions and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven' Luke 12:33 
The poor who have nothing have much room for Christ, they discover great riches in their faith. But the wealthy are sent away empty. Our possessions crowd out Christ. Rather than his word growing deep in us, it is rooted out by the cares and anxieties of trying to get enough into our bank accounts that we need not pray for our daily bread. 

As James writes: 
"Those who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements." 

And yet you Simon and I John want to be rich. Why? In obedience to Christ? Or because as Kurt Kelley has been so faithful to remind us - we have been so contaminated by our North American culture enraptured as it is with making money and making as much as we can! 
We aren't disciples of Christ for as long as we seek to be wealthy. Instead we are Christians who are doing our best to love both God and money. No wonder our faith in God is without power! 

Yes we have hit on the one thing that makes the Christianity of the West so blatantly ineffective when compared to the church of Acts 2. 
We love money too much. It is our golden calf and until we forsake it, we are wolves in sheep's clothing - claiming to lead people to Christ but directing them instead to our society's golden calves of wealth, privilege and power.

Simon Zelikman, at Emmanuel's Doorpost

John my friend, 
You are carrying things Way too far. I am unable to give, if I don't have anything, to give. 
I would love to open soup kitchens or orphanages in Russia, Ukraine, or..., but I can not. 

God never wanted His people to be beggars, it is clearly taught to work and strive to prosper, in God's way of course, and Abraham was very wealthy, Isaac and Jacob also, they yarned their prosperity, and they helped many to prosper also. 
Prosperous righteous man is not greedy for filthy lucre, he is a hard working man, in whatever occupation, blessed by God, and is as God intended for His people to be, always. 

"Christianity" of the "West" is very effective, and in many places, and in many ways! 
Is it going to resolve all problems? ....... Never. 

This world is going into apostasy, as Christ foretold it would, And God planned. This flesh world belongs to the prince of the pit, and I want to help as many individuals as I can to avoid that pit. 
I will gladly leave the "world" saving to the Social Engineers! 

God bless, 

Howard Nason, Associate Pastor for missions at Northstar Church of God
Top Contributor

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Blessed are the POOR in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." I have worked since I was ten, and now at the robust age of 83 I have been called to be an Associate Pastor for Missions. I have been very blessed fimancially and can support our local church and ministries around the world. Its not our wealth that makes us good or evil its how we use that which God has entrusted into our keeping. "The love money is the root of all evil!" There are a multitude of Scriptures that support the idea of financial blessings through hard work and giving first to the Lord that which is His. Brother Deacon, your use of we is too inclusive and condemning without cause. Do not judge a man or woman by what they possess but by their deeds and how they use that which God has provided. 

Deborah Barbee, missionary at Chewelah, Abundant Life Church

I have been pondering on the subject this morning. Am I willing to give up EVERY-THING? MY children, MY family, MY friends, MY home. What if I lost the ability to do MY life work?How about MY church, MY mind, MY body. 
If I was confined to a bed, unable to move, in pain, incontinent, nothing belonged to ME. Unable to communicate. At the mercy of others that hated ME. 
Would I be able to praise God, knowing that my life was not in vain? 
That God was in control and I belonged to Him? 
Would I know that is God meeting my every need? 
That God is using me to His glory? 

I know may seem a little over the top for some of you. And it's not likely to happen to any of us until we are on our deathbed. 
Jesus didn't die on the cross, so we can have "things." 
WHAT NEEDS DO YOU HAVE THAT AREN'T BEING MET? God will never give us more than we can handle, if our eyes are stayed on Him. If we aren't satisfied with what we have now, perhaps God is waiting for us to be thankful and generous with what He has given us now.