god vs money

[Todd]

This isn't actually a question, but a friend and I wrote this and I wanted to post it. 

I would like to share with you 
the teachings of Jesus regarding money and
possessions. I can guarantee most of you
have never heard or considered these
radical teachings even if you've been
going to church for many years. This
going to be very shocking once you begin
to understand the full significance of
what Jesus was getting at, so let's start
in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 6
verses 24 through 34. In these verses
Jesus begins by telling us that no one
can serve two masters. According to Jesus
one master is God and the other master
is money. Why would Jesus say that the
opposite master of God is money. When you
think about how much of our
lives are spent working for money you'll
begin to see why he said this. In verses
25 to 34 you'll notice the very next
thing he says to us is not to worry
about how we're going to take care of
our most basic needs food and clothing.
Why does he tell us not to worry
about these things? When Jesus tells us 
that we can't serve two masters, He's getting us to see that
we can either work for God or work for
money. It's one or the other. To serve
actually means to work for. In the
context of what Jesus was trying to get
across in these verses, just imagine
if you were to quit working for money
right now and to start working for God.
The immediate concern you would
have is how you would be able to take
care of your basic needs for survival.
This is exactly why Jesus tells us not
to worry. If we stop working for
money and start working for God, God will
provide us with our needs. If you don't
believe this is what Jesus actually
meant in these verses, just think about
how his first followers understood this
teaching. The fishermen left their jobs, a
tax-collector quit his job and so on.
then Jesus sent up to 70 of his followers
out to preach in different towns. Jesus
told them they would be provided for as
they went about preaching the gospel. 
Sharing the teachings of Jesus became
their full-time job. Teaching others to
obey his good news would now
become their life's work. This kingdom of
God that Jesus spoke about often was a
way of life that would be different from 
every earthly Kingdom or government.
His followers would become so
different from the world around them,
simply by practicing Jesus's teachings
with regard to money and possessions.
His first followers sold
everything they owned, and began to live
together and share everything among
themselves.They put an end to private
property and made sure everyone was
taken care of equally.You can read more
about this in the book of Acts chapters
2 and 4. So why is it that we don't
follow these teachings of Jesus like his
first followers did? We would say the
answer is very simple. Money has become
the god of this world, and money is what
people really put their faith in. Money
has achieved a god-like status. If you
doubt this ask yourself if you could
live without working for money. If
you can't even imagine that, then you
should be able to see why Jesus put God
and money against each other as opposite
masters. You've probably heard a lot of talk from the
churches about love. The problem we see with all this talk
about love is that it rarely ever
addresses the very practical yet radical
ways in which Christ taught his
followers how to live. People are probably
familiar by now with one of Jesus's most
popular teachings to "love your neighbor
as yourself". What few seem to realize
is just how deeply radical and practical
this command is! Think about it. Would you
ever charge yourself money to meet your
own needs like Food, Clothing or Shelter?
That would be ridiculous.
Jesus says that we need to
learn how to love our neighbors in the
same exact way we love and take care of
ourselves, and to take care of the needs of our less
fortunate neighbors. When we start looking at our
neighbors in this light, whether they're
nearby or separated from us by oceans. We begin to get a much
better picture of the entirely unique
love Jesus was pointing us towards. As
much as we appreciate churches and other
charities for all the ways in which they
do help the less fortunate. Christ
visionary love is way beyond these
institutions. He wasn't simply
asking us to share out of our abundance
or excess, He's inspiring us to take care
of our neighbors just as if they were us.
Which also shows just how silly and
insane any need for money would be in
these situations. Would you ever
think of charging yourself for anything
oh you might need. You may thinking it sounds like
communism or socialism, it is not. Isn't it
strange how we've been so conditioned or
even brainwashed to the point that such
deep and selfless love frightens us. It's
no wonder that the church and government
conspired together to have Jesus killed
for teaching these kinds of things.
Things haven't really changed much 
since his time. Just about every
church or church person we encounter then
tries to tell us how unrealistic
Christ's teachings are, and that the
world would basically come to a grinding
halt if we made money obsolete by
practicing this economy of love. Most of
us can see how greed is destroying the
very planet which God freely provides with
everything we need to live. Apple's don't
ever fall from trees with price tags, or  
bar codes attached them. The same
applies to every other resource on Earth.
Why do we think it would be so
strange to take Jesus's teaching at face
value, especially when we can see the
selfless love of God through nature and
how it offers everything to us at no
cost whatsoever. We would do well to consider
how nature operates. The fact is that humans
are the only species that pays to live
on Earth. The economy of love is all
around us. Do you have eyes to see and
ears to hear? The churches and governments of today are
absolutely afraid of this radical
teaching of Jesus regarding money and
possessions. The first Christians started to put
this teaching about money in possessions
into their everyday lives.
Practicing such extreme love from the
very beginning of Jesus's ministry. He
called on his followers to leave their
jobs, their possessions and even their
families in order to help him teach
about a new way of living, which he
called the kingdom of God. For 
three and half years, his first followers
traveled with him from city to city.
Sharing about this radically new life 
and calling others to join him. A
natural result of living and traveling
with Jesus day after day was that the first Disciples
shared everything they had with
one another as an example of what this
kingdom of God looked like. Up until his
death, Jesus had gathered about 70
followers in this new way of life he
prescribed. All who chose that joined him in his ministry
shared all things in common as a true
family. This spiritual family practiced
what we would call the economy of love.
So are we to assume that after his death
and resurrection something changed
dramatically and the teachings he told
his first followers to live by had
somehow become irrelevant? Not at all! To
prove this very simple fact. His
followers continued living the same way
of life after Jesus's death and
resurrection. Look at the
very first time in the New Testament
describing his followers after these
events. It is found in what is
called the book of Acts. In the second
chapter of Acts we see an amazing
description of the early Christians.
Look at those verses, all who
believed were together and had all
things in common, and they sold their
possessions and belongings and
distributed the proceeds to all that
had need. It is absolutely clear how
these radical early Christians continue to
live together and share everything.
What if this was just a fluke? Some
isolated passages that somehow made
their way into the New Testament. It
might be tempting for some to overlook
these verses, but just two chapters later in Acts
chapter 4 we see the same thing repeated
about the disciples lifestyle.
They believed they were of one heart and soul.
No one said that any of the things
belonged to them, but they
shared everything in common.There was
not a needy person among them.
Those who were owners of lands or houses
sold them and brought the proceeds of
what was sold and laid it at the
Apostles feet. It was distributed to
each as any had need. Wow, there it is,
No ignoring it or avoiding
it now. Given that this is how the early
Christians lived, shouldn't this cause us to
seriously consider that the original
blueprint for those first christians should be equally 
applied to those that claim to be
following Jesus? Now think about it,
wouldn't this be a profound testimony of
love to the world if Christians still
practice these things. Jesus
said your love for one another will
prove to the world that you are my
disciples. Today's churches love to talk
about love, but if you ask the world if
they have witnessed this radical kind of
love in the modern church, The answer would NO.
Those of us who claim to be followers of
Jesus must get our own act together, and
show the world that Jesus's teachings are a unique
vision for Humanity. You can ignore it, or you can 
be luke warm, and your love will be hollow and
easily dismissed by the world and God. 
Are you willing to be a revolutionary example 
of the true love? Please, I urge you, go 
sit down in a quiet place, alone.
Open your heart, your mind and a Bible and ask, 
SINCERELY ask Jesus to show you the truth.
 

[Willa]

The reason that communism was not practiced in other early churches or today is that when famine came all their resources had been given away and they had to be supported by other churches that did not practice it.  Had all the churches practiced communism, the church may not have survived.  

2Co 8:11  But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability.  2Co 8:12  For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have.

2Co 8:13  For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed,  2Co 8:14  but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack; that there may be equality.

While some did give sacrificially, Paul explains that this is not the purpose.  We are asked to give out of our abundance to others and not when we can't pay for our own basic needs.  But when we realize that all we have is God's, and that He is our provider and we are but stewards of His possessions, we ask Him where and with whom we may distribute them.  The tithe or a potion is Gods and we live on the rest.  

[FresnoJoe]

On ‎12‎/‎17‎/‎2017 at 10:59 PM, Todd said:

They put an end to private property....
and made sure everyone was taken care of equally....
It's no wonder that the church and government....
conspired together to have Jesus killed....
for teaching these kinds....
of things.... 

Most of us can see how greed....
is destroying the very planet....

Please, I urge you, go sit down in a quiet place, alone....
Open your heart, your mind and a Bible and ask....
SINCERELY ask Jesus to show....
you the truth....

The Truth 

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23-24 (New International Version)

About Those Sincere 

The one who works his land will have plenty of food, but whoever chases fantasies lacks sense. Proverbs 12:11 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Hard Workers With Their Sweat Labor

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Ephesians 4:28 (English Standard Version)

Sin WILL Destroy The Earth

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 2:10 (American King James Version)

Jesus Was Killed

I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father.” John 10:14-18 (Berean Study Bible)

For Jealousy

Pilate knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because they were jealous. Matthew 27:18 (GOD'S WORD® Translation)

And Love

But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 (New Heart English Bible)

Be Blessed Beloved Of The KING

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee:
The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them. Numbers 6:24-27 (King James Bible)

 

Love, Your Brother Joe

 

~

 

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever. Psalms 119:160 (King James Bible)

 

The Bible contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners, and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable.

 

Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you, and comfort to cheer you.

 

It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here too, Heaven is opened and the gates of Hell disclosed.

 

Christ is its grand subject, our good its design, and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully.  It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory, and a river of pleasure.

 

It is given you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, rewards the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.

From The Inside Of My Gideon New Testament