It is not wrong for Gods servants to be wealthy!!

[irishcowboy]

the problem with wealth ( money and such ) is that people rely on the money, and not the Lord.

those that do not have the money, do not have the money to rely on and keep their eyes on the Lord easier....

Christ never said a rich man could not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, just said it is very difficult.

just as the young rich man, he wanted more of the earthly things then of Christ..... walked away from Christ....

Job was another Rich man, very rich in deed... and lost it all in just a matter of a few minutes, then lost his entire family (cept for his contentious wife) .... Job kept his faith, he did not understand it, he did mourn for a time, and even when he was stricken with health problems, he maintained..... and the Lord ended up blessing him even greater then he had been before.....

nothing wrong with wealth, it is our attitude towards it that is wrong.....

mike

[Smalcald]

I agree mike.

I mean if a person is called to be a corporate executive, if that is where life takes you, then you are going to make some big bucks. Hopefully you will use the money to glorify God, but I don't think a person in that case should feel bad about their vocation or be required to live as if they made minimum wage. We need Christians in these positions; we need Christian doctors and lawyers and yes Christian CEO's. I don

[pointer]

I agree mike.

I mean if a person is called to be a corporate executive, if that is where life takes you, then you are going to make some big bucks. Hopefully you will use the money to glorify God, but I don't think a person in that case should feel bad about their vocation or be required to live as if they made minimum wage. We need Christians in these positions; we need Christian doctors and lawyers and yes Christian CEO's. I don

[cjrose]

It is not wrong for Christians to be wealthy if they do not covet material things, if they are generous in giving and especially anynomously, who are rich in heart with the Lord and do not depend on their wealth or use their wealth to gain entrance to Heaven. Wealthy and humble.

[gypc]

It is not wrong for Christians to be wealthy if they do not covet material things, if they are generous in giving and especially anynomously, who are rich in heart with the Lord and do not depend on their wealth or use their wealth to gain entrance to Heaven. Wealthy and humble.

This is true.................

1 Tim 6: 17Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 18Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

[Kabowd]

Guys scripture clearly tells us that God has plans to prosper us. Now please do not get me wrong prosperity is also blessings, health, a goof family life but it includes money, gold, silver etc. Too many Christians shy away from the subject of money . It is not wrong for men of God to be wealthy

It can include those things, but doesn't always. While it's true that it is not wrong for men of God to be wealthy, it is wrong to assert that God wants or intends for all men of God to be wealthy. As long as this distinction is made, and there is no distortion of Scripture to support a "prosperity gospel", then we can agree.

Gen 13.2 "Abram had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold"

Gen 24:35 "The LORD has blessed my master abundantly, and he has become wealthy. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, and camels and donkeys"

1Sam 2:7 "The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts"

Notice the last verse you mention. The Lord sometimes sends poverty. Jesus Himself was not wealthy, and most of the New Testament writers spent the majority of their time in jail, being persecuted, and sharing the gospel while being supported by generous believers. They were not wealthy (monitarily), but they were spiritually, intellectually, and emotionally. The key to life, as Paul stated, is learning to be content whether you have little or much (Phil 4:11-12).

Now when we view a wealthy christian with great possesions we need not accuse them of robbing the church or doing it in an illegal manner (unless there are facts) but rather ask them their story - so that you will see that their disciplined life, but more importantly their dedication and abiding to the regulations of God as allowed them to live in the lap of luxury

Of course we should not judge others based on appearances, ever. It's true that sometimes believers are disciplined and dedicated, abide in their faith and they are wealthy financially. However, it's also true that sometimes believers are disciplined, dedicated, abide in their faith and they are not wealthy financially. As shiloh stated in another topic recently, God does not bless us because we are good. He blesses us because He is good.

The problem with wealth is not in the wealth itself, but in the pursuit of it or in the belief that it's entitled, deserved or promised.

[pointer]

It is not wrong for Christians to be wealthy if they do not covet material things, if they are generous in giving and especially anynomously

There is no such thing as anonymity. How is it that there are so many obviously very rich persons who publically claim to be Christians, but there are those in poverty who make the same claim? It is not as though the rich can be ignorant of the poor.

[WayneB]

It isnt wrong to be wealthy, but it is wrong to equate the amount of wealth a person has with the amount of faith a person has. Some people will try and make that comparison. The Word of Faith movement does that. We shouldnt focus on our material wealth, but on the Lord.

EXACTLY Amen!

What matters in the end? The psalmist wrote...

Psalm 73

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.

[pointer]

What matters in the end?

To love mercy, and do justly. No amount of religion can substitute.

[ayin jade]

What matters in the end?

Matthew 22:

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked, tempting Him and saying,

36 Master, which is the great commandment in the Law?

37 Jesus said to him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.