"Sell all you have and give the money to the poor"

[Fiosh]

Luke 18: 22-24

When Jesus heard this he said to him, "There is still one thing left for you: sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

But when he heard this he became quite sad, for he was very rich.

Jesus looked at him (now sad) and said, "How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!

Where is the line between greed and generosity? Does Jesus really mean for me to give away EVERYTHING I have. If not, how much can I keep and still call myself a committed follower?

What if I want to be perfect?

Can a Christian be wealthy?

In a recent Bible study, we tackled these questions. The responses ran the gamut. What do you think Jesus taught about generosity?

Peace,

Fiosh

[Iryssa]

I think here he was speaking to the rich man's specific stronghold, but I think he taught that EVERYONE should have a generous spirit with money. And as far as Christians being wealthy...well, I do think that's okay, so long as they remember "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." (Luke 12:48b) I know that verse wasn't intended SPECIFICALLY for money, but money (as it is, I believe, with all our resources) is something God gives us to share, to help others with, not just for personal merit.

[Scarletprayers]

I think the rich young mans response shows where he heart was, he turned and went away. I think the story shows that Jesus knew he was sincere with his question to Jesus, but Iryssa's right, his heart was elsewhere.

[Zadok Rox]

That is a pickle where one could go from one extreme to another. I've found myself giving away all my money (I still live with my mom), but seeing how I need to come to a place where I need to be able to pay my own bills, I've been saving my money. When I get a job and save up enough money (while still tithing and maybe give a dollar here or there), there will be one less poor person.

Also, don't forget who Jesus was talking to: a rich young ruler. When the young man asked Jesus how to get into Heaven, Jesus told him to keep the commandments and listed them (atleast the ones regarding other people). After the rich man stated that he already did all that, that's when Jesus told him to sell his stuff and give to the poor. It turns out that the man's riches was his true god. Jesus wanted the young man to stop worshipping the money and worship God.

A person needs a home (though not necessarily a 20-room mansion in Beverly Hills), food (though not necessarily caviar), clothes (though not necessarily a custom-tailored silk suit), and perhaps a form of transportation (though not necessarily a solid gold Rolls-Royce). The sticking point is do you have riches or does riches have you.

[Scarletprayers]

That is a pickle where one could go from one extreme to another. I've found myself giving away all my money (I still live with my mom), but seeing how I need to come to a place where I need to be able to pay my own bills, I've been saving my money. When I get a job and save up enough money (while still tithing and maybe give a dollar here or there), there will be one less poor person.

Also, don't forget who Jesus was talking to: a rich young ruler. When the young man asked Jesus how to get into Heaven, Jesus told him to keep the commandments and listed them (atleast the ones regarding other people). After the rich man stated that he already did all that, that's when Jesus told him to sell his stuff and give to the poor. It turns out that the man's riches was his true god. Jesus wanted the young man to stop worshipping the money and worship God.

A person needs a home (though not necessarily a 20-room mansion in Beverly Hills), food (though not necessarily caviar), clothes (though not necessarily a custom-tailored silk suit), and perhaps a form of transportation (though not necessarily a solid gold Rolls-Royce). The sticking point is do you have riches or does riches have you.

Excellent!

[patricia1]

That is a pickle where one could go from one extreme to another. I've found myself giving away all my money (I still live with my mom), but seeing how I need to come to a place where I need to be able to pay my own bills, I've been saving my money. When I get a job and save up enough money (while still tithing and maybe give a dollar here or there), there will be one less poor person.

Also, don't forget who Jesus was talking to: a rich young ruler. When the young man asked Jesus how to get into Heaven, Jesus told him to keep the commandments and listed them (atleast the ones regarding other people). After the rich man stated that he already did all that, that's when Jesus told him to sell his stuff and give to the poor. It turns out that the man's riches was his true god. Jesus wanted the young man to stop worshipping the money and worship God.

A person needs a home (though not necessarily a 20-room mansion in Beverly Hills), food (though not necessarily caviar), clothes (though not necessarily a custom-tailored silk suit), and perhaps a form of transportation (though not necessarily a solid gold Rolls-Royce). The sticking point is do you have riches or does riches have you.

Yes ..Jesus could see into the heart of the young man, If He really understood He would've given it all away and see it return back to him much , much more. But I do believe in giving liberally to others. I have lived on minimal bare minimal and still be able to give where I can and have always been blessed. There are wealthy Christians. I believe The Lord Jesus gives more and more to them when they can be obedient to where He upstairs wants it to go.....patricia

[Fiosh]

There alot of truth in what y'all ( a little nod to scarletprayers ) have said. Yet I always come back to this: who is the model of how I should live a life surrendered to God?

Jesus. Right. How much did Jesus own?

How about the Apostles? Were they rich? Did they own more than what they absolutely needed?

What about the widow's mite?

See my dilemma?

Are we just trying to justify ourselves by saying it's ok to have alot of stuff? I'm not sure.

Maybe I should live in a house just big enough to provide shelter. Own enough clothes to be presentable. Buy enough food to eat a healthy diet. etc....

Do I really need as much as I have?

How can I walk past hungry people on the street, and go home to all that I own without feeling guilty? And I don't even have all that much by this country's standards.

Sorry, this is kind of a downer, it's been an emotionally draining week.

Peace,

Fiosh

[Zadok Rox]

I don't like watching fund-raisers for Christian TV shows or networks. There's one small Christian TV station that would have fund-raisers and a guest speaker would have a special word for a select number of people to give a certain amount of money. Then it seems like they lay a guilt trip on the viewers ("Where's your faith?"; "If you're watching this and aren't supporting it, you're a robber.").

Now I know the station is trying to raise money to operate the station to declare Jesus to the area. And I know that, if these guys was told by God to speak a special word or message, they need to obey God. My problem is, being a less mature Christian at the time, it sometimes came over more like a shakedown than a fund-raiser.

Edit: Regarding helping those on the street, you need to use wisdom. Whether you give them money or food, some of them may use it to get drugs or booze. One ministry stated that they had to dent the cans (and I think mark through the barcodes) to keep people from taking the cans back to the store to get money, which was used to get high or drunk.

Edited August 25, 2007 by Zadok Rox

[tah]

Everything I have comes from God..

I think I need to be able to give back all He has given when He asks it of me..

There are always going to be folks with more and folks with less..

What does God want of me...

[Fiosh]

how far should we go in giving?

Matt 5:

40 If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well.

41

Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles.

42

Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.

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The perfect church

Acts 2:

44 All who believed were together and had all things in common;

45

they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need.

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Why does God bless us with abundance?

2 Cor 9:

6 Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

7

Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

8

4 Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work.

9

As it is written: "He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

10

The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.

11

You are being enriched in every way for all generosity, which through us produces thanksgiving to God,

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How much is enough and what should we do with it?

1 Tim 6:

7

For we brought nothing into the world, just as we shall not be able to take anything out of it.

8

If we have food and clothing, we shall be content with that.

9

Those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and into a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge them into ruin and destruction.

10

For the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.

11

But you, man of God, avoid all this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.

12

Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses.

13

I charge (you) before God, who gives life to all things, and before Christ Jesus, who gave testimony under Pontius Pilate for the noble confession,

14

to keep the commandment without stain or reproach until the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ

15

that the blessed and only ruler will make manifest at the proper time, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

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who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, and whom no human being has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal power. Amen.

17

Tell the rich in the present age not to be proud and not to rely on so uncertain a thing as wealth but rather on God, who richly provides us with all things for our enjoyment.

18

Tell them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, ready to share,

19

thus accumulating as treasure a good foundation for the future, so as to win the life that is true life.