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

[eric]

Good question Fiosh and a good passage to discuss one on one.

I believe once more Jesus was demonstrating, that if you wished to have the rewards that He promised, you would have to make some sort of sacrifice, which in this case was wealth and position or status, or you weren't worthy to follow him. The more you had the more or bigger the sacrifice. The poor had nothing to lose, but everything to gain, so it was easy for them, until Jesus mentioned that unless they ate His flesh and drank His blood,...Jn6:55-66.... they would not have eternal life with Him. So many of His followers walked away.

Lip service is not good enough for Him. Jesus was no wimp and he didn't want a bunch of wimps as His followers. He wants the wheat, the chaff just blows away.

cheers.

[Guest yod]

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

If it can be said that Yeshua was a man who went "bumming around" for a meal and a couch then I'm just like Him!!!! I do 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....

Why would that increase my standing before the Lord above someone with massive wealth who uses it for the Lord's glory?

One time in particular...over some days...I felt a lot of conviction about all the people in the world who need to know Jesus in a personal way. Wow!??! How could I ever meet that need? How do I make any difference in the big scheme of this huge planet?

Then, as I do when I need wisdom, I began reading in the Word. He took me to the story of the good Samaritan. He showed me how He puts people in front of us everyday that need SOMEONE to listen to them...someone to show His love to them. Preaching without words since they already know what we claim to believe. Helping whoever it is that God puts in front of us today.

He asks us to "be" Him wherever we are and to whomever we are with. USUALLY that means people I wouldn't ordinarily hang out with!

Once we submit to that He will put us where He needs us to be. It's not always fun but it is always good. As we are faithful in the small things, He really will make them even greater...

I know that the Father is very pleased with you! Don't you dare worry, dear sister! You are one of His favorites...

He must love to laugh at us sometimes, ya know?

[Scarletprayers]

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

If it can be said that Yeshua was a man who went "bumming around" for a meal and a couch then I'm just like Him!!!! I do 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....

Why would that increase my standing before the Lord above someone with massive wealth who uses it for the Lord's glory?

One time in particular...over some days...I felt a lot of conviction about all the people in the world who need to know Jesus in a personal way. Wow!??! How could I ever meet that need? How do I make any difference in the big scheme of this huge planet?

Then, as I do when I need wisdom, I began reading in the Word. He took me to the story of the good Samaritan. He showed me how He puts people in front of us everyday that need SOMEONE to listen to them...someone to show His love to them. Preaching without words since they already know what we claim to believe. Helping whoever it is that God puts in front of us today.

He asks us to "be" Him wherever we are and to whomever we are with. USUALLY that means people I wouldn't ordinarily hang out with!

Once we submit to that He will put us where He needs us to be. It's not always fun but it is always good. As we are faithful in the small things, He really will make them even greater...

I know that the Father is very pleased with you! Don't you dare worry, dear sister! You are one of His favorites...

He must love to laugh at us sometimes, ya know?

yod how very humbling and true, thank you!

[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

If it can be said that Yeshua was a man who went "bumming around" for a meal and a couch then I'm just like Him!!!! I do 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....

Why would that increase my standing before the Lord above someone with massive wealth who uses it for the Lord's glory?

One time in particular...over some days...I felt a lot of conviction about all the people in the world who need to know Jesus in a personal way. Wow!??! How could I ever meet that need? How do I make any difference in the big scheme of this huge planet?

Then, as I do when I need wisdom, I began reading in the Word. He took me to the story of the good Samaritan. He showed me how He puts people in front of us everyday that need SOMEONE to listen to them...someone to show His love to them. Preaching without words since they already know what we claim to believe. Helping whoever it is that God puts in front of us today.

He asks us to "be" Him wherever we are and to whomever we are with. USUALLY that means people I wouldn't ordinarily hang out with!

Once we submit to that He will put us where He needs us to be. It's not always fun but it is always good. As we are faithful in the small things, He really will make them even greater...

I know that the Father is very pleased with you! Don't you dare worry, dear sister! You are one of His favorites...

He must love to laugh at us sometimes, ya know?

yod, I must tell you, you just brought tears to my eyes.

Bless you, brother,

Fiosh

[Fiosh]

Good question Fiosh and a good passage to discuss one on one.

I believe once more Jesus was demonstrating, that if you wished to have the rewards that He promised, you would have to make some sort of sacrifice, which in this case was wealth and position or status, or you weren't worthy to follow him. The more you had the more or bigger the sacrifice. The poor had nothing to lose, but everything to gain, so it was easy for them, until Jesus mentioned that unless they ate His flesh and drank His blood,...Jn6:55-66.... they would not have eternal life with Him. So many of His followers walked away.

Lip service is not good enough for Him. Jesus was no wimp and he didn't want a bunch of wimps as His followers. He wants the wheat, the chaff just blows away.

cheers.

You're right, eric. Sometimes we only want to think about the love Jesus has for us----and He does. But He could also speak with great passion and often had "fire in His eyes". He demands much---in fact, He demands it all.

Peace,

Fiosh

[mrs]

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

You can't teach about generosity and such from this passage I don't think because Jesus was dealing with a particular person's sin. The reason he said to sell everything, was because he was showing this person that they werent as perfect as they thought they were. This young man thought he had kept all the commandments; but Jesus got to the heart of the matter with this statement.

This passage speaks more to the sin of coveting, or making possessions an idol, than it speaks to the idea of sharing or giving away things.

[irishcowboy]

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

for a person to be a follower of Christ, it is totally free, but will cost this person everything......

Abraham, was given a great gift, a son.... which God asked for back, and Abraham complied, and was blessed above being blessed.....

if there is something that comes between a person and the Lord, then they need to give it up or they will be like the young rich man that was saddened when Christ said give it up....

Job, one of the riches people on earth, served the Lord, and in just a matter of an hour or so, lost it all, his family, live stock, everything he had, even his health, everything that is except his contentious wife.... and loyal friends that had no clue as to what was really happening..... after wards, he was blessed even greater, more wealth, more children and even the blood line of Christ..... all because he did not give up on God.....

Mr. Storm, a man that took Christ in his adult years ( early to mid 1960's time frame ) in a very conservative church, was reading Malachi 3, and other places where it talked about tithing, so he asked the pastor if that was still true..... the pastor told him it was, but now most people dont do it because they think it is a thing of the past...... Mr. Storm started tithing...... he did not even think about it...... gave 10% and was keeping 90%..... some time later, Mr. Storm was no longer giving 10%, but had increased his giving as he received promotions and such..... he was up to about 50%....... some time later he was keeping 10%, and giving 90% ( the 10% he was keeping now, is greater then the 90% he was keeping earlier.....)

i am not preaching name it claim it, nor talking how to get rich quick...... Blessing come in many forms, some are with wealth.......

something to remember also.... if a person can not handle money, or if they become obssessed with money, God may not give that person those type of blessings until they are able to handle it...... these people may receive blessings of service, such as teaching, working, building, tending to the sick and lonely... there are many areas God needs people in, not just the area of money.....

the whole idea of being a Christian, is that we are not perfect, and never will be on this earth in this lifetime.

if I were to be perfect, they would have to hang me on a cross for the sins of other people..... as it is, if i am hung on a cross, it is because i am striving to be perfect, striving to be like Christ.... I want to be there and some day, this body will be made new and this soul will be healed and this mind will understand all things that it needs to..... but for now, i must tend to the aches and paings that i awake with every morning, and bless the Lord for a wonderful day ahead of me, no matter how many times i need to bend, squat, lift, pull, tug, crane and twist tthis body through the day.....

if I were worried about how much i can keep, i would have not followedthe Lord to begin with..... as it is, i was down, (injured) in January, and unable to even sit up for 2 1/2 weeks, and unable to work the rest of the month..... (plus medical bills going out with no income coming in, for Teresa is out due to an injury on the job and workmans is not providing any care, so no income)....... in Feb and Mar, i worked while on the mend ( i am self employed (was) if i do not work, i do not eat (get paid))..... in April, the body stopped progressing and started going down again... unable to work i shifted gears and went to work punching a time clock..... i basicly was laid off for about 4 weeks, with no return, so again, no income, for a month, until this week, i started another job, actually was shooting for a job at the university, but this past Friday ( one week ago) i was offered a job, at twice what the university was offering for their possition.....

we have not missed any payments on any bills, have been late on a few, but not missed......

Shiloh is back in full operation (the house of prayer, that God allowed us to operate)....

Teresa is back in school, as a Jr. at the university.....

we have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies,.... and cloths on our backs....

WE ARE TOTALLY BLESSED BY GOD IN ALL WAYS

the only way we have been able to make it, is by giving it all to God.....

if this house gets in the way between us and God, it will be gone.... if my truck gets in the way, will be saying Bye Bye to it........ i can walk to work if i want......

Christ wants obediance more then He wants sacrafice or offerings.... if a person can not be obedient, then no matter how much they have and how much they give it will not do them a bit of good..............

remember, if we can not be good stewards with what we have, ( the small things ) then how can we be expected to be good stewards with the greater things??????

it is up to us....

mike

[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

You can't teach about generosity and such from this passage I don't think because Jesus was dealing with a particular person's sin. The reason he said to sell everything, was because he was showing this person that they werent as perfect as they thought they were. This young man thought he had kept all the commandments; but Jesus got to the heart of the matter with this statement.

This passage speaks more to the sin of coveting, or making possessions an idol, than it speaks to the idea of sharing or giving away things.

Can you suggest a few passages that do teach about generosity and how we should handle possessions?

Thanks,

Fiosh

[Guest horselips]

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.

**************************

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.

**************************

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,

*******************************

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,

16

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.

[Guest yod]

yod, I must tell you, you just brought tears to my eyes.

Bless you, brother,

Fiosh

big kissies, sissy!