Hi everyone I'm new here in Religious Forums. My name is JC Arnobit and I'm a Filipino Roman Catholic.
I just want to share something about religion and money.
I'm a member of Bro. Bo Sanchez's Truly Rich Club, a membership club that believes God wanted all of us to be wealthy and prosperous. Not only because He wants what's best for us, but it's also because He wants us to use that wealth to serve Him and His people.
Money in itself is not really evil, it's our methods to get it, and our intention on how to use it that makes it evil. To be Truly Rich means to be wealthy so that you may become a blessing to others as well.
Thank you and God Bless
Hi and welcome.
Jesus encouraged his followers to be
rich toward God (Luke 12:21) and to store up
treasures in heaven. (Matt 6:20; Luke 12:33) An individuals record of fine works would be like riches deposited with the Creator in heaven.
Unlike the patriarchs and the nation of Israel, the followers of Jesus Christ had the commission to make disciples of people of all the nations. (Matt 28:19, 20) Fulfilling that commission required time and effort that might otherwise have been properly used in secular pursuits. Therefore, a person who continued to cling to his wealth instead of unburdening himself sufficiently to be able to use his time and resources to fulfill that commission could not be a disciple of Jesus, with the prospect of gaining life in the heavens. That is why the Son of God said:
How difficult a thing it will be for those having money to make their way into the kingdom of God! It is easier, in fact, for a camel to get through the eye of a sewing needle than for a rich man to get into the kingdom of God. (Luke 18:24, 25)
These words were prompted by the reaction of a rich young ruler upon being told by Jesus:
Sell all the things you have and distribute to poor people, and you will have treasure in the heavens; and come be my follower. (Luke 18:22, 23) That rich young ruler was under obligation to help needy fellow Israelites. (Prov 14:21; 28:27; Isa 58:6, 7; Ezek 18:7-9) But his unwillingness to part with his material possessions, using these to assist others, and to devote himself to being a follower of Jesus Christ blocked his gaining entrance into the Kingdom of the heavens.
Christs followers were to work hard so they would be able to care for their families and also have
something to distribute to someone in need. (Eph 4:28; 1Thess 4:10-12; 2Thess 3:10-12; 1Tim 5:8) They were to be content with sustenance and covering, not striving to become rich. Any who made material pursuits of prime concern were in danger of becoming involved in dishonest practices and losing their faith because of neglecting spiritual things.
Pauls words to Timothy demonstrate this:
Those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and hurtful desires, which plunge men into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains. (1Tim 6:9, 10)"
So those who are
"determined to be rich" need to be very careful.
Just saying......