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What should our attitude be about success ?
ciy:
This is a subject that I find to be very difficult to find the truth of the mystery.
"Trust in the Lord with all of thine heart lean not to thy own understanding."
and "God's ways are not our ways" both seem to point in the opposite direction of what we would think is common sense or reasonable thinking. We are made subject to vainity and with a heart that is deceitful so that how are we to gauge what is reasonable to spend on a car, home, etc.
I know that we say to live a balanced life, but I cannot find any of the "heroes" of the bible that lived a balanced life. From Abraham to Moses to David to Jeremiah, Isaiah, John, to Jesus and Paul all lived what we would term an unbalanced life. I think we have to realize that many or all of us (me included) may be in that group of 80 or so of the disciples in John 6 that said "This is a hard and difficult and strange saying an offensive and unbearable message. Who can stand to hear it? Who can be expected to listen to such teaching?" (Amplified) Remember there are many called then few chosen and then some of those are faithful to the end. I am sure Judas reasoned in his own mind that it was only good common sense to give the money to the poor and establish a kingdom in this world and that this man I have been following is not being reasonable.
1 John says that we are to give up this world and that if we love any part the love of God is not in us. I find it very hard to keep my eyes on Jesus during all the pulls and tugs that come in a day at work. It is so easy to get right back into the desires of this world and put them first. It is all done with a carnal mind and each day at work exercises and builds up that carnal mind which is enmity to God. So I believe without the wilderness experience until you are washed clean of all of this world can you truly be faithful. Remember Jesus says when He returns will He find "any faithful".
I hope you all realize that I too want to believe that if I am balanced I will be ok, but this is always in my mind and seems to be truer just like all of those years I said I believed in hell when in my mind it did not add up. A "hard teaching" does not seem to fit with the comfortable worldly life that we live.
CIY
mrsnacks:
Well wasn't Abraham wealthy ? How about Solomon ? Job to ? Where is the balance ?
Yesterday I had 3 people come up to me while I was going on a walk and ask me for money. They could've needed the money for booze or drugs maybe. Who knows. But I didn't give. I don't mine giving at a gas station to the guy who comes up and wants a donation for cleaning your windows on your car. At least he is working for it.
I am certain if I was in Tiger Woods' shoes financially - I wouldn't be living in a small condo in a modest or low income neighborhood and driving a Pinto. I wouldn't be shopping at Payless shoes. But I am not Tiger Woods and I know as a disciple of Christ that things don't really satisfy but for only a moment. Things don't rule my life. I like nice things but I don't lose any sleep if I don't have them. Is God the one that blesses us or is it up to us to get them ? But in reality you never own anything. Don't make a mortgage payment and see what happens to ( your ) home. The same for your car. Even if your car is paid for you need to pay insurance and registration yearly. If you don't see what happens. You may own the car but you need to pay for the privilege to drive it. And when you die you take nothing with you.
Yes we may be blessed with things so we can bless others. But the rich I know of seldom do. I know . I have worked for very wealthy men and women and they all have been stingy. I am talking about super wealthy. They spend on themselves and their own family.
And so called rich Christians are not that much different. I am sure there are exceptions on both sides. You ever hear of Hagin, Copeland, Dollar , Robertson, giving money to the flock ? They tell the church to send them money so the windows of heaven can be open yet they don't send out any checks. I did get a call from one of these evangelist organizations soliciting me for a donation. I told them to send me money and so they will be blessed even more. She hung up on me.
ciy:
I agree that Abraham, Solomon, and Job did not live balanced lives. And I am like most when I judge who to give money to and who not to. The story of the Good Samaritan shows that we should not judge for ourselves if someone is worthy. When someone asks we should give.
Mt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:39-44
It is all a very hard teaching.
CIY
mrsnacks:
--- Quote from: ciy on July 14, 2007, 11:59:09 AM ---I agree that Abraham, Solomon, and Job did not live balanced lives. And I am like most when I judge who to give money to and who not to. The story of the Good Samaritan shows that we should not judge for ourselves if someone is worthy. When someone asks we should give.
Mt 5:39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.
41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 5:39-44
It is all a very hard teaching.
CIY
--- End quote ---
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Well the story of the God Samaritan no one asked anyone for anything to my recollection. But in the verse you quoted it says not to turn away anyone who would borrow either. Does that mean if a stranger asks you for money or your car even - would you automatically lend it ? It says give to him that asketh. It sounds like it can mean something other than money. I think one is doing good by not giving certain people what they asks for. The Lord doesn't give His children what they ask for most of the time. Just some thoughts.
ciy:
Again I think it is that "hard teaching" that we cannot accept because it is beyond our own understanding. I tend to rationalize it out in my own mind and say that I will not give to this stranger who may go and buy the wrong thing with it, but there does not seem to be any room in the scriptures for me to question motive only to do what Jesus says. That is to give.
Why do I call Him Lord, Lord, and not do what He says? We I spend the majority of my time in the world doing the things of this world I end up not doing what he says.
Again I go back to what I began with that it is one of God's sacred secrets that I have not yet been given the clear eyes to see and I am posting to encourage and to be encouraged in the truth of the matter.
CIY
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