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I think I have seen a lot of Christians who would find fault with Lazarus for begging outside the rich man's place, because he 'did not lay hold of the wealth of God and prosper with worldly blessings from God'...like the newest camel, the nicest palace, the most expensive sandels, and every other vanity of the gospel times...
See, I do not get bugged much when I hear people holding beliefs that are false, I just try to help them, and if they listen then the Lord be praised and if not, then it really is their own choice...
But this belief that Christians will be blessed with worldly wealth is ludicrous...Sometimes David is brought up to say that you are to 'have wealth but not have your mind trapped by it'...silly people what use is it to have things if you do not care about them? Sell them and give the money to the poor, who will bless you a thousand times for giving away something you claim does not trap your mind...
But even like the richman who walked away from the Lord sorrowfull, you see that your possessions and worldly wealth has laid a snare for your soul...and perhaps you have to defend 'your right to be blessed by God in the most luxurious way possible.'
They say, "Okay, Lord, I will carry my cross and be crucified with you, but my cross will be in the back of my Hummer, and be made of the finest timber and my nails that pierce my hands will be made of gold...for the Lord has blessed me with all of this..."
Such foolish thinking...do you not read the warning everywhere in the New Testament against the rich...that summons after the beautitudes should be enough, "Woe to you who are rich--for you have received your reward."
Lazarus was not rich nor was he condemned by Jesus for being poor, but instead Jesus condemned the richman that walked by this needy person every day of his life...how many people that are needy do you callously ignore to indulge in frivolties?
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a richman to enter the kingdom of God."
And do not kid yourself it is just talking about not letting your riches distract you from Christ...look at what that statement actually says...
And understand this, those who are given much, much will be demanded of;
and those who ar entrusted with much, much more will be required of them...
And apply this to yourself in truth and do not worm yourself out of it...This reminds me of a wealthy lady I worked for as a teenager...She had a beautiful house on the water, and she had so much furniture and rooms that she NEVER used...and I tell you what was the point of her having those rooms if she did not use them? The moth and rust will destroy them, and the Lord will require that she be held responsible for the wealth she had that she let fall into decay instead of using all of it to be a blessing to her or someone needy...
I am done ranting for now...but much more to say...
May our treasure ALWAYS be in heaven...
tony
See, I do not get bugged much when I hear people holding beliefs that are false, I just try to help them, and if they listen then the Lord be praised and if not, then it really is their own choice...
But this belief that Christians will be blessed with worldly wealth is ludicrous...Sometimes David is brought up to say that you are to 'have wealth but not have your mind trapped by it'...silly people what use is it to have things if you do not care about them? Sell them and give the money to the poor, who will bless you a thousand times for giving away something you claim does not trap your mind...
But even like the richman who walked away from the Lord sorrowfull, you see that your possessions and worldly wealth has laid a snare for your soul...and perhaps you have to defend 'your right to be blessed by God in the most luxurious way possible.'
They say, "Okay, Lord, I will carry my cross and be crucified with you, but my cross will be in the back of my Hummer, and be made of the finest timber and my nails that pierce my hands will be made of gold...for the Lord has blessed me with all of this..."
Such foolish thinking...do you not read the warning everywhere in the New Testament against the rich...that summons after the beautitudes should be enough, "Woe to you who are rich--for you have received your reward."
Lazarus was not rich nor was he condemned by Jesus for being poor, but instead Jesus condemned the richman that walked by this needy person every day of his life...how many people that are needy do you callously ignore to indulge in frivolties?
"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle that for a richman to enter the kingdom of God."
And do not kid yourself it is just talking about not letting your riches distract you from Christ...look at what that statement actually says...
And understand this, those who are given much, much will be demanded of;
and those who ar entrusted with much, much more will be required of them...
And apply this to yourself in truth and do not worm yourself out of it...This reminds me of a wealthy lady I worked for as a teenager...She had a beautiful house on the water, and she had so much furniture and rooms that she NEVER used...and I tell you what was the point of her having those rooms if she did not use them? The moth and rust will destroy them, and the Lord will require that she be held responsible for the wealth she had that she let fall into decay instead of using all of it to be a blessing to her or someone needy...
I am done ranting for now...but much more to say...
May our treasure ALWAYS be in heaven...
tony
. Jesus was saying what they'd get in this life, is as if they had 100 houses, land etc. But He was saying that God would prosper them, but not necessarily with worldly goods. But God does prosper whoever he wants with worldly goods. He has promised to bless those who work hard etc.