This is a shocker - but you need to read it.

[disciplemike]

clearly this post has hit some nerves.
again, just for our consideration.
If it wasn't on MY mind, I would not have posted it.
I don't know any of you personally. But I can tell you, based on the statistics, I am rich.
I need to give it consideration.

Keep posting. I am reading them all.

 

[lastofall]

The matter is made plain and clear by our Lord Jesus Christ in (Mark 10:24)

"And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!"

"them that trust in riches" is the point from the Lord, which can be anyone from the least to the greatest.

 

[disciplemike]

actually, Mike here KEEPS people from the truth

his gospel is one of works and keeping the OT laws

you have been entangled in a web of law keeping deception and finger pointing

and that, from the day you arrived here until now

for some reason, I suspect you may be getting close to your tenure here

yes ma'am, there may come a time when I will be banned. I hope not.
I have been called anti-Christ here. I have been told I worship satan. I have been told I teach people to leave jesus and return to the law.
all those lies sting a little.
I am not popular here. I understand that.

 

[BeyondET]

Let's get the context here.

Matthew 19:16-22New King James Version (NKJV)

Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler

16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good[a] Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good?[b] No one is good but One, that is, God.[c] But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’[d] and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”[e]
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth.[f] What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.


LISTEN to the question this man asks! What good thing must HE DO to inherit eternal life. Jesus answers that he must keep the law. Meaning IF someone was capable of keeping ALL the law ALL the time they could indeed EARN salvation.

Then this guy CLAIMS HE HAS kept all the law.

Jesus goes directly to the hypocrisy of his statement that he has kept all the law, by showing that if he did, he wouldn't be rich, because the need of people is everywhere!

So the issue was never about money, it was about justifying oneself by claiming YOU are keeping ALL the law, and thereby don't need Jesus OR His Sacrificial death.

WE CAN'T KEEP THE LAW. If we could then we wouldn't need Jesus!

Oh How I wish the Holy Spirit would open the eyes of the OP and others like him.

Good post until the last sentence for what has been revealed to you may not be the same that has been revealed to another.

 

[eph610]

Is this interchange between Jesus and the young rich ruler teaching us about taking care of the poor, or is it teaching us how to have faith and trust that God will provide all our needs?

 

[Chester]

Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said,
"How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
Luke 18:24-25 (ESV2011, MBM)

If you are reading this, apparently you are on the internet with some device, which also means you are rich.
Poor people think differently than WE do.
Be warned. It is easy to say, "I am a believer", or "I have faith".

I will post one of many links to income stats.
The average HOUSEHOLD income worldwide is less than $10,000
Most of us have a lot more than that. We are rich.
Be warned. Examine yourself. I am not trying to judge anyone in this area, but this is for your consideration.

Worldwide, Median Household Income About $10,000

I will readily admit that I am rich!

My income is about $30,000 per year which puts me easily in the top 5-10% in the world.

I will readily admit that my wealth at times makes it more difficult for me to trust in Christ. My desire is not to love my money, but to love Christ above all else.

Thank You, Disciplemike, for pointing out this verse and warning us!

 

[Willie-T]

Should we leave it all behind and go out in the woods naked find a cave to live in and eat one grain of rice a day.

Hey! Who said you could have a grain of rice EVERY day?!?!? Such wasteful extravagance!

 

[disciplemike]

I will readily admit that I am rich!

My income is about $30,000 per year which puts me easily in the top 5-10% in the world.

I will readily admit that my wealth at times makes it more difficult for me to trust in Christ. My desire is not to love my money, but to love Christ above all else.

Thank You, Disciplemike, for pointing out this verse and warning us!

thank you for making the effort to see what I am saying.
I agree. It is more difficult, I think a lot more difficult, for us who are rich to truly depend on God.
yet not impossible.

there is an old saying that somewhat applies - "there are no atheists in foxholes".

 

[tourist]

yes ma'am, there may come a time when I will be banned. I hope not.
I have been called anti-Christ here. I have been told I worship satan. I have been told I teach people to leave jesus and return to the law.
all those lies sting a little.
I am not popular here. I understand that.

Perhaps you're just misunderstood. I certainly would not want to see you get banned. It would be like a death in the family. I think that you should just lighten up a little on your approach. Generally, I believe that you're doing a good job in the forums and are an asset to the community.

 

[Willie-T]

Ya know, I have never found even one verse where Jesus' family gave away all those very expensive (fit for a king) gifts the Magi brought to His house when he was about a two year-old toddler. As far as we are told, His own family was probably the richest in the whole area.

 

[Yonah]

yes ma'am, there may come a time when I will be banned. I hope not.
I have been called anti-Christ here. I have been told I worship satan. I have been told I teach people to leave jesus and return to the law.
all those lies sting a little.
I am not popular here. I understand that.

I understand what you wrote in the OP and see it as wise to consider it, many in this and other countries whos been blessed as we are really don't really understand poverty, however in all fairness there is some relativity here: for instance I do remodels for millionaires, when compared to them I'm poor, however I am more rich then many because I have a relationship with our Savior, I have been reading the responses your getting on here and am saddened by the immature attacks and general hatred being exhibited by those who claim the love their neighbor as themselves, I stand with you my brother, and pray for those who cannot see, that their eyes will be opened....

 

[NewWine]

What makes me rich isn't the items I own, the size house in which I live, or the car that I drive. What makes me rich or wealthy or whatever you wish to call it, is the love I receive from God and those around me. Everything I "own" is God's, and I believed this long before I could afford a computer.
While it might be more difficult for a "rich" person to enter heaven, no where does it say it's impossible.

So to the OP: Instead of sitting on your computer trying to "lovingly" teach others the ways of Christ's mind....pick up a mirror and make sure you're heart is as pure as you're trying to help us make ours. I am fairly sure if it was as pure as you wish for ours to become, then your words would have been loving and not accusing.
But eh, that's just the opinion from someone who in your opinion(based upon your words) is nothing more than a rich old woman.

 

[eph610]

Ya know, I have never found even one verse where Jesus' family gave away all those very expensive (fit for a king) gifts the Magi brought to His house when he was about a two year-old toddler. As far as we are told, His own family was probably the richest in the whole area.

I did a study of the trades in Bible times and a "carpenter" was much more than making fences or furniture back then.
Just like a tenet-maker was more than cutting a large piece of cloth and placing it on a couple of poles...

 

[Yonah]

actually they are a commentary on your beliefs and your out of context posting of scripture

sometimes pride is more blinding then anger.... "love your neighbor as yourself" wow what a concept! I don't think judging others because you disagree with their beliefs is full filling even that one command, yet you claim you obey the Savior.... might want to rethink that.

 

[Yonah]

What makes me rich isn't the items I own, the size house in which I live, or the car that I drive. What makes me rich or wealthy or whatever you wish to call it, is the love I receive from God and those around me. Everything I "own" is God's, and I believed this long before I could afford a computer.
While it might be more difficult for a "rich" person to enter heaven, no where does it say it's impossible.

So to the OP: Instead of sitting on your computer trying to "lovingly" teach others the ways of Christ's mind....pick up a mirror and make sure you're heart is as pure as you're trying to help us make ours. I am fairly sure if it was as pure as you wish for ours to become, then your words would have been loving and not accusing.
But eh, that's just the opinion from someone who in your opinion(based upon your words) is nothing more than a rich old woman.

did you even bother to ask if hes doing this now? or did just assume it?

 

[disciplemike]

Ya know, I have never found even one verse where Jesus' family gave away all those very expensive (fit for a king) gifts the Magi brought to His house when he was about a two year-old toddler. As far as we are told, His own family was probably the richest in the whole area.

not true.
When the Messiah was circumcised, they gave the two pigeons (for the mother's purification), which is the poor man's offering. (Luke 2.24, Lev 12.8)
Joseph was a poor carpenter.
Now how would a poor carpenter flee to Egypt and live?
Even then, it took money and resources to travel, especially with a family.
God had provided the resources.

 

[gb9]

when the Messiah was circumcised, they had not got the stuff yet. the magi did not vist them till they were back home. Matthew 2.

 

[disciplemike]

right. the family was poor when they offered the two pigeons.
they could not afford to flee to Egypt, but God provided the resources.

 

[TemporaryCircumstances]

Perhaps you're just misunderstood. I certainly would not want to see you get banned. It would be like a death in the family. I think that you should just lighten up a little on your approach. Generally, I believe that you're doing a good job in the forums and are an asset to the community.

Yep, I agree.
I mean I don't agree with so of the things you post but heck no one is ever gonna agree with someone 100%.
I do not agree with what you posted in this thread for the reasons I stated, but I do not think you are an anti-Christ or should be banned. I do think you are an asset to the CC community as well

 

[disciplemike]

There is a legend, which I believe could very well be true, that goes like this:
God had this trip to Egypt planned from hundreds of years before.

The prophet Daniel was a very rich man, with no wife or children.
It has been written, that Daniel left treasure for the young child King.
He had left instructions about the timing, when the magi would know to go and find the young child.
With those very resources, provided by Daniel, the Messiah's earthly family could afford to flee to Egypt!!!