I think you need to read that passage about "abundance" again, Dunamis. "I came that you might have LIFE and might have IT more abundantly." He's talking about life, not about material possessions. "Out of his belly shall flow RIVERS OF LIVING WATER" ... NOT rivers of stuff. I'm not arguing that all Christians should be poor ... but I am saying that GOD decides what is best for each of His children and sometimes that may mean that we must struggle for our living. It's not our place to demand "abundance" from God because, as I've said in other posts, God is NOT a vending machine where you can put in your "confessions" (or prayers, for that matter) and out pops whatever it is you choose to request. Americans have lost the understanding of what it meant in King James' day to be a KING. A KING had complete authority ... he was ABOVE the law ... if he rode by and demanded that you give him your 12-year-old daughter as a concubine you had NO CHOICE in the matter and anyone who had the temerity to tell the KING he OWED them something because he had promised it to them, could find themselves losing their heads GOD is KING OF KINGS and, in the language of King James who gave him that English label, that means even an earthly king has no right to DEMAND "abundance" from him.
-- Edited by wordworker at 12:52, 2008-06-20
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
I wouldn't worry about it too much. Last time i checked, God was in a good mood and he loves his kids. The ideas your struggling with imply your trying to do it right and not screw up. But remember it's not a performance based faith... God knows this and he knows your heart. King Solomon lived pretty well and so did David. And that was the Old Testament-we as believers are under a BETTER covenant thanks to Jesus. In my opinion there's nothing wrong with abundance after all Jesus promised it (John 10:10) as long as it doesn't have you.
I didn't mean you personally ... I, too, was speaking metaphorically ... hypothetically. I was using YOU in the universal mode, not the personal mode. Didn't mean to imply anything.
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
I don't want to buy a plasma tv....it was only an example. I don't only give $1000 a year, it was just sample numbers. This really has nothing to do with the here and now for me personally, it's just something I grapple with from time to time. There are plenty of Scriptures that talk about money being a blessing from God and still more exhorting us to give sacrificially. I was just curious if others have thought about this and what conclusions they have come to. I thought this might have been a lighter topic than it has shaped up to be.
Well, my question for you Saint is this ... If one really believes in tithing and he "can only afford to give $1000 a year," that means he can only be making $10,000 a year ... so why does he need a Plasma TV? Now, if you're talking over and above tithe, then that's a different matter. Go ahead ... knock yerself out ... but if you only tithe $1,000 then you wouldn't be "enjoying the fruits of your labor" by buying that TV, you'd be going into debt and, like it or not, we are directed to "owe no man ..." Another question about this ... why would a committed Christian, who desires to walk closer to the Lord every day, WANT a $1500 device in their house that preaches sex, violence, worldliness and greed on 95% of their channels and WoF garbage on the other 5%? Hmmmmmmmmmmm \O/
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"I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to His holy people." Jude 3 Joyce
Ecclesiates 3:13 says "...and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor-- it is the gift of God." I'm curious as to how others balance enjoying the monetary blessings God gives us with sacrificial giving. Is it a sin to drive a $100,000 car? Probably for most, but what of the person who can live this way on 10% of their income? They give 90% away and can still afford luxury. I don't think I could feel guilty if I lived in luxury on 10% of my income, but it's the in-between I have a tough time with. If you can only give $1000 in a year, is it okay to spend $1500 on a plasma tv? Any thoughts?
