Sell what you have and give to the poor?

[Stan]

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Other versions

http://bible.cc/matthew/19-21.htm

I had heard a number of times, that if he would have been willing, Jesus would have said he did not need to.

Just because he said it to one person, it doesn't mean it is relevant for every one..

Or does it?

[Stan]

When I first began helping folks with their estates, I came across a study based in England, showing that people who made wills actually lived longer than those who did not

Those who gave bequests lived longer still

AND

Those who created foundations, which generally helped others, had the longest lifespan.. always thought that was interesting.

[miz3]

When I first began helping folks with their estates, I came across a study based in England, showing that people who made wills actually lived longer than those who did not

Those who gave bequests lived longer still

AND

Those who created foundations, which generally helped others, had the longest lifespan.. always thought that was interesting.

Whatever you do you should do it because God tells you to do it. If you are on personal one to one with God then you will know. God did not tell everyone to "sell all they had".......

[Gerr]

Et tu, Robert? (Forgive me, Robert, I couldn't help it).

[cardw]

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

Other versions

http://bible.cc/matthew/19-21.htm

I had heard a number of times, that if he would have been willing, Jesus would have said he did not need to.

Just because he said it to one person, it doesn't mean it is relevant for every one..

Or does it?

I don't think it is an order. I think Jesus is pointing out a cause and effect.

I think that if I feel resistance to this idea means that I am still holding on to externals and I will miss out on a particular quality of life.

[phkrause]

I don't think it is an order. I think Jesus is pointing out a cause and effect.

I think that if I feel resistance to this idea means that I am still holding on to externals and I will miss out on a particular quality of life.

[olger]

"In many cases means which should be devoted to the missionary work is diverted into other channels, from mistaken ideas of benevolence. We may err in making gifts to the poor which are not a blessing to them, leading them to feel that they need not exert themselves and practice economy, for others will not permit them to suffer. We should not give countenance to indolence, or encourage habits of self-gratification by affording means for indulgence. While the worthy poor are not to be neglected, all should be taught, so far as possible, to help themselves." (CS 33).

"God has given us all something to do; and in the discharge of various duties, our lives will be made useful, and we shall be blessed. "Not slothful in business," [ROM 12:11.] is the injunction of the apostle Paul. A person might as well expect a harvest where he has not sown, as to expect to be saved while living in indolence. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, yet "he shall become poor that dealeth with a slack hand." [PROV. 10:4.] Those who are diligent in business may not always be prospered; but drowsiness and idleness are sure to grieve the Spirit of God, and destroy true godliness. A stagnant pool becomes offensive; but a pure, flowing brook spreads health and gladness over the land." {CTBH 96.3}

[olger]

A friend of mine "Big Mike" says that there are two kinds of poor:

1) Those who choose to be poor, through laziness.

2) Those who are the result of some accident or misfortune.

We should help the second class with our generosity and prayers.

We should help the first class by allowing them to suffer the results of slothfulness (2 Thessalonians 3:10).

Is Big Mike correct on this?

[GreatLakesGramma]

I agree with Big Mike.

[cardw]

"In many cases means which should be devoted to the missionary work is diverted into other channels, from mistaken ideas of benevolence. We may err in making gifts to the poor which are not a blessing to them, leading them to feel that they need not exert themselves and practice economy, for others will not permit them to suffer. We should not give countenance to indolence, or encourage habits of self-gratification by affording means for indulgence. While the worthy poor are not to be neglected, all should be taught, so far as possible, to help themselves." (CS 33).

"God has given us all something to do; and in the discharge of various duties, our lives will be made useful, and we shall be blessed. "Not slothful in business," [ROM 12:11.] is the injunction of the apostle Paul. A person might as well expect a harvest where he has not sown, as to expect to be saved while living in indolence. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, yet "he shall become poor that dealeth with a slack hand." [PROV. 10:4.] Those who are diligent in business may not always be prospered; but drowsiness and idleness are sure to grieve the Spirit of God, and destroy true godliness. A stagnant pool becomes offensive; but a pure, flowing brook spreads health and gladness over the land." {CTBH 96.3}

This propaganda so that giving to the church is substituted for giving to the poor.

Jesus doesn't make this delineation. If wealth prevents the rich from finding a certain quality to life then it won't help the poor either.

It is self regulating as a cause and effect relationship. Once a rich person is poor then you are just like everyone else. You live off what you produce day to day and you don't have anything left to enable sloth for yourself or anyone else.

In todays world usury allows the rich to be sloths. If I had a million dollars I could simply put it into a tax free bond account and I would get a check for about 3500 to 5000 dollars a month completely tax free to live on.

Some of the bonuses of AIG managers were 20 million dollars as reward for screwing up the country. That's their bonus and doesn't even include their salary.

In the same scenario they would get 70 to 100 thousand tax free per month!!

You would be hard pressed to spend all of that. And that is the middle management bonus structure.

If that is who you want to defend go right ahead, but you are basically defending the right to get screwed.

[phkrause]

And who are we to determine who are A or who are B? Only God knows our motives.

[Gerr]

This propaganda so that giving to the church is substituted for giving to the poor.

What do you expect? After Caesar and Aaron get their cut, there's not much left! lol

[bonnie]

And who are we to determine who are A or who are B? Only God knows our motives.

Maybe if there weren't so many that felt it a right to take from the labors of others the church and private citizens would do a much better job of taking care of those truly in need thru no fault of their own.

Those that believe they should "sell what they have and give to the poor" are certainly free to do so.What is stopping anyone from doing just that? Then of course we get to feed those that do so

[Dr. Rich]

There are two conditions for entering into the Kingdom of Heaven, the first is to keep all of the commandments, the second is to follow Jesus by holding fast to His words. Matthew 19 and Rev. 12:17 did not change a thing and Jesus had plunty of time before and after His death to change these conditions but didn't.

Being perfect is overcoming sin which is a requirement for salvation. The Rich Young Ruler kept all of the commandments but could not give up what he had to follow Jesus as the disciples did.

Many, if not MOST, Adventists do exactly the same thing. The last of the seven messages to the KOH found in Rev. 3 is NOT talking about intrinsic and physical things--it is talking about real truth and to those who are just like the Rich Young Ruler--they are good and think they have the truth, but refuse to follow ONLY the words of Jesus (testimony of Jesus), given to us by ONLY His eyewitnesses. They are NOT perfect!

[Guest]

they are good and think they have the truth, but refuse to follow ONLY the words of Jesus (testimony of Jesus), given to us by ONLY His eyewitnesses. They are NOT perfect!

I have asked you many times to show me where that "ONLY" part that YOU attach, is in the Bible. But you have not. That's because it isn't there. In fact Jesus said, speaking of Moses:

Joh 5:47 But if you believe not his writings, how shall you believe my words?

He also said through an OT writer:

2Chron 20:20 Believe in the LORD your God, so shall you be established; believe his prophets, so shall you prosper.

According to this, there are other words in the Bible that you need to believe and follow, besides the words of Jesus ONLY. When you add the ONLY part, you are basically saying that the rest of the Bible is now useless. And this is not in keeping with what Jesus said about it. It is only what YOU say. So you are violating your own rule.

[John317]

[phkrause]

[Gail]

Et tu, Robert? (Forgive me, Robert, I couldn't help it).

I have to admit that was my first thought, too- where's Robert???

That's why we love him! :)

[olger]