Matthew 19:23-25, Mark 10:24-26, Luke 18:24-26 all tell of the same story in which Jesus speaks these words.
"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven."
"And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."
"When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?"
"But many who are first will be last. And many who are last will be first."
I live in a primarily LDS area, and many of them are very wealthy. I've noticed this is a trend among the church. Dentists, doctors, lawyers, stock brokers, financial planners, etc... There are SO many upper-class people who are members. I'd like to know your thoughts on this.
5 comments:
I wonder about this too. I'm reading a book by Shane Claiborne called The Irresistible Revolution. He's nondenominational Christian. Anyhow, he writes a lot about how we should be willing to give all of our money and material possessions to someone in need because that's what Jesus would do. He thinks it's un-Christian to have an extra bed in a home when there's people who sleep on the street. It's an interesting read.
Anyhow, I don't necessarily agree with him. I don't know how I feel about some stranger sleeping in my house. I do like how the LDS Church is so committed to service. And they're super organized! I think that everyone who can do so should donate money charities. And everyone can volunteer their time and (wo)manpower. I think we should do that as Christians, but I don't expect it to count for or against my salvation.
Not the annoying ones. Or perhaps only the annoying ones. I'm conflicted. All I know is, where Bo Diddly and his red, rectangular guitar is, that's where I'm planning on being. Hmmmmmm......Dentists in heaven, Jim Morrisson in, uh, that other place; unless G*d has a totally awesome sense of humor. Who do you love.
I don't think money is the issue of keeping people out of heaven, it's what they do with it that keeps them out of heaven. My mission president what the CEO of NuSkin cosmetics (headquartered in Provo, UT)He never did tell us how much money he made, but it was rumored he had millions and millions. He had a huge house in Provo, another huge cabin that he owned in Park City, and another mansion at Lake Powell. While he was serving as mission president they rented out the house at Lake Powell, one time a celberity visting Utah rented out the huge mansion and loved it, he asked his realtor if he could get a house like this, his realtor told him it was out of his budget! I thought that was so funny when I heard that story. I would have never pictured my nice, humble, dignified missionary president to make more money then the celeberties of our day. But that's just the thing, he never gave off the appearance that he was loaded. He was always giving and always righteous. I heard he put a few missionaries from our mission through college, and has given so much to charity and to the church that I'm sure by his tithing alone the church was able to build a temple or two. I know that this man will have a seat in the Celestial kingdom! He is one of the most obedient and righteous men that I have ever met personally in my time on earth.
To anonymous with the "loaded" mission president: "And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast into the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had" (Luke 1:1-4).
The issue doesn't not boil down to simply giving. It's a matter of giving so much it becomes a sacrifice.
"And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth"(Luke 12:15).
"But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin"(D&C 49:20).
Sorry for the typo in the second paragraph which should read "The issue doesn't boil down to simply giving."
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