if riches increase, set not your heart upon them.

[MoreCoffee]

I wonder how deeply the desire for wealth permeates into Christian thinking despite the warnings against it in the holy scriptures. Do you think that capitalism is corrupting Christianity to make wealth and its acquisition a priority among the people of God?

 

[Rens]

https://youtu.be/RBHZFYpQ6nc

 

[Rens]

I wonder how deeply the desire for wealth permeates into Christian thinking despite the warnings against it in the holy scriptures. Do you think that capitalism is corrupting Christianity to make wealth and its acquisition a priority among the people of God?

Can, doesn't have to.
I feel bad for eating peanut butter. Just signed a petition.
Everything has to be cheap so we can live nice and cosy, but in Indonesia they're still treated as slaves for us to make it possible.

 

[Josiah]

Stuff is not bad, per se. Having lots of stuff is not bad, per se. What's bad is primarily trusting stuff to do/give what stuff can't.

 

[atpollard]

I always liked the quote:

"You need to hold on to STUFF with an open hand rather than a clenched fist ... so it will hurt less if God takes it away." :smile:

 

[MoreCoffee]

I wonder if Christians in rich countries become a little hard hearted about the poor because they are so rich by comparison.

 

[NewCreation435]

In some circles it is, especially the health and wealth prosperity gospel followers. For a large group of people though I don't think it is as much of an issues.

 

[Wilhemena]

I wonder how deeply the desire for wealth permeates into Christian thinking despite the warnings against it in the holy scriptures. Do you think that capitalism is corrupting Christianity to make wealth and its acquisition a priority among the people of God?

Indeed there are numerous warnings against greed and the flip side is seeing Solomon in all his affluence, so who would not want to be blessed by God such as that? It is tough living poor and wondering why God won't give you what your next door neighbor might have even though they are naughty folk and you walk as straight a path as you can. There is a commandment against that but it doesn't help ease our greedy hearts yearning for more and more, even tougher watching the television and seeing all the lovely products one absolutely needs to have in her household.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Indeed there are numerous warnings against greed and the flip side is seeing Solomon in all his affluence, so who would not want to be blessed by God such as that? It is tough living poor and wondering why God won't give you what your next door neighbor might have even though they are naughty folk and you walk as straight a path as you can. There is a commandment against that but it doesn't help ease our greedy hearts yearning for more and more, even tougher watching the television and seeing all the lovely products one absolutely needs to have in her household.

Advertising certainly does appeal to greed and envy. Maybe adblock and no tv is a good approach.

 

[Rens]

Advertising certainly does appeal to greed and envy. Maybe adblock and no tv is a good approach.

When I had no kids and was married we had 2 incomes and a really cheap apartment, no car. We were so filthy rich, I had so much to spend a week. We'd eat out every week. My sister was jealous. She said: she has more than me lol and she's a doctor and her husband a manager, they have this huge house, 2 cars and a boat in Greece.
I'd buy clothes for myself every week. I liked shopping. Didn't even wear it all.
Then a preacher said he walked through the mall and saw all these people buying stuff. He said it's greed.
My I was offended.
But then I thought: yeah he's right.
Lol now I get the second hand clothes from collegues cause I dont spend a cent on clothes for myself and they have their closets full of stuff they don't even wear. Sweet.

 

[Rens]

I think it has to do with culture and looking at the ones around you.
They have a car. We must also have a car.
Those health and wealth preachers are American. None of those in Holland, well a few who were influenced by them. The worst one we have dares to live in a house thats 700000 euro. My the comments he get. He rented a cheap building for a revival meeting, place was too small and not cosy to sit in, cause he said its not fair if we go sit in this huge building while the orphan kids we sponsor in India need the money more. But to Dutch standards he's a health and wealth preacher.
In Holland you ought to be ashamed of yourself if you're rich. Show off with your big car? Evil.
My dad was rich. We lived in what they called the gold coast. I always lied when people had to drop me off that I lived in the cheap neighbourhood next to it. I was ashamed of it. Some people were jealous.
If it wasn't for him I couldn't even live normal now.

 

[user1234]

Godliness with contentment is great gain.
We have all things in Christ. What a gift! What riches! What great grace! \ /
And having you as a friend is like icing on the cake. :friends:
And streets of gold still to come! Thank you, Jesus! Praise the Lord! :spinningsmilie: