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Mar
21
Looking forward to discussions in this category.
God bless 
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This statement by our Saviour is certainly nearly as revolutionary as the one we discussed before. And it appears to go directly against the Old covenant, that promised riches and blessings when the Israelites obeyed God. Just as He himself said, "Foxes have holes..." And again, Luke 14, Except a man forsake all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
I believe the main reason Jesus said these words was because of the deceitfulness and power that riches have on people. In the parable of the four soils in Mark 4:18 He said, And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
One will also notice that Jesus said, "how hardly" He didn't say it was impossible, He only said it would be hard. He also said that with God all things are possible.
We have had this debate numerous times already, and we've been accused of being rich many times already as well. But if one thinks about it, this community is home to over hundred people, and and at least 30 men who need to work for their living. Since we are generally self-sustaining, all our members work on the farm. We do know that people tend to see the wealth on first impression, but upon closer examination, one finds we are not that wealthy at all. Our community is also a business center that provides employment for our workforce, and therefore this needs to be taken into consideration. If you work at a factory, you may only receive a small wage, but the business you are working for probably has millions in assets.
Similarly, Fort Pitt Farms is the business name we operate under, and most of us are on a much lower wage than you think. Yes, we do receive free room and board, but the wages I receive would be an insult to most westerners. And with that I have to supply my family with all the necessities such as clothing, healthcare, and many other necessities. My family doesn't even own a vehicle. I just use a company vehicle when I need to go shopping or to the dentist.
True, it appears we are all shareholders in the company, but I personally have no will, nor does my family. The reason is that I don't own enough assets to even make out a will. I just have a small personal bank account with which I purchase my day to day needs for my family. Can we call that riches?
Secondly, are we rich as a community? Materially speaking, yes, but what it all boils down to is our attitude towards those riches. Can we forsake them tomorrow? I believe most of us here could if forced! The other test of our attitude towards those riches is how we handle them, and protect them.
We don't spend our money on luxurious living, and all the latest that the world offers, our vehicles are all purchased used and 2 to 5 years old. We don't insure anything on our community, nor do we insure our crops. Only our highway vehicles are insured, because government regulations give us no options. We believe that everything we have comes from Him and belongs to him, therefore He will take care of it. And to this day, He has not let us down.
I believe sometimes people who have very little are richer and more coveteous than many rich people. It is not a rule, because we know that riches are indeed deceitful, and many have succombed to its power, as written in 1Tim. 6:9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and [into] many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
You see, its not the riches that corrupts people, its the love of those riches. Very, very few have been able to master money, money always masters them, and that is why Jesus says it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. It is usually quite easy to tell if someone is rich or not, and it is not by the abundance of his possessions, or the size of his bank account. It is derived from the person's attitude towards his possessions. Does he insure everything? Does he have life insurance, health insurance, house insurance, pet insurance, spouse insurance, boat insurance, RV insurance, tooth insurance, accident insurance, etc... And does he employ all kinds of devices and methods to protect his assets, like security cameras, watchdogs, alarms, investments etc? Then it doesn't need a rocket scientist to figure out where his heart is, and how his attitude is towards riches.
We employ none of these measures to any of our property, except when we owe money to the bank on some property or machinery, then the law requires us to insure that particular asset. Moreover, Paul admonished Timothy in 1Tim. 6:17 Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18 That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19 Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.
This is very hard to do for natural man, and in most case impossible, because money is power and security, and it is without question the God of this world. That is why Jesus said it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
As followers of Jesus Christ, we have a great responsibility with the blessings He gives us, that we don't squander them on ourselves, but be diligent to provide so that we will have to give to those who ask and are needy. Eph. 4:28 We also have a great responsibility in staying detached to material wealth, as it can deceive us greatly, even into believing that riches are a result of God's approval of our conduct.
In this sense, I believe the poor have a better chance at entering the Kingdom of Heaven, but to have wealth doesn't automatically bar us from God's kingdom, it is our attitude towards those riches that will eventually determine our destiny.
God bless
Wonderful!
Although you see expensive equipment and machinery it is not the riches of the world that the Bible talks of. Worldly riches are used by a rich person to glorify themselves, to win friends and position by a display of wealth.
Rueben may be compared to a bank teller surrounded by billions of dollars and hundreds of gold bars, but where is the fame and position in that?
Worldly wealth only counts in you have control over it, when it belongs to all and you only get to use it, not own it, who is the rich man then?