Money possessing you

[Enoch111]

Christian giving is NOT for helping the poor pay bills. It isn't to even support the ministry. Giving is to show value and appreciation to God. When you give in the collection plate you are giving to God. That is the mindset Christians should have.

I already said that Christian giving is primarily to God. But once the funds have been received they are to be applied as shown in the New Testament.

You are mistaken in this statement if it is a reference to needy Christians: Christian giving is NOT for helping the poor pay bills. You need to study what Paul said in this regard: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (1 Cor 16:1) Paul was urging Christians in other parts of the Roman Empire to take a collection for the poorer brethren in Jerusalem. And eventually he did bring this collection to Jerusalem.
You will read about this in several passages. Then we have this in the book of Acts.

ACTS 6
1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
3 Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. [THIS IS HOW IMPORTANT THIS WAS]

Supporting widows and orphans has always been an important part of Christian good works, and giving to the poor was a commandment of Christ. There are very poor brethren all over the world that need the help of other Christians.

 

[Enoch111]

It's devoted to God and he gives it to the preacher. He relies on the preacher to use it properly. The preacher (biblically) makes the decisions.

Not according to the New Testament. The elders (plural) and the deacons (plural) were to manage the affairs of the churches. See above. The preacher(s) was to focus on his ministry.

 

[FHII]

I already said that Christian giving is primarily to God.

Really? When?

You are mistaken in this statement if it is a reference to needy Christians: Christian giving is NOT for helping the poor pay bills. You need to study what Paul said in this regard: Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. (1 Cor 16:1) Paul was urging Christians in other parts of the Roman Empire to take a collection for the poorer brethren in Jerusalem. And eventually he did bring this collection to Jerusalem

This incident was already brought up by Hop in God, and I already addressed it. Yes, it did happen but it was not the only time Paul addressed giving. I have already given multiple verses where Paul discussed how giving supported his ministry and travel expenses. He even said his preaching the gospel was his labor that showed he wasn't a burden.

Yes, he did have collections on two occasions (maybe more) for Jerusalem. But it is clear that it wasn't the only reason he took offerings.

 

[FHII]

Supporting widows and orphans has always been an important part of Christian good works, and giving to the poor was a commandment of Christ. There are very poor brethren all over the world that need the help of other Christians.

When you address Jesus not giving back the widow's two mites, then I will address this!

Naw... I will address it anyway... First off, the apostles appointed others or called for the Church to appoint others to look after them.

Second, I absolutely agree that we should be our brother's keeper. My point of contention is that "giving" is done to support the poor. If you are talking about giving your time, I agree. Even if you are talking about money, I can agree. What I disagree with is the notion that the offerings are or were in biblical settings primarily or in any other sense for the poor.

Yes, they can go towards that at the direction of the minister. But that is not the reason a Christian gives.

 

[Hope in God]

Perhaps what may need to be examined is the grossly inaccurate ingredients in the WOF's prosperity error. One thing that I see so abundantly accepted within these groups is the belief that a person can lose his/her salvation. There is no understanding regarding the threefold makeup of a believer: spirit, soul and body, and their distinctly separate inworkings of salviation: justification, sanctification and glorification.

Somehow, they have mixed justification (spirit) and sanctification (soul) verses into one big lump. They know not how to rightly divide when they see words like save, saved, perfect, and perfection.

One example: 1 Corinthians 15:2
"By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain."

Which work of salvation does this relate to? Certainly not justification, because we know that memory has nothing to do with being initially saved. If we keep in memory it adds to the sanctification of our souls, what the writer of Hebrews calls "going on to perfection". (Heb. 6) Other metaphors for sanctification include running the race, laying aside every weight, putting on Christ, building with wood, hay and stubble, growing up in Him in all things, and the renewal of the mind, none of which has anything to do with maintaining one's justification.......and yet the mixing of these verses is exactly what prosperity preachers have been doing for decades.

Neither do I see any real knowledge of God's present day judgments. Yes, Christians are judged in this life, sometimes chastened for their sin, sometimes reproved, and, the most gruesome when at the greatest extent, when one is taken out of the way for sinning unto death. For all Scripture is give by the inspiration of God and is profitable in correction, reproof, for instruction in righteousness.

Yet, the moment the Lord places his hand on a prosperity adherent to correct him, many will immediately go into rebuking the devil, commanding him to leave them in the name of Jesus. For their minds have been led to believe anything "bad" directed to them is of the devil, not of the Lord. To them, all good is of God and all bad is of the devil.

They believe their tithe and offering giving will increase more than one hundred fold. They look to receive whatever it is their wants dictate to them when they pull from their bank accounts large sums of money as a seed for their soon-to-come increase. This is how all the wolves are able get rich, but convincing novice believers to "give it all you got". They still say, "When you don't know how much to give, give it all!"

 

[soul man]

As Christians, possessing or working for money is definitely not the issue. The temptation is "money possessing you", especially to the point where it becomes one’s underlying motivation in life. Some people are very motivated by the accumulation of money.

In 1922, in Egypt, King Tut’s tomb was opened. It contained gold items at a present day value of $680 million. And this was just one person’s treasure. Imagine the full opulence of Moses’ day.

And yet, it is written that "by faith Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward." (Heb. 11: 26).

(How could that have been, that Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ? Jesus was not yet born. But we know, He did exist then, didn’t He?) More on that later.

To the elders at the church at Ephesus Paul listed his credentials as an apostle of God. Acts 20:33-34, “I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.”

Paul took nothing from the Ephesians while caring for the needs of his fellow travelers and himself. A selfless guy, indeed.

Of little importance were offerings to Peter as well, for he was carrying no money with him when he encountered the lame beggar. Acts 3:6, “Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”

After Samuel had given the Israelites a king, he, like Paul, listed a personal quality. I Sam. 12:3, “…..whose ox have I taken?... or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.” He needed not to be paid to be a prophet. He merely was.

What was Daniel’s reply when was asked to read the writing on the wall? Daniel 5:17, “ Then Daniel answered and said before the king, Let thy gifts be to thyself, and give thy rewards to another; yet I will read the writing unto the king, and make known to him the interpretation.”

Hello hope welcome, I'm not for sure I understand your thoughts here, are we comparing flesh such as; some have mastered it and others still working on it?

 

[Hope in God]

Hello hope welcome, I'm not for sure I understand your thoughts here, are we comparing flesh such as; some have mastered it and others still working on it?

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No, it's a look at the proper way of viewing money, unlike so many wolves today.