|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/25/2008 9:22:44 AM
|
|
|
P31W
Posts: 3005
Joined: 6/13/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
quote:
ORIGINAL: Liveloved
In Matthew 23, Jesus gives another stern word to the religious people of His day regarding the way they were living.
Do people not believe because of the way you and I live?
It is very possible that we can damage our testimonies and therefore our credibility so that it is difficult for others (whether Christian or non Christian) to take what we say seriously because of the way in which we live our lives.
Christians have the Holy Spirit living within them and this should be a powerful witness if we are obeying the Holy Spirit. However, when we don't live according to God's Word and teaching we are living to the flesh and this is what others are opposed to and are turned off with and non Christians can even use such as an 'excuse' to continue in sinfulness.
I don’t believe bad behaviour and lifestyle in a professing Christian can keep non Christians from being saved however because that would be like saying, “other people’s salvation depends on our behaviour!” which is just so not true and a total misunderstanding of what salvation entails. However, God is not impressed by sinful behaviour in His children because His Word says:
quote:
ORIGINAL: Jesus
Mark 9:42
"If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a large millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea."
This suggests that our behaviour can be a stumbling block to weaker 'believers' and cause them to sin (I noticed this passage is not written about non Christians!). It seems that God is not impressed by the wilful and sinful lifestyles of His own people and He likens his dislike of such very strongly to that of it being better that the one who is causing the stumbling in a weaker Christian to be taken away from this life rather than continue as they are doing because they could become a candidate to face the wrath of God for so doing. Very strong and scary words.
God has called us to be involved in the salvation of others, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel……“ and we can miss many good opportunities of being a blessing to others both Christian and non Christians alike (and likewise being blessed as a result ourselves) because of how we live. Furthermore, we face God's wrath if we deliberately and continually do what causes another weaker brother or sister to sin.
< Message edited by Little_1 -- 8/23/2008 7:47:17 AM >
Great post Little1,
I have been trying all weekend to think of the verse about how we are to live>>>>>something>>>not as the lost. Can you help me out? Anyone? Help?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/25/2008 10:29:35 AM
|
|
|
sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3777
Joined: 1/9/2007
Status: offline
|
P31W, I don't see why you feel the need to respond with such a critical attitude. Just because some don't agree with you on how to do something? Here are some examples.
quote:
Original: P31W
To all of you,
who don't seem to have a benevolance committee in your chruch and everything I have said appears to be "foreign to you". I want to ask you why? Why does your chruch NOT have these programs at least the min. commanded by God? Why isn't your chruch an example to the lost world?
Why would you think the worse of us in this matter, and assume that we don't have a benevolance committe or plan to help?
But I'll answer your question. It sounds like you belong to a large church. I belong to very small church in a rural area. We're not big enough for many committees of any kind. But we do have a benevolance fund. And we help people not only in our church but in our community. Often times when there is a need people just take out they're wallets and take up a collection.
quote:
My question is why are you a member of a Chruch that does not obey this simple command of God that requires something more from us than lip service?
Why would you assume that our church(s) don't obey God, just because we don't do things the way your church does?
Going back to the OP is your CHRUCH in sin and the individual in sin for not taking God's instructions serious in this matter?
You would assume that our church(es) doesn't do these things and assume our church(es) are in sin! And that we choose to belong to a church that is in sin and are in sin ourselfs!
quote:
Are you planning ways in your personal life to provide for the elderly and orpahns in your own personal family? Are you saving and do what you need to do inorder to not put that responsibility onto "others" (tax payers)
I'll answer this one. I take care of my elderly (and ill) mom, who could otherwise be in a nursing home. Don't worry none of your tax dollars is going towards her care.
And to go back to another post:
quote:
Why don't you know what is going on in your chruch family members lives? Is it because it's to hard to "get involved" or is it because "they" don't want to allow others to get involved?
It's unloving not to care enough to get involved. Open yourself up and allow others to open up to you.
It's much easier to just "pay your taxes" and let the goverment take care of it. What God calls for us to do is step up to the place, pay our taxes AND provide for the needy. Yep a higher standard.
I really felt attacked here. You assume that I don't know what is going on in my church family. As a matter of fact I do know much of what is going and do help when and where I can. You don't know me. If you did, I don't think you could have said that.
You were responding to what I see as your churchs benevolance committee making people jump through hoops to get help. But I never questioned your caring about others needs. Just the way you go about it. We don't agree on this and won't, but that is no reason to attack me or my church. We are both members of the family of God, and as such should be able to discuss things that we don't see eye to eye on in a loving way, without getting angery or attacking each other.
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/25/2008 10:59:36 AM
|
|
|
sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3777
Joined: 1/9/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
Original: P31W
I have been trying all weekend to think of the verse about how we are to live>>>>>something>>>not as the lost. Can you help me out? Anyone? Help?
Could this be the verse you were think of? Ephesians 4 teaches about our relationship with other believers, and Ephesians 5 talks about walking in love.
Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/25/2008 11:05:49 AM
|
|
|
P31W
Posts: 3005
Joined: 6/13/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
P31W, I don't see why you feel the need to respond with such a critical attitude.
I simply asked a question. How you choose to view it is not in my control.
quote:
Why would you think the worse of us in this matter, and assume that we don't have a benevolance committe or plan to help?
I don't think the "worse" of all of you. Some I believe are dead on "because" of their undersanding and response. Others I have my doubts because of their apparent lack of understanding and desire to believe that what we are discussing is somehow a fantasy idea.
quote:
It sounds like you belong to a large church
No my church two years ago averaged 40. Today we are up to about 56 in average Sunday attendance. I live in Mississippi. The area is an old farming community. About fifty percent of our membership are in their 70-80s.
quote:
Often times when there is a need people just take out they're wallets and take up a collection.
Ok so you don't have any ongoing benevolance for those who need perminate assistance?
quote:
I really felt attacked here.
Let me find the quote that I was responding to that you made. Here is it.
"But in a lot of cases we just don't know what is going on in a persons life, or why they have the needs they do."
When someone ask the chruch for help it's only reasonable that "we" know why they are requesting the assistance. Some people believe they need money when in reality they need a job or help with the money they already make. It's not prudent to give the Lord's money to people without first asking some quesitons if you don't know their situation already.
quote:
You were responding to what I see as your churchs benevolance committee making people jump through hoops to get help. But I never questioned your caring about others needs. Just the way you go about it. We don't agree on this and won't, but that is no reason to attack me or my church. We are both members of the family of God, and as such should be able to discuss things that we don't see eye to eye on in a loving way, without getting angery or attacking each other.
Many many people such as the person with mental illness or the long time members and we know their situation we don't make those types of request. The poster here who said her son needed WIC and help with their medical bills we would request they answer the questions and work with a budget counselor. We don't want to treat the symptom and leave the underlying problem to grow so that in the future they continue to worsen in their ability to be good stewards. What that person's son really needed according to her own evaluation of the situation was more work hours. So we would be working on finding him more work or a better paying job with benefits.
Many churches now days have those who request financial assistance go through much of the same types of things....when they are in a position where they "should" be able to provide for their own families, they show flat out by their lifestyle a lack of due dillengence and understanding or they are new to the church/area and we don't know them.
< Message edited by P31W -- 8/25/2008 11:27:48 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/25/2008 11:13:58 AM
|
|
|
P31W
Posts: 3005
Joined: 6/13/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
no it does have the word "walk" in it. I wish I could remember. It's driving me nuts. Thanks for the try. 
OK so I just did a search of the word walk and maybe that word is not in the verse. It goes along with these teachings tha pretty much so along with the OP and her question about how we live effecting the lost and our witness.
1 Thess. 4
11 This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. 12 As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs
< Message edited by P31W -- 8/25/2008 11:24:50 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/25/2008 11:44:09 AM
|
|
|
sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3777
Joined: 1/9/2007
Status: offline
|
How did the verse go, as best you can reminber? We can enjoy seaching the scripture together. :)
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 1:20:02 PM
|
|
|
Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3642
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
Status: offline
|
I am a very greedy person. That is the way it is, but this statement does not mean I am not dealing with it.
I think greed comes initially from not having basic human needs met, causing the person to become graspy and fearful of not having enough. I know that it is why I was once addicted to Pepsi, why I am overweight, why I am one who has to continually go through a cleansing of "things," why I have clothes in the closet I never wear, why I used to buy doubles of everything, etc. When I think I want something, I just go out and get it without thought. "Desire equals get" for me.
Even in my giving, I am greedy. I learned this when I was a young widow and, from insurance money from my husband's death, bought flights to New York for several in the congregation I was in then, so they could go to a youth retreat. Some of them thanked me, but as they did, I realized that I gave for the sake of greed -- it made ME feel good. Fortunately, i admitted it to them, because through that admission, I have been working on it since, but really, it hasn't changed. I just gave someone some cash this past weekend, and I had to tell her, "It makes me feel good. It is a privilege."
I am sorry I am greedy, but it really hasn't changed. Maybe i am not sorry enough.
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 2:14:44 PM
|
|
|
Rivermoon
Posts: 56
Joined: 3/20/2006
From: T.O., Ontario, Canada
Status: offline
|
Hi Covaan_Meshuga,
What you said is insightful, as I never relate 'greedy' to what you said. I have the same problem as you do, but I describe it as craving. I have craving for love, I have craving for other's approval and acceptance of me, I have craving for other's praise of me. I will help others, do others favor, give others some leeways, in order to get their praise, thank-you, approvals, or even friendship, in return. I never relate all these of my cravings to 'greed', but it truly sounds like they are my 'greed'.
I believe whatever name we put on it, the core message is the underlining motive of our own decision or action to the others: is it for other's good or for our own feeling good?
I'm still struggling with it in a very hard way. I believe we all do in some way.
Rivermoon.
_____________________________
=^O^=
Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst
"And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength." Deuteronomy 6:5 (NLT)
*** PUSH- Pray Until Something Happens ***
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 3:23:02 PM
|
|
|
Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3642
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
Status: offline
|
I owe all of you an apology. I responded to this thread after reading only the first half of the OP, because I was running to the shower, in order to get off to work. I was completely off-topic and should have at least read through the OP before responding. I do that a lot.
Now that I have read the whole thread, I regret posting. However, I will leave my post here because of Rivermoon's kind response. Thank you.
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 3:46:12 PM
|
|
|
Liveloved
Posts: 1876
Status: offline
|
quote:
I owe all of you an apology. I responded to this thread after reading only the first half of the OP, because I was running to the shower, in order to get off to work. I was completely off-topic and should have at least read through the OP before responding. I do that a lot.
Now that I have read the whole thread, I regret posting. However, I will leave my post here because of Rivermoon's kind response. Thank you.
Oh, no, you are not off topic at all. Yours is exactly the kind of truthfulness I wanted to hear. Thank you!
Yes, I, too, know that kind of greed. Another word for it is covetousness and it is a HUGE problem for most of us---if we are honest. Wanting, wanting, wanting. . .
That is why we need to live more thoughtfully and intentionally. I don't NEED all of the clothes that are hanging in my closet. I don't NEED all the shoes cluttering the floor or the shelves.
Much of the 'doing' in the church is more about the giver feeling good than about sacrifice. I totally understand what you are saying. Thank you for such candor.
I have also found that the Lord sometimes gives me the desires of 'my' heart so that I'll learn how vain they are. And then I have them and can agree with Him and say, yes, Lord, NOW I see. NOW I understand. Thank You, Lord, for loving such a slow learner as me.
Yes, it was this kind of greed that I was seeking to hear about from others. The Lord shows me my greedy, covetous heart and is dealing with me. And He is faithful. He will accomplish ALL of His purposes in me. . . and you. . . and all who are His. Bless you for your truthful sharing. We need more of it in the body of Christ. 
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 3:55:30 PM
|
|
|
ta_mosquito
Posts: 11501
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: from MN, now in Ontario :D
Status: offline
|
quote:
Some of them thanked me, but as they did, I realized that I gave for the sake of greed -- it made ME feel good.
We're brought up to believe that one of the rewards to giving is feeling good. "It's more blessed to give than to receive."
How do you differentiate between the legitimate good feelings and blessing from having given and the unhealthy, greedy desire for kudos?
_____________________________
Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open-minded and empty-headed." ~Michael Coren
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 4:19:53 PM
|
|
|
sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3777
Joined: 1/9/2007
Status: offline
|
I would say, your post was right on topic Covaan_Meshuga, and give us yet another area to look at ourselfs. I think I need to work on this area too!
quote:
Original: ta_mosquito
We're brought up to believe that one of the rewards to giving is feeling good. "It's more blessed to give than to receive."
How do you differentiate between the legitimate good feelings and blessing from having given and the unhealthy, greedy desire for kudos?
I would think by our intent. By asking the Lord to help us look at why we are wanting to do something or give something. What do we expect to get out of it?
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 4:24:37 PM
|
|
|
Liveloved
Posts: 1876
Status: offline
|
quote:
We're brought up to believe that one of the rewards to giving is feeling good. "It's more blessed to give than to receive."
How do you differentiate between the legitimate good feelings and blessing from having given and the unhealthy, greedy desire for kudos?
Tricia,
I think real giving does not feel good at all. Giving from their excess was put down by Jesus and that's what most of my giving is. It was giving to the point of not having anything for yourself (the widow's mite) and having to totally and completely depend on God that He commended. That hurts.
So I think if it feels good, it's probably more about you and will fall in the wood, hay, straw category. It's the sacrificial, painful giving that is the precious stones, gold and silver.
Alot of the drivenness in the church to be involved is about 'me' and wanting to be seen as a good Christian, KWIM? That kind of giving makes a person feel puffed up and again falls in the wood, hay, straw category.
But when you give up things that you want (either possessions or your time spent doing something) and instead do as He desires, when it hurts, that is the giving that will be rewarded. And it is true that as you grow closer and closer to Him, that kind of sacrificial giving becomes easier and less painful. So you have to keep close to Him.
But I don't think most of us are giving to the point of pain. I know I am not. Occasionally but not often.
The best example I can think of from my life is one time my husband and I (anonymously) filled up a woman's fuel oil tank because she was having a hard time. She was in our church and I heard her telling others that her fuel oil tank had been filled by someone and how blessed she was that _____ had done this for her. She named someone else in the church. I smiled and said, Thank You, Lord. That is the point He wants to get me to---but I'm a slow learner so these examples are few and far between.
Hope I've helped you understand. Blessings . LL
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 5:45:52 PM
|
|
|
ta_mosquito
Posts: 11501
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: from MN, now in Ontario :D
Status: offline
|
quote:
Alot of the drivenness in the church to be involved is about 'me' and wanting to be seen as a good Christian, KWIM? That kind of giving makes a person feel puffed up and again falls in the wood, hay, straw category.
...which is one reason that when I give to people, I try to give anonymously. You know, that whole "don't let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." Your example about the fuel oil is a great example.
I'm not sure that all good feelings that are a result of giving are bad, though (wood, hay, stubble). If that woman had not named someone else but had said how blessed she was that an anonymous donor had helped her, I think that good feeling we/you would get from that could be more construed as a little pat on the back from Father God.
_____________________________
Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open-minded and empty-headed." ~Michael Coren
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 5:56:17 PM
|
|
|
deliveredarling
Posts: 1982
Joined: 8/30/2007
Status: offline
|
If we give with an expectation to receive something back, then we are giving with impure motives. It shows!.
We are commanded to give, EXPECTING NOTHING in return.
_____________________________
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
http://www.myspace.com/egaip
Come visit
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 6:03:18 PM
|
|
|
ta_mosquito
Posts: 11501
Joined: 3/31/2005
From: from MN, now in Ontario :D
Status: offline
|
Of course. But hearing that someone was blessed by the gift, while not an expectation, can be a nice thing.
I don't think that God expects us to stop up our ears so that we don't hear good things about what we've done. Don't go seeking them, correct. But having a good feeling when someone happens to mention the blessing? I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
_____________________________
Tricia
"There's a fine line between being open-minded and empty-headed." ~Michael Coren
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 6:08:01 PM
|
|
|
deliveredarling
Posts: 1982
Joined: 8/30/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
Of course. But hearing that someone was blessed by the gift, while not an expectation, can be a nice thing.
I don't think that God expects us to stop up our ears so that we don't hear good things about what we've done. Don't go seeking them, correct. But having a good feeling when someone happens to mention the blessing? I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I completely agree. I think it's God's way of giving us a blessing. He gave us emotions.
I'm just not comfortable hearing that we as Christians can't feel good about doing anything. That's what I'm hearing.
Aren't we supposed to have joy in the Lord, wouldn't giving something to someone bring about joy?
_____________________________
"Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed: but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light."
Luke 8:16
http://www.myspace.com/egaip
Come visit
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 7:44:19 PM
|
|
|
sparkleingsnow
Posts: 3777
Joined: 1/9/2007
Status: offline
|
quote:
Original deliveredarling
quote:
Original: ta_mosquito
Of course. But hearing that someone was blessed by the gift, while not an expectation, can be a nice thing.
I don't think that God expects us to stop up our ears so that we don't hear good things about what we've done. Don't go seeking them, correct. But having a good feeling when someone happens to mention the blessing? I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I completely agree. I think it's God's way of giving us a blessing. He gave us emotions.
I agree. God knows our hearts, (even better than we know them ourselfs). And He knows what works we do purely out of love for Him and for each other. That's the works that will stand.
Yes, I think its ok to feel good because we know we did something for our Lord, or for another. I even think it's ok to feel good about praise from others, to a degree. I think the danger comes in when we start to do those things because of praise from others, maybe without even realizing it.
_____________________________
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is
within me, bless his holy name.
Psalm 103:1
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/26/2008 7:47:14 PM
|
|
|
Liveloved
Posts: 1876
Status: offline
|
quote:
I completely agree. I think it's God's way of giving us a blessing. He gave us emotions.
I'm just not comfortable hearing that we as Christians can't feel good about doing anything. That's what I'm hearing.
Aren't we supposed to have joy in the Lord, wouldn't giving something to someone bring about joy?
DD,
What we feel good about is that Jesus saved us! Hallelujah! That is cause for rejoicing! Nothing, no nothing in my flesh is good. And the good that I do is because of Him! The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous! (Ps 118:15) Yes, I shout joyfully because of Jesus, because of Jesus' love and mercy and willingness to go to the cross for me, my sin, and the sin of ALL mankind. That is great reason for feeling good. Yes, our joy is in the Lord. Absolutely. Positively. Completely. We are in complete agreement! Love ya, LL
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/27/2008 8:37:20 AM
|
|
|
P31W
Posts: 3005
Joined: 6/13/2005
Status: offline
|
quote:
The Apostle Paul in IIThessalonians 3:7-9 also speaks to how we are to live.
For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example.
In the community in which we live I see many to be professing the name of Christ yet living as a burden to others. These individuals are having large families at tax payer expense---expecting all of us to pay for their family medical care including dental and vision expenses. The medical community recognizes the hypocrisy. But apparently those who are acting greedily do not. This should not be so.
You said the medical community recognizes it as hypocrisy but it's not just that community that see's it as hypocrisy. I use to be a social worker and believe me that community is not blind either. The lost world sees it that way too. So does the Christain community. It's clear to everyone. Notice how God told us to handle those types of people in our Chruch who act this way.
What is called for is Chruch discipline but it's hard for the chruch to justify such action when they know they themselves are in disobedience to God's clear command to care for the widows indeed and the orphans.
quote:
Of course. But hearing that someone was blessed by the gift, while not an expectation, can be a nice thing.
I don't think that God expects us to stop up our ears so that we don't hear good things about what we've done. Don't go seeking them, correct. But having a good feeling when someone happens to mention the blessing? I don't think there's anything wrong with that.
I agree there is nothing wrong about feeling good for doing good. It's only natural for a Child of God to feel good about being obedient to God and knowing they somehow had a part in having other's praise God's name. 2 Cor. 8-9
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
I think what Covan was talking about was feeling good because of the praise of man. Giving as the pharasees to be "praised of men". Getting the honor for themselves. Of course we can all fall into that trap and is one of the main reasons most chruch keep giving very confidential. It's not something I have ever seen discussed in the chruch...who gave or did what. I know people have asked but most of the Chruch tends to ignore those nosey people.
< Message edited by P31W -- 8/27/2008 9:03:50 AM >
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/27/2008 10:12:49 AM
|
|
|
Covaan_Meshuga
Posts: 3642
Joined: 6/8/2005
From: a mother who let me live
Status: offline
|
First, my thanks to all of you for being so kind and welcoming.
I don't know if it is because I am a generally happy person who tends toward finding joy in most things or what, but I derive a lot of pleasure out of giving. And it's not that I then do it a lot, because really I struggle with some giving. It's just that when I see that I can fulfill a need not otherwise met, I definitely derive pleasure out of that, whether done in secret or not. However, I do not ever recall giving just to feel good. I was never taught or bent toward giving in order to receive -- that just isn't part of it. That "feeling good" comes afterward, regardless.
I don't find that feeling to be sinful; that is not what I intended. It's just that giving simply feels good. As someone wrote, maybe I shouldn't call that greed.
Someone mentioned that giving shouldn't feel good -- maybe that it should hurt. Well, I have given that way, but it makes no difference -- it still eventually "feels good" anyway. There is a human satisfaction that comes along.
One thing I do not believe in -- at all -- is what I see as foolish giving:
(a) I absolutely do not believe in giving to someone who chooses to live off the dole or others' charity, because they purposely created their need by choosing not to do what G-d's Word says -- work for a living. To give to them makes me their enabler. For one to eat, one must work, unless they are physically incapable.
(b) I do not believe in giving what I don't already have. There are preachers who say to give from next week's/year's pay, but I won't give that way. I think they ask that because of their own greed. The examples of giving in the Bible show that one has the item first, then they give.
(c) I do not believe in giving what takes from the needs of my own family. Charity begins in the home and one who does not take care of their own steals from them.
_____________________________
Abiyah
"Ladies and gentlemen, there are things that you will only be able to learn by the weakest among us, and when you snuff them out, you are the one that loses." ~~Gianna Jesson, 1977 LA, CA, saline abortion survivor
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Christian greed - 8/27/2008 10:26:31 AM
|
|
|
P31W
Posts: 3005
Joined: 6/13/2005
Status: offline
|
Covaan_Meshuga
Great post!
Do you stil have the people come to your chruch asking for money who do not work? I think about that alot.
|
|
|
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
Shew now I can get on with my life. 
