Thread: Riches

Originally Posted by fuego

If you read what I said cleary, then you would know your scenario is money having you, not you having the money. That definitely sound like the love of money. That's basically what the man whose soul was required of him did.

Well that means that a lot of rich people have a love of money that can be discerned from their works (their good works may of course be hidden from view).

Originally Posted by Colonel

Well that means that a lot of rich people have a love of money that can be discerned from their works (their good works may of course be hidden from view).

You can't tell from outward appearance whether anyone, rich OR poor has the love of money in their heart without more information. But the scenario you described was pretty detailed: Hoards it and does no good with it.

James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you!
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter.
6 You have condemned, you have murdered the just; he does not resist you.

There are lots of rich people who fit the description above, probably more in countries that are more permeated by corruption than ours are. And that therefore resemble more closely the situation James found himself and his churches in.

Luke 16:11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

Televangelists who will say anything to get people to give money and then they collect a percentage of it as a personal fee have no need to wonder why the power of God isn't with them.

Even though God does bless people with riches there are not many who can handle great riches without becoming corrupted

Greed is probably the biggest reason there is so much poverty on earth

As Fuego pointed out, greed can be a poor man's sin as much as anyone else's. In areas dominated by corruption or lawlessness the ability to succeed in one's pursuit of riches may however largely be a factor of one's willingness to exploit or align oneself with those things. Greed may be what fuels that ability or willingness.
In an area dominated by law and order, ingenuity and hard work may make one rich and it will be possible to remain rich without much effort and with a high level of security. The previous sentence is not a good description of what most societies on Earth have been like for most of the time that has passed since creation. The Bible was written foremostly to the recipients of the physical letters, then to all societies from that time and until Jesus' return and not specifically to for instance the Western world of post World War 2.

Originally Posted by Colonel

As Fuego pointed out, greed can be a poor man's sin as much as anyone else's.

Many poor people have become rich and turn out very greedy and worse than people born into wealth.....the love of money corrupts many

The love of money corrupts, or money causes love for it and corrupts.

Originally Posted by Cardinal TT

Many poor people have become rich and turn out very greedy and worse than people born into wealth.....the love of money corrupts many

In our society it's easier to succeed and go from average to somewhat wealthy without breaking the law or compromising moral standards. It's easier to maintain wealth, including for those born into it, without taking extreme measures to protect and promote the ventures or capital involved. There aren't many accounts of rich or powerful people in the New Testament that were godly. So there's a culture difference where some verses (James 5 for instance) apply better in other societies.

An other aspect to riches in that day is that they couldn't secure health. They could produce more security against some criminal activities but there was always an invading army somewhere and then that sort of security was suddenly meaningless. So they could live and eat well but it could all evaporate in a few days.

Today we find more security in health care and lull ourselves into believing that the Western world has become a war free zone. We all still die physically even if we live a few decades longer.

Originally Posted by Nikos

The love of money corrupts, or money causes love for it and corrupts.

Good point!!