attitudes to wealth

what can wealth bring? What questions does it raise though?

It can bring comfort but it also raises ethical and spiritual questions

what do some Christians believe?

God rewards faithfulness with material blessings

What does Jesus warn about?

Placing too much value on possessions

what is a quote from Luke 12:15 about spiritual heals being more important than material wealth?

‘‘Life does not consist in an abundance of possessions’’

what does the Bible offer? What are Christians called to do?

Range of guidance from warnings about greed to encouragement to the generous, Christians are called to handle wealth with responsibility, using it to serve others and honour God

What is the context of Mark 10:17-25?

Jesus is teaching the meaning of discipleship. He answered that to obtain eternal life was to keep the Mosaic Law. The man asking him is also Jewish and claims this hasn't given him the answer to his question. Jesus answers he should give up all his possessions and join the Jesus movement

what is the main message of the Mark passage?

Money and material possessions. Jesus is teaching that it's impossible to enter the kingdom of God if one is wealthy. He uses the imagery of a camel going through the ey of the needle

What is mor important for Jesus? (Mark)

The kingdom of God is of infinitely more importance than money and wealth

what does the passage of Matthew 6:25-34 tell us?

This passage is a part of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus outlines what it means to live in the presence of God. One of the main themes of this sermon is that righteousness must be defined in a new way, going beyond the letter of the law to an all-embracing lifestyle of love and commitment

what is the main message of Matthew?

Jesus urge his flowers to have the right priorities, with the climax of this passage being verse 33, putting the kingdom of God and righteous living first. Jesus insists that the priority is not food or clothing, but spiritual things

What does C. Blomberg say about idolatry?

‘Idolatry is the heart of rebellion against God (Rom, 1:18-32), and no other rival to God than Mammon appears more often or centrally in Scripture.’

what does D. Hagner say about Matthew's passage?

‘The passage does not mean, however, that food, drink, clothing, and other such necessities will come to the disciple automatically without work or foresight. It addresses only proble,s of anxiety about these things. The answer to this anxiety is to be found in an absolute allegiance to the kingdom.’

what does Luke 12:33-34 say about wealth?

‘Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailingly treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.’

what is the context of Luke?

Earlier in this same chapter (12:16-21) is the parable of the rich fool: a wealthy man celebrates the fact that he has hoarded enough material wealth to secure his future. The problem is that death now comes to him and he has made the mistake of not providing for his spiritual life. This passage recommends the exact opposite

What did Dio Chrysostom write about wealth?

Wealth can lead to self-indulgence and should be put to use for human need: ‘But greed is not only the greatest evil to a man himself, but it injures his neighbours as well.’

In what passage does it show Jesus’ followers living out his command about wealth?

Acts 2:44-5; 4:32-5

What does Jesus command Zacchaeus to do in Luke 19:1-10?

To give away only half of his wealth

What does 1 Timothy 6:10 say about wealth?

‘For the love of money is a rot of all kinds of evil, and in their eagerness to be rich some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pains.’

What is the context of Timothy?

The Pastoral Epistles (Timothy is apart of this are concerned with heretical teachings and lax morality entering the Church to keep the true faith, avoiding obscure beliefs and developing a strong moral centre: ‘But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.’ (Timothy 1:5), Timothy 6:10 is the final sentence describing the conduct of true Christians (5:1-6:10)

what is the main message of Timothy?

Money is not evil or ‘dirty’ instrinsically. The real danger is the ‘love of money’ - greed. This greed has motivated false teachers to ignore the plain truth and drift from the faith

What was a common saying in the ancient period? What is this exacerbated by?

‘The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.’ - Diogenes of Sinope said, ‘the love of money is the mother-city of all evils.’

what did W. Mounce say about wealth?

‘Because the opponents (of Paul in the Church) had fallen in love with money, they had, as it were, stabbed themselves with the sword of greed and bore the intense pain and grief of self-inflicted wounds. It can refer to the pangs of guilt, conscience, remorse, and the actual pains incurred by the sin itself.’

Define the Pastoral Epistles.

The New Testament letters (I and II Timothy and Titus) written to Christian ministers on the theme of guiding the Church