Do the Biblical Warnings Against Riches Apply to Most Americans?

[@fineartbymattphilleo]

It's a matter of the heart. Our actions follow our heart. God wants us to trust in Him, not in uncertain wealth.

[@raymondnieliwocki3473]

Pastor John explains things so clear. I love him. The more I give the more joy I have. Remember we came in the world with nothing and we will leave with nothing

[@kengy1991]

Wealth is relative so this passage applies to all people. There’s nothing wrong with having money, we just can’t let it rule us and take the place of God. There are plenty of wealthy people who have great relationships with Christ. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He will let you know what to give.

[@agrogers1]

I think a good starting place is to ensure I give away more than I spend on entertainment. Hard to imagine standing before the Lord and trying to explain why me going to the movies and having nice holidays was more important than people starving. After that I would try and give away more than I spend on 'safety'. Paying insurance on my house for a possible future rainy day when troubles are pouring right now on our Christian family elsewhere in the world seems perversely selfish.

[@Aaron637]

Andrew Rogers you must earn alot. On 55k yearly...with a dependent wife and two kids, no way could i do that.

[@agrogers1]

I don't quite follow Aaron. One reason i like that principle is that it doesn't matter how much a person earns - its focus is on how one prioritizes the money left after the essentials are paid for.

[@Aaron637]

Andrew Rogers well put then. I agree. Though I feel no guilt for having a holiday or renting a movie. When around 200 people literally own 50% of the entire worlds wealty - they will be the ones to answer for their in action. I'm happy to buy a burger for a homeless man where opportunity arises...but the really wealty top 1% could literally lift nations out of poverty. Nations!

[@sean-yb5hc]

Wow. Talk about timing. I've strongly felt the loving push to get into ministry, and after careful prayer and a lot of listening and reading, a ministry of what being a Warrior for God is. Warrior ministries focused on getting everyone ready, and at their "fighting weight" with oil in our lamps, ready to go, as we denounce this world and be the example that Christ calls us to be in Him, to be the salt and the light He spoke of. This very much includes that aspect of getting down to your fighting weight, with what you own, what you eat, and take your training (prayer, reading the Word, speaking the Word with all boldness, and much more) very seriously, as top priority.

[@JWu-jt7fz]

Loving others > Simplicity Thank you Pastor John

[@gracesue4401]

Applies globally to every wealthy person who is a believer ! May the Holy Spirit bring about a personal conviction via God's Word and Truth ... 1 Timothy 6

[@janelleyharris5042]

This is a continual struggle of mine. It's hard to tow the line in a holy way

[@harrycicero263]

Thanks John

[@RatherBeCancelledThanHandled]

The tuff thing about wealth is it comes to you in the event you're skillful at something that is in high demand, for example I am starting to get better at trading/investing and programming. As a result I'm being offered positions that pay more money than I am currently accustom to. If I were to keep on the path of learning I'm currently on, in 3-5 years I would be arguably wealthy. I love Jesus but I also love problem solving and researching companies/making investing decisions. I really enjoy the process of critical thinking and analyzing data. I guess I'll just make sure to not have any idols and always put Jesus first. (including wealth) I'm just a little confused about going to hell for wealth when sometimes it happens as a result of being good at the things you enjoy(being paid well, managing money well). :/

[@ivandamara4912]

I think in this case, it’s not wrong since by doing the job you’re actually serving others. But certainly we need to keep our heart on guard and also use the money for God’s glory. :)

[@NATOnova]

The Bible and Jesus did not teach that being wealthy sends you to hell. The LOVE of money (making it an idol and more important than God) is belatedly damnable.

[@Shulamitefire]

Giving is the highest expression of potency. In the very act of giving, I experience my strength, my wealth, my power. This experience of heightened vitality and potency fills me with joy. I experience myself as overflowing, spending, alive, hence as joyous. Giving is more joyous than receiving, not because it is a deprivation, but because in the act of giving lies the expression of my aliveness. Erich Fromm, 1900-1980 German Philosopher and Social Psychologist This I know experientially, extravagantly, consistently, gladly, gratefully as the living, loving, interconvertible, everlasting truth that it is. Acts 20:35 In everything I have pointed out to you [by example] that, by working diligently in this manner, we ought to assist the weak, being mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive. AMP Luke 21:1-4 1 Looking up, [Jesus] saw the rich people putting their gifts into the treasury. 2 And He saw also a poor widow putting in two mites (copper coins). 3 And He said, Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; 4 For they all gave out of their abundance (their surplus); but she has contributed out of her lack and her want, putting in all that she had on which to live. AMP Mark 12:41-44 41 And He sat down opposite the treasury and saw how the crowd was casting money into the treasury. Many rich [people] were throwing in large sums. 42 And a widow who was poverty-stricken came and put in two copper mites [the smallest of coins], which together make half of a cent. 43 And He called His disciples [to Him] and said to them, Truly and surely I tell you, this widow, [she who is] poverty-stricken, has put in more than all those contributing to the treasury. 44 For they all threw in out of their abundance; but she, out of her deep poverty, has put in everything that she had -- "[even] all she had on which to live. AMP

[@AnHebrewChild]

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.

[@kathysabo9703]

I appreciate the sincerity of this dear sister and her question. Of course, it's between her and God, but verses like 1 John 3:18-21 make me wonder if the Holy Spirit isn't maybe whispering to her heart and drawing her to a life of more Wartime simplicity ...if so, He will surely bless her, and the peace and assurance will be so much greater than anything she might give up.

[@EngineVSEngine]

"2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." - Considering that how can we as Christians keep the wealth we have to ourselves..

[@andymota2286]

xTrmVelocity could you rephrase what you mean on how can we as Christians keep the wealth we have for ourselves .

[@ellas683]

wooow this question is something id ask !

[@kuddybeef777]

ooo juicey question.

[@michaelmcjilton4279]

Also Luke 9:48 talks about about taking a child on in His name. Nothing about where the son of man lays his head. Luke 9:58 is the correct verse for those looking up his bulleted verse quotes.

[@jojothemonkey6929]

Good message.

[@prabhakararaorajarapu429]

AMEN

[@Marco3131-]

The vast majority of God's people have not been endowed by the Lord with large sums of money. I believe this is due to our innate sinfulness and the struggle that most of us would have in trying to keep our lives balanced.

[@Lawltasticness]

How good is he to do so :)

[@JG-ii5nt]

Money should be a mean not an end.

[@DynamicGracer]

It's easier for God to shirink a man to a size small enough to fit inside the eye of a needle than for him to Justify himself letting a wealthy man into heaven

[@vincefabrizio2736]

NoFapPhoenix Sorry but I find your analogy to be narrow minded and untrue! in my humble opinion, from reading Scripture, (and as others have commented): there is nothing wrong with money except if you make it your first priority before God! Not only that, we can’t let money control us or move us away from worshiping Him :-)

[@DynamicGracer]

@@vincefabrizio2736 so you disagree with scripture?

[@mrsneably5922]

With man it's not possible but with God everything is possible Christians forget this line and they keep themselves from being successful and work hard for Godly purposes

[@michaelmcjilton4279]

Luke 18:14 does not say anything about the rich being choked by their riches. Misquote?

[@kathleenwharton2139]

A church..religion..belief in Jesus..being a good valuable person..None of this makes any difference at all. If you are of a lower economic level you are mistreated. People's belief in Jesus Makes no difference. I am of a lower economic level and I was more mistreated in church than the world. Rich Church people are the biggest hypocrites there are.

[@kar3n35]

Having richest is not a sin. And confort is not a sin. But with riches come certain distraction to spiritual thing. Does being rich has mad u greedy, or proud? Can u stay humble and rich? If u lost everything tomorrow, would u be the same person u are today? What people surround you? I think the must risk when people become wealthy is the sin of PRIDE.

[@jailahbryel305]

We’re sinners going to hell but Jesus died so you can have eternal life. Repent and trust in Him only as your savior (not on being a good person)…

[@LISLOVESTRUTH]

How do we submit questions to "ask pastor John"?

[@ryanmagill7001]

On the APJ website (www.desiringgod.org/ask-pastor-john ) there's a link on the right to submit a question via email (email address is: [e-mail])

[@kathleenwharton2139]

Jesus said.."You Cannot Serve God and money.". That is pretty clear! Americans (including Christians) Love their dollars and their pleasures and their comforts..probably the The most coveteous people on the planet..and teaching the rest of the world to Want the Same. Hooray for America!! We will destroy our planet..but nobody seems to care.

[@douglaidlaw740]

Not according to most Americans.

[@furios2203]

i think its just making money/possessions as not an idol

[@cuckoophendula8211]

Before watching the video, I'm going to make an educated tl;dr answer to "yes."

[@cuckoophendula8211]

@@bman6039 Lol, I edited my comment to "before watching the video" so people from 5 months into the future and beyond don't get the wrong idea

[@bman6039]

@@cuckoophendula8211 It's more complicated than a straight yes or no answer. It's worth a watch.

[@kar3n35]

Janes 5 talks about rich oppressors Who have murder the inocent and not paid wages to their labbors. So if u are rich by ripping off people and mistreating labors in order for self gain... yeah this text is for u. Just read the whole chapter ok. Being rich is not the issue.

[@mrsneably5922]

Rightly said

[@user-uw3fi2zg4t]

We just have to give everything to the poor but it is scary, anything else is over complicating this issue in my opinion

[@vincentandrews301]

Solomon was wealthy and had a grand relationship with the Lord. His wealth was his reward from the Lord.

[@user-uw3fi2zg4t]

He ended up preaching false gods

[@vincentandrews301]

@@user-uw3fi2zg4t Not sure if he was preaching them but thanks for the remark about his sins. Yes, his wealth did lead him to worship idols.

[@mrsneably5922]

@@vincentandrews301 his wealth didn't lead him to idolatry but a women Remember ???

[@ravin3191]

@@mrsneably5922 his wealth which attracted strange women led him a stray

[@immanueldarling4449]

It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And majority of Americans are among the richest in the world

[@dgbx6]

"I'm just a middle-class American" which means that I am among the wealthiest people in the world. John Piper's answer is complete horseshit.

[@colorado353]

If she is so humble why does she give a run down list on everything she has? 🤣 Some of that stuff she mentioned she doesn't even need. I think everyone should take only what they need and give the rest to the poor.

[@vincefabrizio2736]

Sorry Lorie, but it sounds like you are judging here...

[@alexhegerfeld8599]

“Need” can be a somewhat relative term. Technically u don’t “need” a house. U can survive living in tent, but that doesn’t mean u ought to. I think it’s more about the role $ plays in your heart- for most, unfortunately not a good one. Generosity is the only cure it seems.