A Christians Duty and Financial Gains

[Balthazzar]

I see a good deal of disagreement when it comes to Christians and money, namely Christians seeking monetary gains as Christians. It's a sad thing, imo, when people ridicule others for making money, working to make money, intentionally as Christian's laboring to make money, suggesting that it's somehow un-Christian for a Christian to seek financial increase. It's expected that we increase our wealth. It's suggested that we are responsible by making financial increases. If we're not making financial gains as Christians, what kind of Christians does that imply we are?

Slothful?
Foolish?

It's a Christian duty to make increase so we are better able to fulfill our obligations. Money has never been evil. Greed, on the other hand is an entirely different matter. The difference between greed and efforts to increase our wealth? The parable of the talents comes to mind. If I'm given 100 dollars and make no increase with that 100 dollars, how am I honoring anyone, including myself, particularly if I don't utilize it and simply save it? If I increase the $100 by 10 dollars, then I'm likewise expected to tithe or rather reinvest $1.00 of that increase to be leveraged again by larger bodies.

Why do some people view financial gain to be sinful or immoral behavior by Christians?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I don't. I mean God needs money. So it's the obligation of Christians to go out and earn it and give it to Him.
_______________________________________

 

[SalixIncendium]

Seriously though, I'm fairly certain that the reason this Christian teaching about about money (and this material gain) is twofold.

One comes into this world with nothing and leaves with nothing. Greed is the desire to surround yourself with material things, often at the expense of others. I find it's best from a spiritual standpoint to remain a minimalist and not live with needless extravagance. I think the teachings of Christianity reinforce this.

Secondly, Christianity teaches that one shouldn't live in luxury at the expense of another who does not have enough to get by. Often, people will seek financial increase by way of taking money from others in need. I think it goes against Christian teachings to take from the cup of another when one's own is already overflowing.

 

[Balthazzar]

I like George too. It's a serious question despite the humor. Stimulus checks were utilized to help keep things moving in effort to stimulate our economy. When money is spent, increases are made. That's the basic premise. Leveraging money is a useful method in this sense. It's less about God, and more so about creating a flourishing economy where everyday people become more prosperous. My $20.00 will only benefit me as an individual consumer, but if I utilize larger entities with greater buying power, that $20.00 becomes at least 2 times more valuable. It's about leveraging and undersrtanding this basic principle helps motivate me to make efforts to increase my personal financial status. I need the extra money anyway, and if my contributions have an ability to increase in buying power then why wouldn't I choose to contribute to these types of institutions?

 

[Balthazzar]

Seriously though, I'm fairly certain that the reason this Christian teaching about about money (and this material gain) is twofold.

One comes into this world with nothing and leaves with nothing. Greed is the desire to surround yourself with material things, often at the expense of others. I find it's best from a spiritual standpoint to remain a minimalist and not live with needless extravagance. I think the teachings of Christianity reinforce this.

Secondly, Christianity teaches that one shouldn't live in luxury at the expense of another who does not have enough to get by. Often, people will seek financial increase by way of taking money from others in need. I think it goes against Christian teachings to take from the cup of another when one's own is already overflowing.

Greed is less about material possessions and more so about screwing people over for a few dollars. I'm not opposed to the minimalist mindset, nor am I opposed to having some luxury in life. Health and prosperity aren't isolated to the secular world but are rather expected from many in the non-secular community also. Expectations vs. a skewed sense of moral integrity seems to be present in our financial matters. I expect to make increase. As a Christian, I am expected to make increase. I am likewise expected to make increase as a Citizen and to be part of the efforts made towards human prosperity and better health.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Matthew 6:19-25

King James Version

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19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 19:23-24

King James Version

​

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

 

[SalixIncendium]

And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

Wouldn't that depend on how big the needle is?

 

[Balthazzar]

Matthew 6:19-25​

​

King James Version​

​

​

19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Matthew 19:23-24​

​

King James Version​

​

​

23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

We like investing, increasing, and keeping things moving. Hoarding money has never been my strong suit. It seems pointless sometimes if not typically. I've never been opposed to increasing my financial status, however. I enjoy the finer things in life and money hoarding doesn't lend itself much to the finer things in life.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Why do some people view financial gain to be sinful or immoral behavior by Christians?

Because we've read the Bible?

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I like George too. It's a serious question despite the humor. Stimulus checks were utilized to help keep things moving in effort to stimulate our economy. When money is spent, increases are made. That's the basic premise. Leveraging money is a useful method in this sense. It's less about God, and more so about creating a flourishing economy where everyday people become more prosperous. My $20.00 will only benefit me as an individual consumer, but if I utilize larger entities with greater buying power, that $20.00 becomes at least 2 times more valuable. It's about leveraging and undersrtanding this basic principle helps motivate me to make efforts to increase my personal financial status. I need the extra money anyway, and if my contributions have an ability to increase in buying power then why wouldn't I choose to contribute to these types of institutions?

You need the extra money? What do you need it for?


And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,[aq] which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,[ar] won’t he clothe you even more,[as] you people of little faith? 31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted[at] pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom[au] and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Wouldn't that depend on how big the needle is?

How big the loophole is, you mean? I’d say the meaning was far from ambiguous

 

[SalixIncendium]

How big the loophole is, you mean? I’d say the meaning was far from ambiguous

Wouldn't the size of the loophole be proportionate to the size of the needle?

 

[Balthazzar]

Because we've read the Bible?

Are you suggesting the bible teaches financial gain to be something to ridicule? From what I've read, it teaches the opposite and actually suggests we make financial gains and likewise spread a portion of them to larger entities who are part of our faith-centered households as (tithes) and also to our governing authorities as (taxes). It's an expectation that we make these increases and contribute. Have you read the bible? Putting the bible aside for a moment, would you view monetary gain as something to ridicule when utilized for the benefit of our communities at large? I can understand how screwing people over for money is considered a moral deficiency, but I can't comprehend why earning money is also viewed to be a moral issue for people like myself when utilized for community improvements edit: and also for my own.

 

[RestlessSoul]

Wouldn't the size of the loophole be proportionate to the size of the needle?

I don’t know, ask an accountant

 

[Balthazzar]

You need the extra money? What do you need it for?


And if this is how God clothes the wild grass,[aq] which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven,[ar] won’t he clothe you even more,[as] you people of little faith? 31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 32 For the unconverted[at] pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But above all pursue his kingdom[au] and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

The kingdom pursuit and what's right is a very relevant point, so thank you for the reference. It clearly states that we should seek and pursue the kingdom, that we shouldn't worry or be concerned about things like food, clothing, or having something to drink. What do you imagine pursuing the kingdom entails? What might the kingdom be like? What might the quality of experience feel like? How about being correct or right about the potential and the pursuit of these things? If we are to pursue the kingdom and not worry, and if it's God's good pleasure to give this to us, then why the resistance to the increase of wealth. Money has a way of affording us with better life experiences after all. Besides, it's expected for and from us.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It's a Christian duty to make increase so we are better able to fulfill our obligations. Money has never been evil. Greed, on the other hand is an entirely different matter. The difference between greed and efforts to increase our wealth? The parable of the talents comes to mind. If I'm given 100 dollars and make no increase with that 100 dollars, how am I honoring anyone, including myself, particularly if I don't utilize it and simply save it? If I increase the $100 by 10 dollars, then I'm likewise expected to tithe or rather reinvest $1.00 of that increase to be leveraged again by larger bodies.

In the parable of the talents, the money - and the increase - does not belong to the servant. The servants give all the increase, not just 10% of it, back to their master. Keeping 90% of the increase for the servant's own comfort would have been embezzlement.

Even if the servant had just kept the money to make sure he stayed fed, well, Jesus had some thoughts about people who are well-fed:


“Woe to you who are well satisfied with food[cd] now, for you will be hungry.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Are you suggesting the bible teaches financial gain to be something to ridicule?

I'm saying that the Bible condemns personal wealth, and that a wealthy Christian living in comfort is a hypocrite.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

The kingdom pursuit and what's right is a very relevant point, so thank you for the reference. It clearly states that we should seek and pursue the kingdom, that we shouldn't worry or be concerned about things like food, clothing, or having something to drink.

And what do you need money for other than to assuage your worries about how your physical needs will be met?

Jesus calls those who worry about how their physical needs are met "you of little faith." Keeping wealth - even if it's just to pay for food and shelter - implies a lack of trust that God will do as he promised.

 

[Balthazzar]

In the parable of the talents, the money - and the increase - does not belong to the servant. The servants give all the increase, not just 10% of it, back to their master. Keeping 90% of the increase for the servant's own comfort would have been embezzlement.

Even if the servant had just kept the money to make sure he stayed fed, well, Jesus had some thoughts about people who are well-fed:


“Woe to you who are well satisfied with food[cd] now, for you will be hungry.

They were also accepted and welcomed to enter into a similar type of joy. The only person anything was taken from was the one who didn't utilize what was gifted, but rather put it away, preventing it from fulfilling its natural purpose, function, and role for increase. I wonder why Jesus made comment about the well fed and them one day entering into hunger? Who were they? What were their practices? It may have been an acknowledgment of people reaping what is sown by them. You don't grow a vineyard by planting stones after all.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

They were also accepted and welcomed to enter into a similar type of joy. The only person anything was taken from was the one who didn't utilize what was gifted, but rather put it away, preventing it from fulfilling its natural purpose, function, and role for increase. I wonder why Jesus made comment about the well fed and them one day entering into hunger? Who were they? What were their practices? It may have been an acknowledgment of people reaping what is sown by them. You don't grow a vineyard by planting stones after all.

I have no idea what you're trying to say here.