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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
Materialism is defined as "the preoccupation with material things rather than intellectual or spiritual things." If a Christian is preoccupied with material things, it is definitely wrong. That is ...
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Salem Markus Purba
Supporter
We should follow what Jesus had taught us: " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be.....(Mathew 6: 19-24) Chasing a perishable earthly treasures/materialism can be categorized as worshiping idols/devil (Mathew 4: 9), but Christians should seek for the Kingdom of Heaven (Mathew 6: 33) by worshiping and serving the LORD our God only (Mathew 4: 10; 13: 44-46).
Bishop Frenel Calonge
Supporter
We love all the answers and it is a very important subject to debate. Wealth can make a big difference in people's life. Living broke is not fun because we need a home, a car or food to eat and we have bills. It is good to be financially secured. The Bible has no problem to have things. Psalm 24:1 The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness of it, the world and they who dwell in it. And God is our Provider. Ecclesiastes 7:12 For wisdom is a defense even as money is a defense, but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom shields and preserves the life of him who has it. Ecclesiastes 10:19 (Instead of repairing the breaches, the officials) make a feast for laughter, serve wine to cheer life, and [depend on tax] money to answer for all of it. We can have as much as we can but we have to give as much we can. We must be a great giver. Money is not the problem but what is bad is the love of money 1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many [a]acute [mental] pangs. Matthew 6:24 No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to the one and despise and be [a]against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon ([b]deceitful riches, money, possessions, or [c]whatever is trusted in). We must also work hard to be a bread winner Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return. 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For while we were yet with you, we gave you this rule and charge: If anyone will not work, neither let him eat.
James Kraft
Supporter
Hebrews 13:5 And be content with such things as ye have, for He hath said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Part of our old nature is still materialistic. But the Lord says, do not say you are going into such and such a city and buy and sell and get gain, for you do not know what tomorrow is going to be like. You may do that if the Lord wills that you do that. The book of Job tells us that Job lost everything he had. But then God restored Job with twice as much as he had before. We are the Lord’s whether we are rich, or poor, slave, or free. The body of Christ is made up of all who have put there trust in Him alone. John 6:47. The GIFT of God is eternal life. Romans 1:16. John 6:47. How we live after we have received the free gift is how we will be rewarded in heaven. First Corinthians 3:11-21. We are to save up for our old age when we are no longer able to work so we do not have to depend on someone else to take care of us if possible. The Pharisees took all the money from people so they had nothing to help take care of their parents in old age. They said the money belonged to God. But really took it for themselves. In effect they stole money from widows and orphans. Nothing wrong with money itself as we all need it to survive. But stealing is sin. If Jesus had not died for all sin no one could be saved. First John 2:2 And He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but for the sins of the whole world.
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