to those who might know an answer...

After reading another posters thread I had a question. Some Christians almost seem to imply that it is some how wrong for Christians to own things like a car, house, more then a couple of shirts, shoes, ect? I have wondered about this myself. Is it wrong for a christian to own things or should we always be giving everything away.

rdg

Did not King David and Solomon not only own things but were exceedingly rich? And Abraham. The focus should not be on whether to own things or not, but do you use them in the service of the kingdom/Christ.

I'm probably one of those people you're referring to. I didn't, however, imply that it's wrong to own any of those things. There's a difference between someone implying that and someone reading that into what was actually said. I just personally choose not to because it fits my lifestyle. As my screen name suggests, I enjoy living very simply. The Bible does suggest that the wealthy become complacent and satisfied and find no need to cry out to Jesus; that they claim their riches are from their own efforts and aren't a gift from God. I personally try very hard not to fall into that trap. Besides, there's nothing I even desire to own.

Of course it's not wrong to own a home, car, a closet full of clothes or anything else at all. It's not even wrong to be very wealthy. You can own a yacht and a fleet of cars if you want to. Having money and possessions is not a sin. Greed, lust and a desire for riches are traps, however. It's not in the "having" but in the attitude and motive of the person. It's the love of money, not the money itself, where the problem lies.

In the words of Jesus in Luke 12, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

On a personal note, I've noticed that, at times, when I talk about my lifestyle, some people become very defensive. That's not my intention and I never, ever tell others that they should or should not live the way I do!

EDITED TO ADD: Indeed, sister, people like ME are the odd ones! LOL We're no better or worse than anyone else for owning so little. And, more importantly, even in owning so little, we are absolutely NOT exempt from the love of money, greed or the desire for money!

i did not mean to imply that any persons here on SI where saying that it was wrong or sinful to own things. I struggle at times with my writing, sometimes my words get jumbled a bit. Sorry about that. I have had other believers, some around me say different things about owning things. I guess I have wondered about this myself. I would never tell another what they should or should not do but sometimes I feel kind a guilty because I own winter boots and summer tennis shoes while there are others who don't own shoes. i was thinking about when Jesus told the rich young man to go and sell all and come follow me. i wonder would i myself be able to do that. makes me think

rdg

do we love and enjoy our materal items more then we enjoy and love praying to god and comuning in his presence

i think many people do ,,many do hav a covertus lifestile

giving much thought to things we eat and the things we own and the things we ware

we need to be honest with god and oure selfs ,and ask the question ,can we for sake all for christ everthing

and would we do that if he asked us

if not ,then we need to repent with fasting

i know ive been guily of this

and am working on this with god

i dont own much as a result ,and dont want to own much

if god gives me much money ,i will use it for missions

but at the same time through deserment ,have saved some money ,,becasue of the situation with the downturn of the economy and lack of jobs

im 35 ,and have come to the conclusion ,i will not own my own home ,for the sake of being bound by money borowing from banks to aquire this ,,,,,,,

i want to be content with the things that i have

are you brothers and sisters content with what you have

paul called as to be just that

bless you brother gary

you know brethern ,i think we need to at the least tak what jesus said a little serious ,,,,,

he did say not just to the rich man but also to his deciples ,to sell what thy have and give alms

he said who ever had two shirts ,to give one away to somone in need

i think the contex ,was that he was preparing them to for sake all they had ,, we need to be prepared to do this in our heart , and we not to as paul said not trust in un certaint riches

the life of men like george muller are testamoneys to how we can live our lives ,if we seek to be extermly pleasing to god and want to grow to a maturaity ,trusting in god only and allways underall circumstances

we can serve god and mammom ,jesus said

we do need to detach our self from comfertable living

we need to fast in the contex of our comferts , not just with food ,but all our comferts ,

and god will reward ,openly ,what is done for his glory

i pray he will helps us do this

i did not mean to imply that any persons here on SI where saying that it was wrong or sinful to own things. I struggle at times with my writing, sometimes my words get jumbled a bit. Sorry about that. I have had other believers, some around me say different things about owning things. I guess I have wondered about this myself. I would never tell another what they should or should not do but sometimes I feel kind a guilty because I own winter boots and summer tennis shoes while there are others who don't own shoes. i was thinking about when Jesus told the rich young man to go and sell all and come follow me. i wonder would i myself be able to do that. makes me think

I'm glad to hear I wasn't the cause of you thinking that, sister. I wouldn't ever want to do that. I thought it might have been me because I had just talked about how I enjoy owning very little.

I understand where you're coming from with your thought process and your struggle with it. I struggled with the same thing before I found peace on the matter. Even recently, I felt guilty for just wanting a new chair because mine is getting worn out and uncomfortable. After all, I can still sit in it and it's not broken. And many people are homeless and don't have a fraction of what I have! But I did find peace on this subject because it's not my desire to be rich or have things for the sake of having them.

I don't belittle your struggle because I know how deep it can run. Just be careful not to let it turn into bondage like I did. Having things is fine. Holding onto them tightly becomes a problem.

It seems to me that your heart, so to speak, is in the right place so there doesn't appear to be a cause for alarm about it.

I believe Zac Poonen puts it best, Possess nothing and don't let your things possess you. Terribly paraphrased actually, but essentially you can have things and that is great, when you possess things they become your focus and worry and woe. So don't let the things you own possess you by taking your focus off of Christ.

Why did Christ tell the Young Ruler to sell everything? It was a way to show the young man, Ah your possession have become the possessor since you can't seem to let them go.

As many of you know we left the "1st world" to come and live on a remote island in the South Pacific. It still has some materialism but nothing like what we left in New Zealand.

In NZ we owned a house in a nice area and had "everything" but inside our hearts we were hopelessly unhappy knowing that for us none of these riches had made us happy and we needed to change our lives dramatically and start living fully and completely for the Lord.

For us God paved the way for us to live here in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. We live in a simple tiny 2 bedroom house, that we rent.

Going from a house owner to a renter has been the most freeing and most wonderful thing. It has meant for us that if the Lord calls us at any time to be anywhere else it is easy for us to that. We have nothing tying us down! We don't owe anyone money (mortgage) and we don't have the wordly stresses associated with that.

I agree with the others, the Holy Spirit is Who guides us into these sorts of decisions, as there is no one mould to fit all...it is all dependant on your heart, where it is at and where your desires lie. And also what stresses and worries pull you away from complete devotion to the Lord.

Hope this is encouraging.

Through Him
Sherid (sister)

hi, the one with the most toys win is not the gospel message,and neither is poverty. a giving heart with the funds you are blessed with is what the word teaches. you must have to give and be a blessing to others. i remember what len ravenhill said about wesley who printed hymnals and built churches and at the end of his life had an old cloak,afew silver spoons, enough pounds to give his paulberers one each and the methodist church.jimp

rdg: I skimmed the posts so far, but might have missed this, so if I am redundant forgive me. The issue is not things. The issue is your heart toward those things. We recently had an EF5+ if that is possible tornado roll through our city. As I was out in the damage zone helping people clean up I drove down a street where several homes had been dozed to the curb, contents and all. I saw pots, pans, televisions, clothes, furniture, personal belongings, and all the paraphenalia of life, now worthless, dozed to the street. The thought that crossed my mind was, "This is really all our stuff is worth." It gives a person a whole different perspective on life and what is really valuable. What is your heart toward stuff? Are you willing to give whatever God prompts you to give? Are you a cheerful giver and generous? Are you covetous or are you content with that you have. Do you lust for things or do you simply enjoy God's blessings and hold them loosely? I think these are the questions to ask and the "right" answers are self evident. Paul said this,

"Php 4:10-14 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. (11) Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (12) I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. (13) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. (14) Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction."

There were times when Paul had plenty and to spare and times when it was hand to mouth. But in all these things he was content and knew that he could do all things through Christ who was strengthening him.

I agree with twayneb. The secret to such things is to simply be content.

Last week, we had some relatives fly in to visit us. My visiting nephew is very young, so we needed a "booster seat" in the car to comply with California law. We found a nice used one on Craigslist, so I drove to a nearby town to pick it up.

In the course of the conversation, we spoke about the cost of living in California. He mentioned that his Hawaiian father used to tell him, "There are two ways to be rich. One is to earn more. The other is to desire less."

This is not a Biblical proverb, but the Biblical concept of contentment is almost the same. I Timothy 6:6 states, "Godliness with contentment is great gain." This is the same book (and in the immediately prior chapter) that speaks of the responsibility that a man has to take care of the needs of his family or risk being "worse than an infidel" (I Timothy 5:8).

In other words, it is not possessions that are a sin. It is the lustful pursuit of such things -- the want and desire for so much more -- that reeks of greed. It is the great flaw of the prosperity movement that literally teaches the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the pride of life as a virtue rather than a vice.

As for ownership: In the earliest days of the Church (Acts 4-5), believers often took land that they owned, sold it and gave the proceeds to the church. There was no command to do this. Later believers in the book of Acts weren't recorded as having done this. It may have been a practice out of necessity, given the fact that the earliest believers were already facing arrest, imprisonment and even death (such as from the hand of Saul a few chapters later).

Ananias and Sapphira pretended to do the same. They sold some property and gave MOST of it to the Church, but in the guise of having given it all.

Peter's response was quite telling: "Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God" (Acts 5:3-4).

Peter was explicitly stating that this land belonged to this couple...and that they could have done whatever they wanted with it. Yet they chose to LIE by pretending to have laid it ALL at the apostles' feet.

I suppose that this is one of those areas where it seems that God deals with believers on an individual basis. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell everything he owned, give it to the poor and then follow him (Luke 18:22-27). Yet Zacchaeus, that wee little man, gave just half of his belongings to the poor (Luke 19:8-10). However, Jesus said that salvation had come to his house.

It seems that Jesus is more interested in the condition of the heart. Are you willing to give it all up for the sake of the Cross? Or do we tenaciously hold on to things of this world -- including the pleasures that we often work tenaciously for?

David Wilkerson used to preach that we should be so detached from the things of this world that we are ready to leave it at any time. He cited the example of Abraham, who owned so much but would not build a home, instead choosing to live in a tent because he sought for a city whose builder and maker was God. Abraham had learned the secret of contentment. In both poverty or wealth, he was content with following the Lord.

I suppose that there is another extreme as well. I have seen individuals who almost boast about their poverty.

As a young believer, I knew a man who boasted about "living by faith" (aka "no steady job necessary") and would testify about how God always met his needs and the needs of his family. Yet this same man was also the first to tell the church of his needs...in the hope that others would "bless him." After a while, people stopped giving as frequently, and his bills weren't being met. So, he moved to another congregation and did the same thing. I always wondered why this man didn't just go out and get a job. He was able-bodied, had children and owned two late-model vehicles. I suppose that it was easier to put on the guise of being so "detached" from the world...even if he was constantly in need and let others know about it.

I believe that God is our provider. I don't believe that God desires us to be rich or poor. Rather, He desires us to be content with Him. The writer of Proverbs 30 once said, "Give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me" (Proverbs 30:8). As someone recently pointed out, it isn't money that it is the root of evil...but the love of it (I Timothy 6:10).

Pro 30:8 Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me:

Pro 30:9 Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.