Humility and Sell All Your Possessions and Properties

[cgaviria]

This study goes over why Jesus Christ said "go and sell all your possessions" and all in the early assemblies sold all their properties and possessions. The study can be found in English here http://www.wisdomofgod.co/2017/02/19/humility-and-sell-all-your-possessions-and-properties/ or in Spanish here http://www.sabiduriadedios.co/2017/02/19/humildad-y-vender-todas-sus-posesiones-y-propiedades/ . Let us begin a discussion on this matter.

[Nancy]

Hi ya,
I am interested in this subject concerning how much is too much!
One can give money to charity but who knows if the right people get it. Also the early Christians seemed to live in communes which we don't today or very rarely.  You can give money to support a small church but you then may find out that the leader has used that money on living the high life.
What to do?
St Paul wasn't against rich people but obviously warned them against being haughty and proud.
Nancy

[rosered]

Hi ya,
I am interested in this subject concerning how much is too much!
One can give money to charity but who knows if the right people get it. Also the early Christians seemed to live in communes which we don't today or very rarely.  You can give money to support a small church but you then may find out that the leader has used that money on living the high life.
What to do?
St Paul wasn't against rich people but obviously warned them against being haughty and proud.
Nancy

  Yes he sure did Nancy . :iagree:

  Many have yet to bow the knee to Jesus Christ   in this life , many are fooling themselves and others by thinking they are ok , but they are Void of the Love of  GOD  in them ..


  but many have already   bowed the knee    and when they do they are humbled by the LOVE OF GOD     and they rest in the hope   that God will though His Son  do those perfect works   and finish up what He started   

  Then can we all glory in God by the Word & Spirit of truth setting us all free   from sin and death   and all that evil that is  in it .
  :HeartThrob:

[sheila]

hey Nancy..just give to the poor..they're everywhere.'you will always have the poor with you and you can give to  them anytime you want"[especially considering

there are many robbers and theives in many body/temples..that rob God of His glory that He wants man in His image to exhibit]but the kingdom of heaven is much more

than'what shall we eat wear;but being faithful in these least things[concern for physical needs and spiritual needs of our fellowman]

thefastGod approves..is the putting away of the pointing the finger[accusing the poor/because God gives without upbraiding..His gifts of mercy and grace are undeserved

..and handing out your bread tothe poor.Food and clothing for both the physical and spiritua lman[inthe image ofGod..same as done it unto me]

put away the striking with the fist[pummeling others with blows..such as beating the members of the house hold of God/wicked servant/brow beating them mentally and

spiritually.  imo better  to be counted in with the poor...begging God for His mercy than being deluded with silver[ou rown righteousness]and gold[pure of sin/corruption]

thinking we are rich and have need of nothing. Surely we are all God's charity cases, eh? :2c:

[WhiteWings]

Scripture also states a man's duty is to support his family.
When he no longer can do that due to giving, he gave to much.

[sheila]

 :thumbsup:

[Nancy]

Hi ya,
I tend to give because I feel guilty! And I alternate between wanting to give and wanting to be able to buy what I want.  Having enough money is a big feature in my life.  I pray to God to help me not to feel so insecure about it.
Nancy

[marie glen]

Hi Nancy :hiya:

No I don't think we should give out of guilt.. I think we should give when it swells up as generosity.. If I don't feel that often enough, I still don't think I should feel guilty, but I should pray for that fruit of generosity.. And also for the means.. I generally don't worry about it as a commandment to tithe.. as that was (imo) an Old Testament law, much like taxes we have now.. although the governing was at the temple and not secular like today.

And any giving should be (imo) voluntary, not imposed. :gsmile:

[jugghead]

I agree also that we should not give out of guilt

For me it is understanding the difference between "having to" and "wanting to" which relate to "law" and "grace"

If we give because the word tells us we "have to" , the mind turns it into a law we "have to" obey thus making it a work of the flesh
BUT
if we give because we "want to", the heart turns it into a grace we "want to" obey thus making it a work of the Spirit

If we give out of guilt, it is a giving to relieve that guilt in ourselves, therefore the giving is first for our benefit not the benefit of the one we give to (even though it does benefit them)

ask yourself this question: would you want another to give to you because they feel guilty?

And are we giving to receive something in return for ourselves? a freedom (though temporary) from feeling guilty ..... knowing that guilt will always return again

"The strength of sin (missing the mark) is the law"
BUT
"the strength of hitting the mark is grace"

Hit the mark and give because you "want to" not because you "have to" ..... we give because that is who Christ is making us into (a giving person), being perfected by "His" work in us through grace ...... not a person who is being perfected by "our" works through the law

my  :2c:

[marie glen]

Amen, Jugghead! Said very well! :thumbsup:

[sheila]

 :thumbsup: JH...and spiritually speaking of riches..one can feel guilty forbeing 'alive'I can't  help but think Paul struggled with this because of him wishing it was he cut

off..seeing himself as the worst of sinners..undeserving of the calling and great grace.survivours guilt? :dontknow: realizing all receive the free gift..each in his order..

helps..the need  being people need to know that  their salvation is assured/freegift.that GOD LOVES THEM.and our desire that they have life more abundantly now.not be robbed and taken advantage

of by wolves in sheep's clothing out there, or greedy men making merchandise of them..damaged and ravaged by doctrines of demons,etc.we want them to have

the same peace we have[loving our fellow man as ourselves]compassion moves our hearts.   the Good samaritan that showed mercy..nothing but love compelled him. :2c:

[rosered]

Amen Nancy ,  ww  ,Jugg  and Marie

sis  !  :thumbsup:    :HeartThrob:  the widows mite , she gave all that she had , it is always about the heart  in my opinion .
 
Many gave out of there  abundance much  , but its meaning to me ,was she trusted in God  100% to provide  every  need

as faith in God from a pure heart towards God first .

poor in this world but rich in faith  ,every jot and tittle  being fulfilled  of the royal law , being love .

Humbling  in deed

[marie glen]

Amen, sisters..  :cloud9: :cloud9:

[Dandelion]

I personally think Jesus leaves a good bit of the decision to us, but He gives us some good guidelines. I believe to individualize the message, we need to pray and listen.

I think before we give or keep money, we should always be in prayer about it, and wait on the Lord's answer, when at all possible.

"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:26

25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns—and yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifespan?c

28And why do you worry about clothes? Consider how the lilies of the field grow: They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans pursue all these things, and your Heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:

3Support the widows who are truly in need. 4But if a widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to show godliness to their own family and repay their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.

5The widow who is truly in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day in her petitions and prayers. 6But she who lives for pleasure is dead even while she is still alive.

7Give these instructions to the believers, so that they will be above reproach. 8If anyone does not provide for his own, and especially his own household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

9A widow should be enrolled if she is at least sixty years old, the wife of one man, 10and well known for good deeds such as bringing up children, entertaining strangers, washing the feet of the saints, imparting relief to the afflicted, and devoting herself to every good work.

11But refuse to enroll younger widows. For when their passions draw them away from Christ, they will want to marry, 12and thus will incur judgment because they are setting aside their first faith. 13At the same time they will also learn to be idle, going from house to house and being not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking of things they should not mention.

14So I advise the younger widows to marry, have children, and manage their households, so they will not give the adversary an occasion for slander. 15For some have already turned aside to follow Satan.

16If any believing woman has dependent widows, she must assist them and not allow the church to be burdened, so that it can help the widows who are truly in need.
1 Timothy 5:

Treasures in Heaven
(Matthew 13:44-46)
19Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rustb destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:

  4Delight yourself in the LORD;
            And He will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:

The Parables of the Treasure and Pearl
(Matthew 6:19-21)
44The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he had and bought that field.

45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.
Matthew 13:

10 "Bring one-tenth of your income into the storehouse so that there may be food in my house. Test me in this way," says the LORD of Armies. "See if I won't open the windows of heaven for you and flood you with blessings. 11 Then, for your sake, I will stop insects from eating [your crops]. They will not destroy the produce of your land. The vines in your fields will not lose their unripened grapes," says the LORD of Armies. 12 "All nations will call you blessed because you will be a delightful land," says the LORD of Armies.

Malachi 3:

1 Timothy 6:7-10
For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.



And, of course, the beautiful story of the widow's mite, and the Good Samaritan! Thank you....great reminders!

As in all things, seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Trust in God, and He will direct your path.

D.

[sheila]

lovely post sister D

[rosered]

lovely post sister D

:banana: :dsunny: :HeartThrob:

  ditto    sis , lovely sista D !!  :girlheart: