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#Post#: 10526--------------------------------------------------
Can a rich man go to heaven
By: George Date: March 12, 2015, 7:43 pm
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To whom much is given much is required, thus it is said, it is
easier for a camel to thread the eye of a needle than for a rich
man to get into heaven.
It is impossible for a camel to thread the eye of a needle; but
it isn't literally impossible for a rich man to get into heaven.
I was interested in how everyone interprets/make sense of this
verse
#Post#: 10528--------------------------------------------------
Re: Can a rich man go to heaven
By: Runner Date: March 12, 2015, 8:04 pm
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Hi George, I thought I posted the very same thing on this
site...but maybe it wasn't here but elsewhere. :)
Why indeed!! Maybe I worded mine differently...about the LOVE of
money which is the ROOT of ALL evil...I couldn't see why it was
the root of ALL evil?! It's not the root of rape etc.
I know quite a few rich men. They are loving and giving...and
their tithes and offering have greatly helped the people of this
world.
As long as their faith is in Christ for salvation and not in
what they have done or given ( for rewards) one cannot buy a
place in heaven....it's by the works of Jesus not by our works,
but out of our love for Him that we do the works ....because we
love, not to earn a place or salvation.
Interesting subject...I will 'watch this space.' :)
#Post#: 10530--------------------------------------------------
Re: Can a rich man go to heaven
By: Brad Date: March 12, 2015, 9:16 pm
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I take it to mean that although the camel could not bend down to
make it through the lower approximately door size gate, that the
mercy of God allows rich men to attain heaven though mercy on
God's part despite they not helping more their poorer brothers
and sister. Yet the greed of man and the trust in money and
power is one of the most terrible things he see's in mankind.
#Post#: 10532--------------------------------------------------
Re: Can a rich man go to heaven
By: Amadeus Date: March 13, 2015, 9:06 am
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[font=courier]When the riches of this world, mammon, that is are
ours or we desire them above the better things (the Love of
God), then those riches stand between us and God, between us and
God's kingdom.
In the so-called civilized western Christian countries of this
natural planet earth, people are in rich in opportunities and
education and food and clothing and housing compared to most
other nations. They are also rich in the things usually more
directly attributed to God: freedom to worship, choice of places
of worship, availability of ministers who speak (or could speak)
God's Word, and an unbelievable availability of Bibles written
in their own languages. All of this and so many of the apparent
or confessed or professed believers are lazy or lukewarm because
they 'know' that it's all there whenever they want to partake of
it. How many will die with those riches in their sight because
there is always time... or so they believe.
Consider the foolish virgins. Why did they wait to fill their
lamps until the Master was at the door? It wasn't because there
was not oil available or because there had previously been not
time to fill their lamps.[/font]
#Post#: 10534--------------------------------------------------
Re: Can a rich man go to heaven
By: coldwar Date: March 13, 2015, 11:16 am
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The possibility of it is declared by Jesus himself in Matt, Mark
and Luke; right after he said it's harder for a camel to go
through a needle's eye, he says:
Matt. 19:25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly
amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? 26 But Jesus beheld
them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with
God all things are possible.
Why were the disciples "exceedingly amazed"? Because they were
still under the false assumption that men were rich on earth as
a sign of God's blessing - this might possibly be called a
Jewish variant of the Caste System. Jesus turns all such
religious belief on it's head, through counter-teaching such as
this. The rich man ad Lazarus is another example of a fable that
had arisen in Israel. Is there such a place as Abraham's bosom?
I don't know; other than in the Gospels, it is never mentioned;
however, it seems as though Jesus is taking a Jewish Fable and
turning it upside down, making it into a Parable of his own
specifically against the rich Pharisees.
#Post#: 10535--------------------------------------------------
Re: Can a rich man go to heaven
By: Kerry Date: March 14, 2015, 4:59 pm
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If the rich man is attached to his money so it is his god, it is
impossible. "You can't take it with you."
Matthew 6:19 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.
If someone is rich but enjoys using his money to do good, his
riches will not cause a problem. The rich man can do good and
rid himself of his money as he lives, thus readying himself to
enter the kingdom when he dies. He is not obsessed with wealth.
He can give it up and not care that much. He can pass through
the smallest opening into Heaven since he's not burdened with
baggage.
The person whose god is money will not enter the kingdom. His
treasure is still on the earth. He may be dead; and he may not
be able to get his hands on his treasure; but his heart is still
with it. How unhappy he will be then.
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