Two basic views of Christ´s economy.

 

Basically, there are two main streams on materialistic Christianity:

1.      Those who say Christ was rich and,

2.      Those who say He was poor.

My view, today, is He wasn´t rich neither poor.

According to what He said, there are two humanistic big realms and that´s why He said: “Give Cesar what is Cesar´s and God´s what is God´s”. (There is a human reign and there´s a divine also).

My reasoning should be like this:

1.      If He was rich, Why asking people to leave it all? Why asking the rich young man to leave all behind, is He wasn´t living like a humble man?

2.      If he was poor, Why telling rich to be poor? It would be a lie, and an unethical issue to ask anything He wasn´t or hasn´t done; but He said one who volunteered: “…the Son of man doesn´t have to lay his head” (Matt. 8:20, Lk. 9:58)

Are all rich and poor people happier because of money, housing and for the abundance of wealth?

Most of people I know want to be rich (and I want to be rich just to avoid things I don´t want to pay for).

Of course Jesus lived like a man, like a simple “poor” man. We see that when someone asked Peter for money to pay the temple tax. Soon after,Peter gave a report of things to Jesus, and immediately Jesus sent him to go fishing. What for? To get the money they needed.

Were the apostles rich enough?

Peter was a fisherman and probably owned his boat (or something more). But, did they use credit cards to pay taxes? No! And it´s obvious inferred their economy was simple enough to pay workers day by day (The Old Testament asked to do so).

The money they received on their mission was to serve for the mission… I see, when paying the temple tax, no one of the Twelve asked Judas to come to pay the money Romans charged the Jewish for the use of the temple. Additionally, I see Jesus saying: “…Each worker deserves his food” (Matt 10:10) So I see Jesus worked for food, not for money (Matt 10:9-10) and He is aware of the stuff we daily need to live (When He sent the Seventy, He gave them permission to take everything they have to work on the missionary field)

Did Jesus ask Judas money to pay His taxes?

No! Instead Jesus sent Peter to WORK and, soon after, Peter had the money to pay the tax collectors (with the exact amount of money) Jesus and His close disciple owed the Roman Empire, yearly or monthly.

The Christian Materialistic stream insists on facts that “prove” Jesus was rich:

·         They talked about Jesus´ clothing and said an inference based on the fashion of its priceless woven… (Does clothing make people rich or poor?)  See Matt. 27:28

·         They could say –and “proved”- He was rich in Heavens, according to Paul´s records and opinions (These are human´s inferences Jesus never told us).

·         They have said He left His heavenly glory to live “poorly” on earth (and the Bible tells us God disregards what we consider wealth).

·         They´ve said He was a “professional” on carpentry (and I know an “apostolic” pastor who insisted on this craft was unpopular and very expensive). How expensive or cheap is it today, if all jobs are costly done?

·         They argued that He took care of the family -the whole household- after Joseph death… (But there´s no biblical written proof for those issues, but only logical inferences) (except His brothers did not believe in Him: John 7:4-5)

Here are some “inferences” of mine:

I haven´t seen any record of the economic stature of Joseph´s family. He is thought to be son of Jacob (Matt. 1:16) while Mary had Elizabeth, as relative, who was a daughter of Aaron (Luke 1:5). For the enrollment, Joseph had to go back to the city of his origin and, being from Bethlehem, he had no relatives there to welcome him (and his wife) when coming to be registered in a census of the Judean population).

What was the status of Joseph and Jesus´ family?

Was Joseph rich for being a carpenter? If so, what kind of stress both Mary and Joseph dealt with while Jesus was born in a stable and how long He rested in a manger?

Three Maggi came as rescue party… The family already had a house, but extra money served to move -fleeing- to Egypt.

In His earthy mission, the Bible, instead, showed us Judas to be the bearer of the money box.

The Bible shows us Judas taking money out of the collective treasure they used in the missionary field for giving the poor.

The Bible shows us Jesus sending Judas to buy or doing “something” with the money he was in charge (or cared of) same day they were to partake the last Passover in Jerusalem, before He was taken to the cross.

Did they use that money on personal issues? If so, why Jesus sent Peter to work to pay the temple tax?

Was it to prove He was sent from God or to fulfill God´s command? 

Scripture says: “Ganarás el pan con el sudor de tu frente”. (Genesis)

(Excuse me for the Spanish) (I don´t have a tool to translate it now).

There are several opinions, perhaps more than I can imagine, but I see God working on Jesus when money served for nothing:

·         The day He fed several hundreds, money was useless; particularly in a remote area with no “malls”.

·         The day He sent His team mission and the 70, money was used and sometimes was useless: They received their pay: Food + clothing.

·         When the apostles had lost hope in Jerusalem and came back their homes, they went to fish on a lake (just for trade to make some money for their living). Suddenly, when nothing was gained a whole night vigil, Jesus showed Himself to be The Giver, The Real Provider and the Eternal Hope they thought gone (just by giving them too much fish more than their net could possibly collect or hold).

These formerly fishermen were “rich” (according to the opinion of some materialistic churches and denominations), but they abandoned their business to follow the call Jesus gave them to work in His field, so they became “fishers of men” (We know there was a tax collector in Jesus´ team, but he was given the job to write and spread the word).

Was Jesus poor or rich?

Let´s say he was “rich” and left His secular wealth to enter the missionary field… Allow me to say He decided to give a tenth of his earthly life (10%) to God since He was about 30 years old when He started His missionary ministry (Luke 3:23) so He left Nazareth to live in Capernaum (Matt. 4:13, 17; Luke 4:23)

We know he came down from Heaven; His kingdom is not made of money or gold, but with the re-establishment of Justice, instead.

We are never said He owned an earthly mansion He had to leave on someone´s else care. We´ve never heard He has some servants (except angels) and I never heard he was bossy over the Twelve or dependent on banalities.

He said His disciples would receive 100% of what they have left on earth… What would that be?

Think on Luke 12:15, 19:8 and 19:26.

Does Jesus want us to live in poverty? If so, why He left His mother under John´s attentions? He had more sisters and brothers who could care for His mother´s needs (John 2: 12; 7: 3-5)

Will I receive more if I´m working hard to advance His kingdom? Sure! He´ll give more to share.

 “Blessed are those who freely give”

The Bible record tells me he saw a poor woman giving in all she had to live, but I never read He despised poor or rich people.

It´s easy to know the reason a man (or a woman) had to use prostitution as a means to make money (or to get some physical pleasure) but I see Him paying a visit to a woman who loved Him tenderly when spreading over His head a costly perfume, before He died. Was she rich enough or poor to do that? (The New Testament said she was Mary, the sister of Lazarus, and she stopped doing wrong).

In the Old Testament we read of a man who went to a “whore” after selling his sheep. a) Was that woman a real prostitute?

b) Was he married or needed someone´s favor to find some physical release?

We, as Christians, have the right to keep our views, but the truth shines itself.

Money may serve for good or wrong. It´s up to us to see what we do to avoid the wrong we did.

Jesus, clearly said, we cannot love money and serve God. He, instead, told His disciples to leave all, while He Himself had left all He had those three (3) final years. (Matt. 6:24-25; Matt. 8:20) What a coherency! Jesus wasn´t lying to manhood.

(I worship You, God! I often thought those words were His way to dismiss good intentions)

He discouraged all those who were unwilling to pay the price (John 6:60, 63-66, 67-68) so, Is it coherent to ask people anything we haven´t left?

Can I ask my brother: “Stop sinning” while I haven´t stopped judging or blaming others?

Is it consistent to ask any woman´s love, while I plan to leave her alone the moment I´m being informed she is pregnant (and the “father” is me)?

Jesus never intended to ask ANY to do a thing He wasn´t doing or planned to do.

When Jesus asked His disciples to follow Him:

·         He knew they could (so He had faith on mankind)

·         He knew who they were and prayed for them.

·         He will provide for deficiencies or lacks.

·         He will encourage.

·         He will empower.

·         He will nurture.

·         He will assist.

·         He will test.

·         And they would endure (except Judas).

Money does not qualify our inner being and strengths. Money does not empower character and never gives us assurance at all (Matt. 6:19, 21)

Jesus was and is rich, but not the earthly fashion certain men insist on (just to ask free money from you and me).

Jesus is rich because God wants Him to be so and, accordingly to Revelations, He deserves all: He is the only one who deserves it (on earth).

The materialistic view says you are poor “because you are cursed”. Some go farther and said: “God does not love you”. So, are rich people the only blessed?

The WHOLE New Testament insists one God blessing: “Is that blessing money alone?”

The whole Scripture says we´ve been blessed by God, through Israel and His chosen people (but “I´m under a curse” because I´m poor).

Did Jesus publicly bless the poor woman who gave her all, at the temple? (Yes! And we don´t know her name).

Was a poor woman blessed when giving food (and roof) a holy man God sent?

Instead, by doing that, that poor woman fed her starving son for weeks, same way she blessed a prophet.

What deters you to share what you have got: Money idolatry? Greed? Lack of faith and trust on God´s provision?

Has God stopped Himself from blessing us?

The materialist stream uses these ideas or verses to take money off from your wallet. Materialistic Christians insist on TAKING rather than GIVING; ASKING rather than OFFERING.

There are many Christian people telling this, but doing the opposite. There are some who ASK abundantly, but seldom GIVE how I must GIVE.

Authors and readers say one thing, and many do the other way around.

The thing is materialism takes controls over OUR will easily.

Jesus asked us to give when He himself started to give.

Jesus asked us to follow just the moment he started to follow up God´s tips. Challenged to do that?

It´s easy to die down when giving because we give with limited strengths, poor guidance of examples and from human lacks and weakness.

Giving withers when we see nothing coming to give us release, but the example of an old woman keeps on reminding me there´s power to give when we follow God, instead of men.

There are some studies on giving, according to the Bible. There´s no reason to give only the tenth (the 10 %) but those examples give you and me an idea on how we can work on numbers to live and ADVANCE HIS KINGDOM.

Is His kingdom spread on money or church attendance? No!

Does attendance match quality? No! That is a numeric reference. That´s all!

Is it done by me, alone? No!

His kingdom advances spiritually and prospers materially, as well.

I can GIVE prayers (and I´m very stingy on praying for other´s needs). No wonder I´m unwilling to give money for the missionary fields or to help those who prayed for me…

I can GIVE facilities, encouragement and many things I could think of (Just ask God to “give” and you will RECEIVE).

I can GIVE what I´m being given (spiritual and material stuff) just to help others endure their tests (a minute thing, like a smile, helps and heals).

Recently I read several opinions on www.freechristianteaching.org

By the moment I read on the Tithe, I thought I was pretty sure on some issues there, but I was wrong (and I could be now, because I´m not perfect)

On Tithing we are called to become stewards on what we have got, but we can hand some money over to help those who do the job we have bypassed.

We don´t need more “priests”, but missionaries who do the job Jesus asked me to do.

We don´t need money to build big churches, but to keep modest facilities, just to bring shelter and housing to those who work on the missionary field.

Let´s say we can buy a roof to those who may need it, as long as they walk up again, up to the moment when they plan to buy it for themselves.

Your money, my money, would be used to buy food for the needy and field workers.

If you are a Christian and don´t want to give a cent, please: Do the missionary job, too.

Jesus left His home for more than 3 years. He spent days at open fields, felt some cold at starry nights, travelled long hours without a horse and bore the death penalty WE all deserve (I did not ask Him to do so, but He GAVE his life to save billions).

He stayed at good places (Luke 19:5, 7) but also spent nights outdoors.

Jesus knew what money could buy exactly. He was tempted to receive earthly money, human kingdoms and its lust.

He knew my price, yours, and He paid it in full (on the toil of His cross).

When warning people, He asked them to consider “the price” (Luke 14:28-30) and He wants us to GIVE all, not just a tenth.

Did He give a 10% of His life on earth? (Luke 14:33)

Well, if I´m right on calculations, He spent 3,5 years as a missionary by the age of thirty (Luke 3:23) so He gave 10% of His lifetime doing such service for you and me.

To give you an idea of the price He paid:

·         He was never married.

·         He never got children

·         He never built a house, to enjoy it Himself alone

·         He never retired at 40 to richly live with a woman

·         He never bought a cart to travel under shadows.

·         He never travelled beyond Palestine, except when His family fled to Egypt

·         He never had that stuff we´ve packed one room

·         He never bought appliances and never enjoyed the electric lightning we have while we pretend to be blind to these truths

It may be rare, but at the cross, He left his mother under John´s house. If He was rich enough, why not leaving that decision on His brothers and sisters? (Some may say: “He was her only son”)

Besides, if His earthly family was rich enough He would have gone Jerusalem to get some “college” (to get some educational degree) same way Paul did under Gamaliel´s eyes (Acts 22:3)  

But how come He was called a Rabbi? (He! He!)

Perhaps John, the apostle, was from a noble family (John 18:15-16)

Does it mean Jesus planned His mother lived in poverty? No! But He gave us an example on how to live. He played the role of a servant, acting from His servanthood (John 13:14-16) (Read some Chapters from Isaiah)

What apostle was rich? None.

It´s probable Judas saw the opportunity to make some profit, but his stealing greed deprived him from pure joy and, when receiving those 30 pieces, he realized his foolish heart and committed suicide.

There are things that emasculate human beings, but Jesus never said one of His personal regrets, except telling other´s faults/difficulties He resented (i.e. Lack of faith, unwillingness to repent, etc)

Jesus owned achievements we´re not told, but He never said in Matthew 5:3: “Blessed are rich people”… On the contrary, he acknowledged some tragic pains come from poverty (Matthew 5:4) and these led us to repentance and to a progressive change (He wasn´t poor neither rich).

Some old Christians may think wealth is a disgrace, as poverty as well. Is it so?

According to Paul´s writings, we see poor willing to GIVE more than rich churches. Some people are willing to “share” at the expense of other´s (not theirs).

Is that real GIVING or sharing?

On the same materialistic view we are forced Jesus taught “it´s better GIVING than receiving”:

·         Receiving is passive and POSSESIVE.

·         Giving is ACTIVE, progressive, rather than passive).

Something to think of:

·         How do you think you are now, poor or rich?

·         How do you think you´ve been, active in giving or receiving passively?

·         What amendment does your life need?

Tune up your life!

Make a prayer for me (if you want to start GIVING anything) and include those you consider worth of your prayers.