Posts Tagged ‘poverty’
Though Poor, They Are Rich
by Jefferson David Tant “South of the Border” is a delightful song that I remember from my boyhood, telling us of our neighbors “down Mexico way.” The tune came to mind as I was reading the reports of brethren Robert Turner and V. N. Collins in Plain Talk some time ago. They told of a trip…
Read MoreHow do I live by faith while providing for my family with my own job? Is there such a thing as a spiritual calling?
Question: Hello Jeffrey, I’m in need of advice and I’d like to ask a question. First, I want to know how I can live by faith, while at the same time providing for myself and my loved ones with my own job. One of the things that I’ve been struggling with is the temptation to…
Read MoreDoes God want me to give up everything and preach the Gospel?
Question: Hello Minister, I’ve recently been dealing with a lot of internal conflict concerning God’s individual will for my life. I’ve been in deep thought as to whether I should give up all the things that I enjoy, as well as my current life at home with my parents, in order to serve Christ and…
Read MoreThe Bible and the Poverty Problem
by Matthew W. Bassford In 2003, social scientists Isabell Sawhill and Ron Haskins noticed three striking differences between poor people in America and the nonpoor. First, poor people generally hadn’t completed high school; the nonpoor had. Second, nonpoor people kept a steady job; poor people didn’t. Third, nonpoor people got married before having children; poor people…
Read MoreShould I keep my promise of poverty that I’m not certain I made?
Question: Hello, I told God in a prayer that I give up earthly success. I think that when I said it I meant the pursuit of wealth. I am not sure because I think I was also imagining the idea of suffering like a poor person. I think the reason this situation came about was…
Read MoreIs poverty a sin?
Question: What is poverty? And is poverty a sin? Answer: Poverty is the state of being poor. Neither wealth nor poverty is a sin, though people in either state can be tempted to sin. “Give me neither poverty nor riches – feed me with the food allotted to me; lest I be full and deny…
Read MoreWhy doesn’t the church sell everything it owns to give to the poor?
Question: The church in Acts had people who sold their possessions and gave to those without. Why doesn’t the church do that today? Is it a sin to deny someone something because you want to use it? Answer: An example of the selling of the possessions that you referenced in Acts 4:32 – 5:11 there…
Read MoreDo you sell everything you have? Why do you have an air-conditioned building?
Question: “Quite simply, we are a church that follows after the pattern of the New Testament.” —from the church website. “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the…
Read MoreAscetic Vows vs. Scriptural Liberties
by Bryan Matthew Dockens Members of religious orders of the Catholic, Anglican, and Eastern Orthodox churches, most prominently priests and nuns, commit themselves to particular ascetic vows. Asceticism, by definition, is extreme self-denial. Self-denial, of course, is enjoined upon all those who would follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24). However, the Lord never placed such restrictions as…
Read MoreThe Great Giveaway
Text: Luke 14:25-33 I. A Christian came to me and handed me a note one which was written “Luke 14:33 cannot be a disciple unless give up possessions. Why? 2 Cor. 8:14 for equality” A. I immediately told him he was wrong. B. His reply was how can he be wrong, he just quoted what the Bible…
Read More