Topic: Welcome

[Tim Russ]

One of the biggest problems I see in the Christian world is that there is a downright hatred of money! 

Vows of poverty, fear of falling in the trap of desiring to be rich, etc. have caused church people to get a bad impression of cold hard cash.  What a shame.

God isn't against money.  God isn't against anyone being filthy rich.  What God is against is someone trusting or loving money more than they trust or love him. 

So, we're going to have an open dialogue here about making money.  You know, the stuff that it takes to finance ministries to build the kingdom of God?  Yes, YOU need to be making MONEY to FINANCE the KINGDOM of God. 

So...like...are you doing that?

So...like...do you wanna learn?

[Ann Doupont]

Well, Tim, I've not made a vow of poverity or anything like that. I know that God wants to meet all of our needs, but I also know that the desire to be rich can be a trap as the Bible says that, too.

To whom much is given, much is required. The more we have, the more we're responsible for. Currently, I have enough to provide all my needs and to give to those ministries and to the poor, when prompted by Him to give.

Interested in making money? That really depends on how much time is involved in doing so. What I'm really interested in is having my work promoted. If money comes along with that, then I'm all for it. I've never been interested in being "filthy rich."

Blessings.

Love,

Ann

[Tim Russ]

It has been said that a thousand mile journey begins with a single step.

It's so very true.  Unfortunately most people don't realize what that step requires when it comes to making money. 

It's a step outside of ourselves, outside of our comfort zone.  It's the rearranging of our thought processes to be reprogrammed by Capitalism!  ~gasp~ 

If one doesn't desire to be filthy rich it's a pretty fair guess that that person won't every be filthy rich.

So, like, what's the first step?  You have to believe that you can achieve the filthy rich (or whatever level you desire) level in order to even begin.

Make sense? 

[Ann Doupont]

Well, Tim, I'm not opposed to being rich...it's the "filthy" part I don't like.

I believe that it's very important how we get rich. I don't believe God wants any of us to abuse people in order to achieve this. Other than that, Lord, send it on down...even cash.

 

Ann

[Tim Russ]

No problem avoiding the 'filthy' part of being rich.  Each person should decide for themselves what level of prosperity they wish to achieve.  In fact the desire to be filthy rich would destroy some folks as they're not prepared to handle those riches.

I've talked to a lot of people about being prosperous (rich) and almost without exception everyone desires to have more money than they currently possess.  Also, almost without exception when asked what they'd use all those extra dollars for they have no clear idea.

Most of us envision some things that would improve the quality of our life and our vision ends there.  The best way to approach this is to have a three-fold vision.

1) What would enhance the quality of your life?
2) What would enhance the quality of your life...for the rest of your life?
3) What would enhance the quality of other people's lives?

If we desire to be rich simply for the sake of satisfying our own selfishness we'll be like old stars that at first get much larger (puffed up) but end up collapsing in on themselves after destroying their planetary system.  Selfishness ALWAYS destroys the person exercising it, in the end.

In order to find true satisfaction one must eventually find a cause to serve.  Whether that cause is building the kingdom of God (if you're a Christian) or serving humanity (if you're not a Christian).

Look at every person who has achieved greatness throughout history.  You'll see that each of them gave of themselves.  Sometimes this was done at great personal expense.  Some submitted their entire lives to the goal of serving.  Some even sacrificed their right to live to serve.

Money can be viewed as a poor way to serve because it's so impersonal.  Yet for some the giving of money is their gift.

(Romans 12:6-8 NIV)  We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. {7} If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; {8} if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

The bible is very clear on two points. 

1) You must choose between serving God and serving Money.
2) If you desire to be rich you fall into a trap!

The first choice isn't a choice between being a Christian or having money.  ALL Christians have (or should have) money.  It's a tool that we use to function in life.

The second choice is a bit unclear.  It refers to the love of money.  We're warned against having a love of money.  We're not warned against having money itself.  The DESIRE to be rich is a LUST for money...and what it brings.  Again, this is a question of selfishness.

The bible doesn't teach that rich people are going to hell.  You won't find that anywhere.  Only ONE person was ever told to sell everything he had and give it to the poor.  This person (the rich young ruler) had a desire to be saved... or so it seemed.  Jesus knew he was selfish and made him face the core issue of his life... his love of money.

The prosperous Christian must be willing at any time to give all their money and possessions to God.  Any other attitude sets that money and those possessions higher than God.  That's idolatry.  A worship of anything other than God is idolatry.  It's a sin that will send you to hell if you let it.

Money is nothing more than a hammer or a saw.  It's a tool and it must be kept in it's place.  As long as we achieve that mindset we won't have problems with money.  A Christian can be as prosperous as they want.  They can be what's called filthy rich if they want and it will all be within God's will.

Remember, though, being rich is relative.  Compared to most people in the world the newspaper delivery person is rich.  Some people in the world don't have a roof over their head or food to eat.  Some are in danger of dying daily.  If you live in America or any other 1st world country you're already rich whether you realize it or not.

[Ann Doupont]

Tim,

If I'm not mistaken, the word "filthy" implies "dirty." I don't want any filthy, or dirty, money...just clean money.

 

Ann

[Tim Russ]

You're right.  The word filthy implies dirty.  However, the phrase 'filthy rich' implies that someone has so much money that they can't spend it all. 

It probably comes from people referring to how money changes most people and causes them to be haughty/prideful.  It could also be from seeing many people throw their morals out the window to make money from filthy means.

In my world (Internet Marketing) it simply means to make so much money you can't spend it all.   That's a good thing.

Oh, and just for the record, all money is filthy as it's passed through multiple human hands.  Also, it's estimated that most paper money is contaminated with trace amounts of cocaine as the bills are used for snorting the drug. 

[Ann Doupont]

Thank you, Bro. Tim, for explaining that here for all the world to see...lol

When I used to have bipolar (yeah, I was crazy, ya know), I took a $100 bill, tore it up and threw it on the ground...because I hated money. What happened? Well, glad you asked...hehe

They came and took me away to a mental hospital, as a woman called the police. When I was released, someone handed me an envelope with the torn money in it, which I then took to the bank and was given a replacement (probably 20s, though).

About having so much money, amazingly I have found myself in that position...because I'm a tither. Tithing and giving opens up the windows of heaven and God then pours out more than we can spend.

Well, in my case, I'm FAR below the poverty level for those in the USA...but I'm frugal, having few needs. I enjoy keeping a bank account. Pretty good, wouldn't you say, for someone who hasn't had regular liveable income in almost 6 years!!

 

Ann

[Dee]

Well, I'm not opposed to making money!   How do I start?

[Tim Russ]

By going over to the Prosperity section of the forum and going into the Getting Started board. 

[Ro]

OK.