Cadillacs and Camels

 In my mind Scripture presents a dichotomy that I wrestle with. I would really like to find a solid answer for myself. Maybe you can recommend a book for me?

Cadillacs

Proverbs 13:22 "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous."

I want to be a good person! I want to leave a financial legacy for my grandchildren. Most children in American spend 90% of their inheritance in 90 days after receiving it. You got to have a lot of "cheddar" to be able to not only leave an inheritance for your children but your grandchildren as well.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world"

I want to be pure and faultless in Gods eyes! What do widows and orphans lack? A providing man! For me to look after widows and orphans I need money! 

Read Matthew 25:14-30. Did you see how God dealt with the servant who didn't properly use his finances? The one who didn't generate a profit? Now I am really worried ;-(

Camels

Matthew 19:24 "Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 

I find it hard enough to have the required faith to be in the Kingdom. I throw myself on the work of the Cross. But if wealth makes it nearly impossible or even harder..........why would I want it? 

Luke 9: 58 - Jesus replied, "Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 

Acts 3:6 - Then Peter said, "Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

Jesus and the Apostles appeared to be broke and homeless? Shouldn't I want to be like them? 

Is there a dichotomy that truly exist between Creflo Dollars and Mother Teresas? Are both acceptable? A basic look at scriptures like these I sometimes feel "damned if do, damned if I don't"! 

Thoughts?

Investing in the Kingdom or Wasting Gods Money?

 I'm reading an article in the news this evening about the Old south Church in Boston. It has quite a legacy. Sam Adams was a member. Ben Franklin was baptized by the church. They even own two copies of the Bay Psalm Book, one the first books ever published in North America. Only 11 copies remain of the original printing, published in 1640 by the first printer in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Stephen Daye. I am really into Church history and would drool at the sight of either copy I am sure.  Not going to lie about the edifice either. I travel a lot and love to visit those old beautiful churches. They are freaking awesome!

So on Sunday members of the congregation voted to sell one of the copies, the 372-year-old hymn book valued at up to $20 million – to fund structural repairs and expand its ministry programs. It's their property, their vote, their congregation, their business. I just was trying to reflect on how I would feel as a pastor or member there. How would Jesus feel even? What could I find in scriptures about that?

What the vote says is that members are “agreeing that we are not conservators of rare and special objects, but a church in motion,” says Rev. Nancy Taylor. “We will turn the old hymn book into true doxology for today – helping the homeless, working with prisoners, and assisting victims of domestic violence.” I love that answer. I agree.

Here is where I got a little rattled. Part of the raised funds would go toward an estimated $7 million in building maintenance costs, the AP reported. Can a church really be considering the homeless and prisoners while spending 7 million dollars to maintain a relic of a building?

It's another biblical finance issue we need to wrestle with like the Crystal Cathedral ( see post http://grapplerschurch.blogspot.com/2011/06/owe-no-man.html ). Again, it's that churches business. I'm not standing in judgement. What I do want is for US as THE CHURCH to all wrestle with these financial issues that a lot of us are contributing to. We need to know what God and His Word says about it.