Christian morals
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35. Is it a sin for a Christian to be rich? |
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No, it
isn’t. |
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A believer
who is rich in this present age sins if he is haughty, if he trusts in his
riches rather than in God, if he is not ready to give, and if he is not
willing to share, for Paul said to Timothy: “Command those who are rich in
this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches, but in
the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good,
that they be rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up
for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold
on eternal life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19 – NKJV). |
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A believer
who is rich in this present age commits a sin also if he exploits his
workers, if he gives himself over to the pleasures of life, if he takes
advantage of his social position in order to condemn or to kill other
believers. For the Word of God rebukes harshly those believers who behave in
this way, here is what it says: “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for
your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your
garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of
them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were
fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for [in] the last days. Behold, the
hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept
back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered
into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth,
and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye
have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you” (James 5:1-6) |