I came from the generation of Baby Boomers which there are a couple of songs that come to mind, one was Love the One Your With by Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, and the other song was Get it While You Can by Janis Joplin. It’s getting what you can get now while you can get it (while it's available or who is available at the time). This is a different mentality as Christians that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31)
Once Moses found out his heritage was Hebrew, not Egyptian, he chose to be identified with the slaves rather than the riches of Egypt.
He (Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time Hebrews 11:25
In the movie Star Wars, when Luke Skywalker found out his father was a Jedi Knight, it changed his destiny from living with his uncle and aunt. Some of the changes were forced on him through their death. When I gave my life to Jesus, it changed my whole destiny. Some of the changes in my life in losing my husband to an early death have been forced on me. No one is in control of his/her own destiny on this earth to some degree. We all have to answer to a higher power. I would hope the higher power would be good and not evil in our current life on earth.
Once Moses found out his heritage was Hebrew, not Egyptian, he chose to be identified with the slaves rather than the riches of Egypt.
He (Moses) chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time Hebrews 11:25
In the movie Star Wars, when Luke Skywalker found out his father was a Jedi Knight, it changed his destiny from living with his uncle and aunt. Some of the changes were forced on him through their death. When I gave my life to Jesus, it changed my whole destiny. Some of the changes in my life in losing my husband to an early death have been forced on me. No one is in control of his/her own destiny on this earth to some degree. We all have to answer to a higher power. I would hope the higher power would be good and not evil in our current life on earth.
When I was in junior high they rezoned our school so a lot of the richer kids that came to our school put peer pressure on those of us who were middle class to go purchase our clothes at Roderick St. John’s store in Glendale. It changed my destiny as far as I lost some friends that I thought were my friends since I was not in the "in" crowd. I went through a period of peer pressure in trying to keep up with the Jones in life, but then I realized it was not worth it. For awhile, I tried to fit in and hang out with the rich kids also, but I found I was not comfortable in that group. Part of the problem was the constant "put down" nature of some of the kids. Not only did they put down other kids, but even in my trying to be friends with some of them, they did not know how to be a good friend. I know it was because of some of the abuse they were experiencing from their own parents who were constantly criticizing their children.
Even the poor and the midle class friends were trying to “fit” in with the persecution from the “in” crowd. My middle class parents were on a strict budget and my mother would only buy me a few outfits and I told her I was constantly ridiculed, because I did not have clothes from Glendale mall. What did I do? There was a kid who would walk on our bus who had chickens running around when he got on the bus, his hair was messy and his clothes were not nice and we all called him “Chicken Farmer.” I took my frustration out on him with the other kids on my bus. We tend to bully when we get bullied in life. Chicken Farmer ended up marrying my next door neighbor and he turned out to be a very sweet husband to her.
Next, I went through a period of rebellion wearing jeans with holes in them. Now, wearing jeans with holes in them is popular and you even buy them that way! I realized as a non-believer I could not live my life to please others in school. I wanted real love in my in life… not things. I did not want people to “accept me” in school because of what I wore and I did not like my parents throwing material things at me rather than quality time. It is relevant to my life now in that God has not called me to hang out with the “cool”/"in” crowd. I did not become a Christian to be cool! I don't have to hang out with the "popular" Christian single groups.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment 1 Timothy 6:17
Paul, stated to Timothy to “command” those who are rich not to be arrogant. I can picture myself going to Carmel and telling people, I command you not to be arrogant and trust in your riches. That will go over well like “hitting a person with a wet noodle.” God’s kingdom/the kingdom of heaven is not like earth. Important people in God’s kingdom are the least on the earth.
and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 1 Cor. 12:24
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Luke 7:38
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42
David prayed that God would give him neither poverty or riches, but keep him satisfied. Unfortunately, David in having everything he wanted handed on a silver platter as king developed problems with covetousness and so did Judas. I was listening to an evangelist on television Sunday about confessing for more things in life. I’m praying and confessing I want more of Jesus.
Even the poor and the midle class friends were trying to “fit” in with the persecution from the “in” crowd. My middle class parents were on a strict budget and my mother would only buy me a few outfits and I told her I was constantly ridiculed, because I did not have clothes from Glendale mall. What did I do? There was a kid who would walk on our bus who had chickens running around when he got on the bus, his hair was messy and his clothes were not nice and we all called him “Chicken Farmer.” I took my frustration out on him with the other kids on my bus. We tend to bully when we get bullied in life. Chicken Farmer ended up marrying my next door neighbor and he turned out to be a very sweet husband to her.
Next, I went through a period of rebellion wearing jeans with holes in them. Now, wearing jeans with holes in them is popular and you even buy them that way! I realized as a non-believer I could not live my life to please others in school. I wanted real love in my in life… not things. I did not want people to “accept me” in school because of what I wore and I did not like my parents throwing material things at me rather than quality time. It is relevant to my life now in that God has not called me to hang out with the “cool”/"in” crowd. I did not become a Christian to be cool! I don't have to hang out with the "popular" Christian single groups.
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment 1 Timothy 6:17
Paul, stated to Timothy to “command” those who are rich not to be arrogant. I can picture myself going to Carmel and telling people, I command you not to be arrogant and trust in your riches. That will go over well like “hitting a person with a wet noodle.” God’s kingdom/the kingdom of heaven is not like earth. Important people in God’s kingdom are the least on the earth.
and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 1 Cor. 12:24
I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." Luke 7:38
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward." Matthew 10:42
David prayed that God would give him neither poverty or riches, but keep him satisfied. Unfortunately, David in having everything he wanted handed on a silver platter as king developed problems with covetousness and so did Judas. I was listening to an evangelist on television Sunday about confessing for more things in life. I’m praying and confessing I want more of Jesus.
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Proverbs 30:8
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. John 13:1
Technically, most of the people in Carmel are not rich. It’s mostly two working professional parents. I consider rich is when you have your own jet, go in a limo with a bodyguard and buy blouses that cost $500 or more that is what really rich is. We are all a lot better off than any third world country. What is a blessing is to see how many Hollywood stars use their wealth to adopt other children, feed the hungry, and reach out to third world countries. All two working income families should take note of this. I was listening to a television minister who said that Sylvester Stallone Twittered him and that he said he tries to sow one kind deed a day.
I find the transference of inadequacies can also happen with the poor. There is a martyr spirit or a spirit of persecution where a person sees themselves as a victim. I’ve worked in the health care field in seeing Medicaid patients and some of them had a demanding, entitlement spirit. Part of the problem is when we see a person as a “number” rather than as an individual and sometimes in government positions the treatment is not the best of the indigent population. Many of those people are struggling to make ends meet so they start taking it out on others.
Government workers may not be paid top salaries or a have a cushioned job where their jobs are not based on performance. As a Christian, no matter what the treatment is like by others, we are to live under the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Not to give someone the third finger back when they give you the finger. Not to give a person ill treatment back when they treat you ill. Not to come into a store and bellyache because the cash register does not ring up the correct discounted price.
But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? James 2:6
A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly. Proverbs 18:23
Government workers may not be paid top salaries or a have a cushioned job where their jobs are not based on performance. As a Christian, no matter what the treatment is like by others, we are to live under the golden rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Not to give someone the third finger back when they give you the finger. Not to give a person ill treatment back when they treat you ill. Not to come into a store and bellyache because the cash register does not ring up the correct discounted price.
But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? James 2:6
A poor man pleads for mercy, but a rich man answers harshly. Proverbs 18:23
The church caters more to married couples because there are more financial awards and stability in having married people in the church. The married couples are the backbone of the body of Christ as far as the financial part, whereas the single’s are more draining. It really depends on the singles, because some singles have more time to volunteer their service to children’s ministry. If you get singles who are very self-centered, than you won’t get the volunteering like the church needs. I’ve also found that commitment and being single are words that don’t usually go together.
Married couples typically are busy with their families, but so can single parents who are trying to hold down career and raise a family on their own. I’ve been a single parent, married couple, and widow now so I know my limits of service in the church. Typically, I could volunteer more when I was married in the church and in outreach ministry. My husband volunteered his time in Sunday School for children and leading teen socials and I volunteered my time in helping out with preschoolers and doing worship for women’s Bible studies at church. I believe it’s easier to have more credibility when you are married. It talks about elders being married. We have seen with priests is the temptations for sexual sin in ministry.
An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Titus 1:6
Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 1 Timothy 3:2
What we have on earth as far as material things go is not what our life consists of and is not important. We can give our body to be burned, but if we don't have love it profits us nothing. Jesus gave the illustration of the rich man who had everything handed to him on a silver platter, but a poor man begged at his gates, and the rich man refused to help him. When they died, it did not fair well with the rich man. It's because the rich man neglected to help the poor man and probably others like him.
There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. Luke 16:19:25
Being rich does not consist of material wealth, it consists of spiritual wealth in being rich toward God. Having a rich relationship with God. I know in losing my husband, there has been an attack on my spirit from the grief of my soul. It zapped all the joy out of my life, because grief is the opposite of joy and the "joy of the Lord is my strength." David said in Psalm 23: "the Lord restoreth my soul." When our soul is prospering in God, than our health will prosper and things are added in our life, but it is from being rich spiritually towards God. Most people who have gone through an early death in life or extreme difficulties in childhood or in their adult life, their faith is attacked in the goodness and the love of God. There is no sorrow in the wealth that God gives us. It's when we are daily seeking the Lord of the things rather than the things.
The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. 3 John 1:2
It's also not letting life difficulties harden one's heart not to have faith in a loving God and in his goodness, even in negative circumstances of life. Keeping one's heart pure to the love of God. I believe that is what being pure in heart means. I find when people offend me, wrong me, don't do what they should do as a Christian to love me, that God wants me to pray for those people. God will take care of the offenses and the wrongs. He is wanting me to keep my heart pure before Him and not worry about the offenses of others. Jesus takes care of those offenses for me like he took care of Lazarus in the long run.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Matthew 5:8
I believe in using material wealth to make friends so that I can win unbelievers to heaven, to reach out to “rub elbows” with them for the gospel. That is one reason my husband and I organized work bowling socials/clubs, and invited many others to go boating and I still organize socials to meet others who are not Christians. My husband was involved in the home owners association for 11 years in our subdivision and lead Boy Scouts. We can make a difference in people's life, but it takes going outside our comfort zone of just volunteering for church, trying to be a man pleaser, and trying to be in "cool" Christian groups.
I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. Luke 16:9
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