TBR Bible Study -- Matthew 6

I also think we agree on much more than we disagree. It's just I think money and possessions are one of the strongest challenges to faith in our modern, consumeristic culture.

You're correct. Thanks for catching that. It seems the NIV took some liberties with that wording. I'm seeing some version of "do not worry" or "do not be anxious" in the 7 different translations I've read so far.

Another good point! That's something I've admittedly not noticed before, and it takes me aback. But Jesus is good at that, especially when you/I think you've got him understood and pinned down. The receiving more family members can be understood (accurately or maybe inaccurately) as the broader family of faith and Jesus' comments about who his family was. But the statment about more homes and more fields is challenging, to say the least. I'll have to think on this and research some later and get back to you.

I will say though, I can see some taking this passage and using it to challenge urging people to send "faith seeds" of $100 and $1000 dollars to their ministry - the very thought of which upsets me. In my ministry when I was in the Atlanta area, we helped out several elderly couples who got into serious financial difficulties (one couple lost their home) because of giving such donations to television ministries.

But, that being said and my gut reaction aside, I need to wrestle with this passage some more.

I very much consider them co-laborers in my ministry. Their reward is multiple - the understanding that they are serving God, a peace from God, and reward in heaven hereafter. They do miss out on some of the "front-line" type reward - the experience of seeing others' lives changed as God uses you to meet their needs.

Rich does not automatically mean non-christian or bad steward. But there are many who are well-off who think of the needs of others only as an afterthought. "Wealth management" from a theological viewpoint should be not about retiring (very) comfortably, but about using wealth to sow love, peace, joy, and faith.

 

Thanks for your answers!

 

Please feel free. Always. I value your feedback a great deal.

To me (and I might be wrong here), 'material wealth' is a neutral, objective term. Regardless of how a person feels about how much they have, if they have a lot, they're still considered wealthy.

On the other hand, treasure is a subjective term. People can be treasured. Animals can be treasured. Toys can be treasured. There's an emotional attachment there that is missing from 'wealthy'.

Sure, but why was Scripture (and Christ in particular) biased against the rich and powerful? Was it just because they were rich and powerful, or was it because they tried to use their riches and power to serve themselves at the expense of others?

 

Agreed. Completely.