Christianity - faith of the unlearned and poor.

[Bayo Bankole]

Acts 4:13
One great mistery that runs through the Bible that puzzles me many times is why it is so dificult for the rich and those in comfortable possitions to believe the scritures and accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour.

As an African that is surrounded by so much miseries, hunger and poverty, it always amazes me when I hear that many people in the developed Countries do not believe in and do not wish to give their lives to Jesus. I am always thinking that more than anuone on earth, these people should appreciate, acknowledge and worship God more than anyone on earth. I always fee that if there are a group of people that should be resentful of God, it should be people in Africa and other underdeveloped and developing countries that do not and and have never enjoyed good government, and in some cases rest and peace. Some do not even know where the next meal or even clean water will be comming from.

But I discovered that the Disciples were able to tap into God's Grace because of their "unlearned and ignorant" state as noted by the nobles and the priviledged men of that time in Acts 4:13 - 16. This same state of mind have made many in the underdeveloped and developing Countries to shift their hearts and faith to God and The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. People that have no tangible mean of living and no social security will find it easy to live by faith in God. People that live in a Country that does not have the basic medical facilities will not find it too dificult to trust God for healing.

Even though I will agree that poverty and a humble background does not make a man to easily submit to Jesus, but a man that is well off and who has a Government that always moves to take care of his basic needs could easily lose sight of God and His Grace and start to look unto Governemnt instead of God. Afteral, Jesus declared that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God (Matt. 19:23-24).

The Disciples were being mocked for their unlearned and ignorant state but their faith and the power of God in them and through them were wothout doubt. No wonder Jesus decalared that "blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matt. 5:3).

May God help our hearts to always rest on Him and Him alone.

 

[MelechYisrael]

It is difficult to trust in something/someone you cannot physically associate with. Money, on the other hand is a different story. Who needs to trust in an invisible God to meet their needs when money does just that. It doesn't seem to matter how unhappy some people are; their thoughts cling to the lie that money affords them everything. Even peace and happiness. Another reason why many Christians fall as well. They obtain too much money and lose sight of their real Provider.

It seems that it isn't until they are in a desperate situation that God comes into play. People in poor countries...people living in poverty have no other way to look, but up.

I will take this life of "poverty" over riches any day. Psalm 37:16. I come from a wealthy family. Growing up I lived in fair luxury. Both my brothers are rolling in money, yet their lives depict such misery. Still, they cling to their riches. On my own...I have nothing. Yet I have seen God move in awesome ways. I have seen God provide in fantastic ways. In such abundance.

There's nothing wrong with having money. Or prospering financially. As long as those riches don't take priority over all else. Unfortunately, money seems to take precedence over even the Holy One Himself. Soon enough they will discover that riches are not forever. Proverbs 27:24

I am so grateful I have nothing. For by having nothing, I have everything.

 

[Janette]

Love misplaced...

Greek is one of the most expressive languages in the world. You can combine prefixes and suffixes to create unique words with very specific meanings.

In 1 Timothy 6:10 we are told:

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (KJV, bolded by me)

A very specific word, philarguria, is used for "love of money." Most literally translated, it means "being deep affectionate friends with silver."

It is a combination of two words: Phileo (Friendly/affectionate love of...) and Arguria (most literally silver, but also used to mean money or coinage.)

---

I emboldened "all" because I want people to see and understand that God is saying that this love of a specific type of material wealth, that is, money, is the root of not some, not most, but ALL evil. So if you thought Satan was the root of all evil, keep that verse in mind.

I emboldened faith because someone asked why it's hard for rich people to turn to the Lord. Well there is your answer: having phileo for money erodes faith. There *are* wealthy people in the world who are by no means lost to the Lord. But you will find if you are ever able to speak with them (I once worked a job where I spoke with several), that they are not caught up in their wealth and that many of them will say "it's not about the money" and a few of them live lives that can actually make you believe it.

I emboldened "themselves" because I think it's important to see where the responsibility for many of the sorrows generated by this money-love lies: with the people loving the money. Satan isn't blamed. Oh sure, he's probably standing there tempting you with that 10th serving of cash pie, but you have to accept the offer.

The use of phileo is also very important. God could have used agape (the other Greek word for love used in the NT). In fact, if you research agape and phileo, you'll see the former is used most (and in some very famous verses like "For God so loved (agape) the world..." ). Phileo is only used 25 times in the whole NT (compared to 262 for agape/agapeo). So when it is used, it's a switch from the "norm" and we should pay careful attention.

Perhaps, if one had a degree of agape for money, or the things money can be used to do, the people it could help....perhaps that would not impede faith. But the entire point of agape is that it is always selfless and unconditional. By contrast it is entirely possible to have a selfish type of phileo for someone or something.

 

[sister]

Poverty and Jesus

Yes Bayo,you are rt about Africa,the people should be dis couraged in many ways..but their faith and love for God is amazing!I myself am going to Africa hopefully next yr!!I love the African people and have such a burden in my heart for them!!Cant wait to go there and to spread the Love of Jesus,to the ones who dont know him and encourage ones that do!!Im sure it will change my life!!My Pastor and wife went there and it changed theirs!!So GBU and know you and your country are in my prayers and heart!!Love,Sister!

 

[SpiritLedEd]

I believe that God is shaking the nations' financial systems and that shaking is going to last for several years. Many peoples' lives have been dramatically altered. As I recall, when the U.S stock market tumbled this past spring, some six trillon dollars in paper wealth was wiped out in about a week.Many Christians were caught in the net, having been lured into wild credit card abuse and other evils in pursuit of "The American Dream" (which turned into a nightmare).

It is my prayer that this thread will be widely read in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East so that people will see that the pursuit of riches is indeed deadly.

SLE

 

[Boanerges]

Just some thoughts:

People are people.
One set of people is not generally more spiritual than another .
People react often react according to their circumstances.
People who have abundance have an unfortunate tendency to think they are self sufficient. They have their physical needs met and are blinded to their spiritual emptiness and the fact that every beat of their heart is a gift from God.
Others are what missionaries used to call "rice bowl Christians" and "convert" for it's benefits not realizing that God Himself is our great reward. True we are to "forget not His benefits" but when we seek them over Him even they may become an idol.
Even amongst God's church it has been said that "the most dangerous time for any Christian is when everything is going right" .
Sadly the first Adam gave us an inheritance. When He gave up God's lead in his life and his soul became his compass instead of the Holy Spirit he started a trend that still haunts us today.

 

[HoneyBare]

That really spoke to me Bo! So far, I have not once been in any danger of what you said about spiritual apathy. I have had one attack after the other. Just got over one. Will it ever end? Or maybe I don't want it to because of what you said. I'm always on my tip toes, reaching for God's help, or "putting something on a shelf" as it were, so that I give it into Father's hands and release it because I can't handle it anymore. We recently kicked my husband's 37-yr. old daughter out of our hse with her 3-yr old son. Had to be tough love because she'd just left her husband and brought all her troubles to us. But she was always screaming at us and causing great turmoil in our home. So she is now in a shelter with her son. Blaming it all on us. I had to give it up to God because it was something I could not handle anymore. I feel at peace right now, but always wondering what's around the corner. I have to stay in the Word and on my knees. Thanx for giving the insight you gave, as it made it all worth it and encouraged me.

 

[Boanerges]

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.


It is a genuine pleasure my sister! God works in us through every circumstance and as we are tried something wonderful happens; our faith blossoms and we start to genuinely bear fruit for His kingdom.
Satan is actually self defeating as the more he harasses us the closer we draw to our God.

1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Don't worry so much about the storms as they will eventually pass. Instead just purpose in your heart to know Him more every day; to keep Him at the center of every moment in your life; to see His hand moving in every situation and to walk in the Spirit with a yielded heart.
Many blessings in His Name,
your brother Larry.

 

[peeps]

The Disciples were being mocked for their unlearned and ignorant state but their faith and the power of God in them and through them were wothout doubt. No wonder Jesus decalared that "blessed are the poor in spirit" (Matt. 5:3).

May God help our hearts to always rest on Him and Him alone.

Amen, I agree, may God help our hearts every single day

 

[Bayo Bankole]

Thank you Sister. Africa, and indeed the unreached Nations of the world need your type and heart to reach unto them with the message of Love.

However, I still have passion to be praying for many in the developed world because thier founding fathers have done so much to bring the Gospel to my Country and me. Many of them died on the mission. It is only a pity that their present generattion prefer to shun the Gospel and chose a future of gloom and doom.

 

[Boanerges]

Saul (Paul) was an accomplished academic of his day. The Lord used him to write 2/3's of the entire New Testament and to spread the gospel as no other Apostle had done.
It depends on the heart.