44 "Again the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Parable of the Pearl of Great Price
45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, 46 who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."
Matthew 13:44-45
27 Then Peter answered and said to Him, "See, we have left all and followed You... Matthew 19:27
12 Now the Lord had said to Abram, "Get out of your country. From your family And from your fathers house..." Genesis 12:1-2
God's word is dangerous without revelation and understanding. Right now my mind is too little to understand the above qoated verses. Will you help me understand please, why must one be losing everything for the sake of the kingdom of heaven? We're tought that poverty is not our potion in the body of Christ, was very glad to hear that since I grew up lacking. I know what poverty does to kids, it compromises them of their privileges, I'd do about anything (inline with God ofcause) to prevent my unborn kids from experiencing what I experienced when growing up.... Though Jesus now says in verse 24 of Matthew 19 ".... It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
Yet Abraham was rich enough to share he's wealth with Lot, and was approved by God.
Jacob was very wealthy too when leaving Laban, rich enough to share with Esau after he betrayed him by stealing he's blessings, yet approved by God.
Can you help me make sense of all these friends.
God bless you for time taken in seaching and writting back to me so I understand how does He mean these.
I think it is easy to understand more that we want to obey. Father Abraham comes from a nation of idol worshipers. G-d wanted Father Abraham to prove his faith and have Him alone as G-d. Today we go through that. Alcoholics/addicts hang out with people of their own kind, people just get saved but who they know/family/friends all associate with familiar spirits (go to psychics, believe �ALL PATHS� lead to god� and so on. As for me I am Jew� I was told if I was going to believe Y-shua was Messiah I was no longer part of my Mother�s family and no longer a Jew� not just by my family but my people and I was ex-communicated from my race�. He calls ALL OF US OUT TO FALLOW HIM!!!!! It should not be a shock He did it with Father Abraham!
Please don�t get confuse G-d�s financial blessing with obedience. I think may make that mistake�. Finances are only a part of G-d�s blessings�. Mane of my family are very rich� they are pore because she will at this point die and go to hell because she does not know Y-shua�. In America I am considered pore� in a 3rd world country, I am considered very rich�. I have a house, ends meet, I have to go on a diet�. Some places need food so bad they cannot fathom a diet!!!!!!
No matter what my Daddy (Y-shua) has made me rich in every way�. And the biggest way when I die I WILL BE WITH HIM!!!!!
Does He make some financially rich yes, He does! Are some great Christians very poor? YES THE ARE!!!! There are great Christians in 3rd world countries�. HA, EVEN HERE IN AMERICA!!!! DIRT POOR!!!! IT IS WHAT IT IS! IS G-OD FATHFUL AND TRUE? YES HE IS!!!!! IF YOU KNOW HIM YOU HAVE A MANTION AND GET TO WALK STREEST OF GOLD IF YOU DON�T WELL YOU BURN IN A FIRE!!!! I CALL THE FORRMER VERY, VERY RICH!!!!!!!!
The parables you referenced are not implying we must be poor to be a Christian. �Although people who have less treasure in the world are more likely to put their trust in God...they believe they are blessed with the possessions they do have while many rich people believe they have what they habpve because of their efforts, giving no glory or space to God.
In the parable of the hidden treasure and pearl of great price, the comparison is to someone who is searching for the ultimate prize, willing to do whatever it takes to purchase it. �We should be like that when seeking the kingdom of God, be willing to give up everything to serve God.
God calls people to the mission fields where they must give up their�"Luxurious" life style to go I to countries or cities and live in what Americans consider substandard housing. �Many missionaries rely on funding from a variety of churches to support them, living by faith that God will meet their financial needs through the churches which promise to �provide monthly support. �Other's may be called but will not give up their lifestyle to follow God's will.
******
Luke 18:18�And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?�
19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.�
20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.�
21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.�
22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing:sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.�
23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.�
24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!�
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
*****
This young man followed most of the 10 Commandments but he failed to follow the first...thou shalt have no other gods before me...if we truly love God, we will give up everything because in reality it already belongs to God.
******
Matthew 6:19�Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:�
20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:�
21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
******
God blesses those who obey Him...not always with earthly wealth...although I know many Christians who have been blessed because of their generosity. �And I know many Christians who are not wealthy but they out give many who have much more. �Is your trust in yourself or in God? �We are all one disaster from being dirt poor and fully reliant on God for our basic needs. �We have our jobs not because of how great or smart we are, but because God enabled us to have them...we have to keep that in mind or we get arrogant thinking it's all because of what we did.
*******
Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Psalms 37:21�The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again:�but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.
22 For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth;�and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord:�and he delighteth in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down:�for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;�yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken,�nor his seed begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lendeth;�and his seed is blessed.
Luke 6:38�Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
That's my favorite pic darling sis, I love your new look.
Thank you so much for time taken in writing back as promised, you really are amazing, you go all out in helping me. God will reward your efforts.
Reason I asked about those parables is not because I don't wanna let go of earthly material for heaven's sake. Neither do I confuse submitting to God as an act of obedience. I've had my share infact when I lost everything that was meaningful to me. I'd still let go if/when necessary cause there were lessons learned while under going this experience. Having life matters far more than having material.... However, lacking have its own price too that I didn't wanna overlook.
My question was inspired by Esau when selling he's birthright for a simple meal. And got bitter that Jacob stole he's blessings, when actually Jacob deserved those blessings. Being needy of food made Esau miss he's worth of being a first born, in verse32 Esau says "Look, I am about to die; so what is this birthright to me?" that was ignorance speaking and therefore was taken advantage of since he was in need of food anyway.
I then wondered on those above parables that I asked you about. If the church lacks, won't we end up making agreements with people serving in foreign altars just so they meet our current need, to a point we can't even think straight, we easily sell what's rightfully ours and tern to be bitter with time, when its too late to go back and rectify our error. This is where my question was coming from. How do we influence or have effect when we lack?
Thank you so much to both of you ladies for your input. Teach you went all out in helping me on this... Much appreciate darling sis.
You're not taken forgranted Mcubed. Thank you dear for sharing your insight on this!
