This is a subject that has been discussed by Christians..... well, I guess forever. Is it wrong to be wealthy ? Or is it bad to be wealthy ? According to the Bible, money or wealth is not the problem, it is the love of money1 Timothy 6:10 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 that is 
the problem - so basically if a person can handle the wealth without being consumed and controlled by it; there should be no problem. But therein, is the problem, it's almost impossible to have so much and not be controlled and consumed by it.
We can take the example of the rich young ruler in Luke 18:18-22 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, Honor 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. KJV, who said that he had obeyed all the commandments from the time he was a child until the time he was standing in the presence of Jesus talking to him; but Jesus told him he still lacked one thing - giving up his riches and follow Jesus. The rich young ruler had lived an exemplary life, but there was still a problem - the wealth came between him and God. No one can have two masters in their life Mat 6:24 - No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. KJV, they will finally; in the end, go with one or the other - God or wealth !
On the other hand, if one could work it out and put God first in their life like we all supposed to do (wealthy or not), wealth would not present a problem. But according to Jesus, wealth can always present a problem to the believer. Jesus said Mark 10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. KJV, it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. Jesus wasn't just making a witty comment when he said this, it was a warning to us; don't let the wealth and material things come before him !
The bottom line - we by nature can handle adversity, setbacks and trouble much better than we can handle success and blessedness. The latter mentioned seems to go to our heads and make us proud and arrogant. Two things that God is seriously displeased with in people. God resists the proud1 Peter 5:5 - Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. KJV; or rejects the proud heart, but he gives grace; or unmerited favor to the humble. Our nature is such; that success goes straight to our head, but adversity makes us humble. If a person can be wealthy, while still being humble; caring for their fellow man; put God first -- wealth will not present a problem.
All those horror stories about lottery winners should teach us something !
Bible
Franklin, Benjamin, 1706–1790: “A Bible in every home is the principle support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty.”
Greeley, Horace, 1811–1872: “It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.”
Henry, Patrick, 1736–1799: “There is a Book worth all other books which were ever printed.”
Lee, Robert E., 1807–1879: “The Bible is a book in comparison with which all others in my eyes are of minor importance, and which in all my perplexities and distresses has never failed to give me light and strength.”
Lincoln, Abraham, 1809–1865: “I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this book upon reason that you can and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man. I believe that the Bible is the best gift God has given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through the Book."
Read the Bible completely like a love letter, Consult it constantly like a road map, Study it carefully like a lesson book, and Obey it conscientiously like an army order.
Books of the Old Testament—39 Books of the New Testament—27 Total number of books—66 Chapters in the Old Testament—929 Chapters in the New Testament—260 Total number of chapters—1,189 Verses in the Old Testament—33, 214 Verses in the New Testament—7,959 Total number of verses—41,173 Words in the Old Testament (kjv)—593,393 Words in the New Testament—181,253 Total number of words—774,646
England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England. ~~ Victor Hugo
As Sir Walter Scott lay dying, he said to his friend and biographer, John Gibson Lockhart, “Read from the Book.” “Which book?” asked Lockhart. Scott replied, “There is but one.”
Know it in your mind.
Stow it in your heart.
Show it in your life.
Sow it in the world.
When I spoke to eight hundred students in a state university, I was informed that the Bible should not be mentioned in the school. The same afternoon I was invited to talk to about eight hundred men in the state penitentiary, and the warden asked me to give them the Bible truth. ~~ Albert E. Aldrich
A noted orator asked Charles Dickens for the most pathetic story in literature, and he said it was that of the Prodigal Son ([tip:Luke 15=11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.]). Samuel Coleridge was asked for the richest passage in literature, and he said it was [tip:Matthew 5:1–16=5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.]. Another asked Daniel Webster for the greatest legal digest, and he replied that it was the Sermon on the Mount. No one has equaled Moses for law, David for poetry, Isaiah for vision, Jesus for Good News, Peter for holy zeal, Paul for logic, or John’s statements of divine love.
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