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Expand Your Knowledge Base
Of course, we receive emails from individuals who are having a challenging time getting their minds around the mere possibility that God wants us all to be rich through the use of our individual gifts, talents and the dreams that are born within us to make a difference.
To answer the questions we received from many concerned individuals:
Why were Jesus and His disciples poor?
Why were His parents reduced to birthing Him in a dirty stable?
Did Jesus not say that it is difficult for a rich man to get into Heaven?
Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor and follow Him?
[The following answers condensed
from Becoming A Millionaire God's Way: by Dr. C. Thomas Anderson]
"Why was Jesus poor?" Actually, Jesus and his disciples were very rich. Jesus came from a very wealthy family. Mary and Joseph were both from the royal lineage of King David (Matt 1:1-17 and Luke 3:23-37) Also, Mary's cousin Elizabeth was married to Zacharias, a priest, so her family had to be of high social status. Jesus' first miracle was making wine from water. Only the rich had big weddings and luxuries to match, and Jesus was an invited guest before he had ever performed a miracle. His first miracle was an extravagance of making wine for personal enjoyment.
"Why were His parents reduced to birthing Him in a dirty stable?" He was born in a manger simply because there was NO ROOM at the inn. (Luke 2:7) There were more travelers than accommodations due to the census being taken. Shortly thereafter, when the Magi arrived, they were living in a house in Bethlehem. (Matt. 2:11) Poor people don't acquire a second house in another town. Also, the Magi brought expensive gifts, adding to the family's wealth.
"Why were His disciples poor?" In fact, they were prosperous business men. Four had fishing businesses with boats and nets. One was a tax collector. (Matt 4:18-22; 9:9) These men understood money and business. Only wealthy men are able to travel around without having to find a job to meet their financial needs. The group of followers traveling with Him grew to at least seventy men and women (Luke 8:1-13; 10:1; 23:49) necessitating substantial resources to feed and house them. They didn't doubt His ability to pay for enough food to feed the multitude: "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?" (Mark 6:37) Poor people don't ask that kind of question. There was so much money among them that Judas was assigned to keep the "money box" to (on another occasion) "buy what we need for the feast." (John 13:29) Poor? No.
"Didn't Jesus say that it is difficult for a rich man to get into Heaven? Why did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give it to the poor and follow Him?" (Luke 18:24-25) He was addressing someone who personified the attachment to money. Yes, Paul stated that "the love of money is the root of all evils; it is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith..." (1Tim 6:10) Some, not all. Jesus was speaking against being so attached to hoarding money that you cannot have compassion for others. He said it is difficult. He never said it is impossible. The lesson to the young ruler was an example in the extreme. In many other scriptures, this is tempered by many other admonishments, each directed at a particular impediment. He said: "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself. The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments." (Matt 22:37-40) Nowhere in there is the statement: "and the third law is that you must shun money and be poor." Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
And there's more... much, much more, and I invite you to simply investigate this subject further before you dismiss the importance of being all that you came here to be ... and embracing that this most certainly means getting definite about money. Do not be vague any longer about money, unless you want money to be vague in its response to you.
I am offering you a compilation of books that provide specific scripture references that have helped tremendously to give me permission to be all that I can be. All of these authors have helped me embrace a connection with God that supports the idea that we are designed to be rich in all areas of our lives. They have provided substantial explanations of the scriptures most often misinterpreted / misunderstood and used for personal attacks and scriptural warfare.
Click here to get as fully informed as you can, or go to: makeadifference.com/Scriptures
I wrote this Gift Book for any one feeling the pull in side to reach for the stars! I'm pleased to offer God Wants You To Be Rich for only $4.95 (regular price is $7.95) for our
PRE-PRODUCTION 40% DISCOUNT OFFER.
It's a book that can change your life, and it also makes a great gift for loved ones you'd like to see succeed, your team, business associates and anyone who you would like to start MasterMinding with. Just click here for more information or to read the entire gift book before buying it, just like you'd do in any book store.
Note: Special Pre-Production price expires Wednesday November 29 when we begin shipping.
Reaching out...
Mary Robinson Reynolds
Founder of Heart Productions & Publishing
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