Quote:
Originally Posted by good samaritan
I am not saying that I would tell people to default on their mortgage in order to give to God. Most people that are in bad financial situations are because of management not because of having to give to God. I can say I personally believe that probably 90% of those who struggle financially it is management issues. People have to have all the luxuries possible and if they got it they may put a dollar in the pan.
houses nicer than they can afford- $500-600rent vs. $800-1200+
cars nicer than they can afford- $2500 or less vs. $10,000 or more
internet - doing without it vs. $50mo.
satellite T.V. - doing without it vs. $50mo.
smart phones - doing without it vs. $75mo. per line
vacations - doing without it vs. $2,000 annually
I know I'm meddling now, but really I don't know why we call people poor that are able to afford these things. When the Bible refers to the widows and the fatherless I don't picture them watching a big screen with 100+ channels, but they were actually facing malnutrition and starvation. We say we don't have anything to eat when we run out of the foods we like in the fridge. Many say they shouldn't give ten percent to God, but if you looked at their expenses each mo. you would find that they spend far more than ten percent on things they want that is not necessary.
Would you all agree that where your treasures are there is were your heart will be also. Maybe there is some situations where people are truly poor and can't afford to give, but most in this nation just aren't willing to get out of their comfort zones.
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I agree with much of what you say here. We Americans strap ourselves with debt to uphold a certain lifestyle when with just a little patience we could have the same lifestyle and not be in so much debt. It's hard not to have a mortgage, but some of this other stuff we could buy it used for cash and still maintain a nice living. Part of our obsession with materialism causes us to have to send mom to work when she should be home with the kids. Ah but then we might have to have a 1200 SF home instead of and 1800 SF home! God forbid!
Now having said all of that, I know many pastors who would not like their sheep to hear this message of "downsizing" because it might result in Christians living on less income but less income might mean less tithes! And all of this correction we are dishing out here towards church embers on downsizing needs also to be addressed to some pastors who build fancy church buildings that strap the people of God with debt, all for their own egos. The latter is why many preachers do harp on tithing.