Posted on 04/29/2022 8:36:15 AM PDT by metmom
“‘Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you’” (Matthew 5:42).
Secular people also hold tightly to the concept that property rights are sacred. But such self-centered possessiveness is merely another symptom of humanity’s sinfulness. Even believers forget that whatever they have belongs to God and that they are simply stewards of their wealth.
We do have certain legal rights in most countries to manage property as we wish. But we must be willing to sacrifice those rights on the altar of Christian obedience and submission (cf. Rom. 12:1–2). Whenever someone wants to borrow something of ours, we ought to willingly allow him or her to do so. That person might well have a genuine need, which only we can meet.
The Lord implies here that His disciples should offer to give as soon as they sense a need, not waiting to be asked. And He is not referring to our grudgingly donating, but to generous giving that springs from a loving desire to help. Our attitude should be far more than a token charity that merely wants to salve an uneasy conscience.
Christ’s words do not intend to undercut civil justice, but to destroy human selfishness, which is sin and does not belong in the hearts of true Christians. In truth, the only persons who do not selfishly or vengefully cling to their property rights are those who have died to self (cf. Gal. 2:20). The faithful believer lives for Christ and if necessary surrenders all his or her rights and dies for Him (Rom. 14:8).
Ask Yourself
Again, since we cannot give away everything we have, how do we deal with the requirement of adhering to this Christian command while also using sound judgment, being good stewards of our God-given resources?
From Daily Readings from the Life of Christ, Vol. 1, John MacArthur. Copyright © 2008. Used by permission of Moody Publishers, Chicago, IL 60610, www.moodypublishers.com.
Studying God’s Word ping
Saw this on the main roll and couldn't ignore it.
Trash like this is why protestantism is such a fail. Any ol' jackass can go spouting BS like this, and his fellow sectarian jackasses will believe it, and worse, spread.it around.
Just grab a Bible and start blathering, like a malformed fool - what could go wrong?
This part “should offer to give as soon as they sense a need, not waiting to be asked” is the only thing I got of value from the article.
The remainder of it reads as someone preparing Christians to accept communism and give up all private property.
I willingly give the Lord all I have, and shepard it as He guides me.
Again, since we cannot give away everything we have, how do we deal with the requirement of adhering to this Christian command while also using sound judgment, being good stewards of our God-given resources?
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I agree and I am always willing to be charitable. However, I will state that FORCED CHARITY DOES NOT GLORIFY GOD.
Again, since we cannot give away everything we have, how do we deal with the requirement of adhering to this Christian command while also using sound judgment, being good stewards of our God-given resources?
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I agree and I am always willing to be charitable. However, I will state that FORCED CHARITY DOES NOT GLORIFY GOD.
The Bible says “thou shalt not steal.” Doesn’t that mean it’s okay for you to own stuff, and wrong for anyone to take it from you? The Good Samaritan owned a donkey and some money. He didn’t just give them away, but he did use them to help the injured man.
Believing in being able to own what I worked hard for and giving what I can, so I am not a hindrance to others (Paul tells us not to be a burden on others), is not self-centered possessiveness. It shows that I am being a good steward of what God has provided.
I get the points of this. They’re easy to miss, but the Holy Spirit provides discernment. Thanks to God.
do you come by such venom naturally, or did you have to work to get there?
Just be kept away from a Bible because you are not learned enough to understand it.
An apparition will come by soon to more fully explain GOD's plan.
This is a good TOPIC. I usually agree with Macarthur. I think I do in the main here. The problem with this topic in general is that I truly believe the commands in Matthew 6 ARE AN EXPOSITION OF THE LAW, just as Matthew 5 is. The “big picture” is that God is the creator, ruler, and sovereign of all. Thus in one sense, there is no such thing as “private property” as it all belongs to God..... AND it MUST be all given back to Him, if one is to truly be a Christian. To claim anything for my own is to ensconce myself in the seat of God, and “allow” Him to take “this, but not that.” There is a progressive realization of this, of course, but the bottom line is that if Jesus is Lord, then he is Lord of all my “stuff.” Nothing belongs to me an I may not claim it as so.
WITHIN THAT CONTEXT comes the command not to steal (nor to covet). This implies that I submit to God who may have placed property within the authority and stewardship of another. I may not make the decision that “you have enough” and therefore I am morally justified in taking it from you, either as an individual nor as a group... even if that group has magic “election dust” sprinkled on them. The law of God is very very clear that property not stolen nor fraudulently obtained is YOURS and I may not take it by force, no matter how many laws I pass.
Finally, I live in a world of lies, perversion, thievery, fraud, and reckless disregard for law. This rebellion against God (for so it is!) will be prosecuted by wicked men who come to power, and I must meekly submit, knowing I have a better inheritance. I must repeat to myself, WHENEVER, I am confronted by need, that “this is not mine to keep/use as I wish. It belongs to God and if He calls me to impoverish myself, or give to the point that it severely inconveniences me, I have to right to rely on “my private property.” There is no such thing.
That is my take on this, anyway
Sounds well balanced.
One thing about property, too, is that when God was assigning lots to the Israelites, He had a LOT to say about moving boundary markers.
So on one hand, God owns it all, yet there is the recognition that in this world, the places we have purchased are legally ours and not fair game for someone to come along and help themselves to.
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