A SPECIAL EDITION OF THE SHEPHERDS WITHOUT BORDERS LIGHTHOUSE BUGLE MAGAZINE !!! MAY 1, 2012

The Early Church Perspective About Amassing Wealth Acts 2:44/45 (NIV) - “All the Believers [Christians] were together and had everything in common. (45) Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.”

Now... this is important. We MUST DEFINE what we mean by “RICH.” In Matthew 19:23/24 there is this context to consider: Matthew 19:18-22 (NIV) - “'Which ones?' the man inquired. Jesus replied, ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, (19) honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ (20) 'All these I have kept,' the young man said. 'What do I still lack?' (21) Jesus answered, 'If you want to be perfect [a true follower of Christ and His teachings], go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven. Then come, FOLLOW Me.' (22) When the young man heard this, HE WENT AWAY SAD, because he had great wealth.”

Verse 22 shows us the power wealth has to chain us away from Jesus! Faith is something wealthy people do NOT want to live by.... not when everything in their lives seems so fine and under their control through means of money!

The last part of Matthew 19:22 is key.

The young rich man was SAD. Why? Because he had great wealth! The rich man was NOT WILLING to PART with his wealth. Why? Because his wealth brought him a sense of security (which is deceptive), where FAITH was NOT NEEDED to live life... yet FAITH tends to be common among poor and hurting Christian people, since they often have no consistent human means for CONTROL (regarding self-security and basic life needs).

1st Timothy 5:5/6 (NIV) - “The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope [as FAITH to TRUST/BELIVE] in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives!”