Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    I would also add "power" for money, although the terms have similar
    results.
    
    
    Marc H.

re .0

Richard,

Those who love money, if they are Christian or not, are pursuing money as there
main goal in life. It takes up so much of their time that they likely don't
even recognise the fact. And yet for a Christian his or her main goal
should be the pursuit of everlasting life. If a Christian sees another brother
pursuing money, then he should mildly and tactfully tell him so. This way
the erring one might take note and apply self analysis to see if this is so.
He might ask himself "who comes first, God or my own material wealth?" or
"Does working overtime to pay for luxuries take precedence to spending
time with my family?". He can then correct his course, but the decision
has to be his own.  

Paul spoke of a Christan's life course as running a race in which those that 
finish the race would receive an incorruptible crown. This he showed in
contrast to the corruptible crown that this world has to offer. All races
have to be run according to the rules and so too for Christian's who are
running the race and as Paul put it "Run in such a way that YOU may attain it."
1 Cor 9:24 NWT. This would mean be obedient to Jesus' commands. Christians who 
do not run according to the rules but instead change course by engaging in the 
pursuit of material wealth, will receive the prize that they are pursuing that 
is an incorruptible crown and not a corruptible one. As Paul wrote in 
Phillippians 3:14 NWT "I am pursuing down toward the goal for the prize of 
the upward call of God by means of Christ Jesus." If you have seen the 100
metres in the Olympics you will see that the runners focus their eyes and
attention on the finishing tape not allowing anything even the vast crowd
to distract them.So too for Christian's they should have their eyes focused  
on the finish of their life course as a Christian minister and not allow 
themselves to be distracted, so as not to run un-gamely or competely change
course.

Just a few thoughts

Phil.

I love money.

Re .0

Richard,

I think you should also view 1 Tim 6:10 in context with veres 9 and 11.
In the NWT it reads "However, those who are determined to be rich fall
into temptation and a snare and many senseless desires, which plunge men 
into destruction and ruin. For the love of money is a root of all sorts
of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been
led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with
many pains. However, you, O man of God, flee from these things. But
pursue righteousness, godly devotion,faith, love, endurance, mildness
of temper."

Phil.

    
    
    I like money! I like what it says " My will be done." Money is control.
    
    
    David

    RE: .5
    
    What are you talking about?
    
    Marc H.

    I've heard it said that you can't buy love with money, but that if you
    have enough money you can rent it for awhile.
    
    *<{8*){***
    
    Richard

   Richard,

   It can rent sex, love is always free...  ;-)

   Love is still the best bargain in town.  It has no waste, easy to
   recycle, can be given away, and is not subject to value added tax.

   As far as money, it is the reality of civilization.  It is still true
   to render unto Ceasar what is his.  For that a little money doesn't
   hurt to have.

   Peace,
   Allison

    I'm a bit sleepy this a.m.  (I chose a clean kitchen over ample sleep
    last night.  Ah, the delights of parenthood.)
    
    I read this note's title as:
    
       Love of Mommy
    
    Can always use more of that! ;-)
    
    L
    

    Money and happiness.  The former can neither buy nor assure the latter.
    But having been poor, I can assure all and sundry that if it is my lot
    to be unhappy, I'd just as soon be rich and unhappy. 

    Mike

    From the Special Issue of Time magazine:  Beyond the year 2000 
    
    	"Protestantism played a subsidiary role in yet another revolution
    that challenged the church:  the emergence of capitalism.  By the 14th
    century the roots of modern banking could be found in northern Italy,
    where Florence's gold coin (the florin) and Venice's (the ducat)
    became, in effect, international currencies.  But banking and
    Catholicism were then uneasy partners:  the church condemned usury --
    defined then as any interest on loans -- in language harsher than
    bishops today use to denounce contraception."  (p. 20.)
    
    ...
    
    Karen

    The full treatment of "usury" in Christianity is quite interesting.
    As a student getting my MBA in Finance I looked in all sorts of books,
    including many critical of Catholicism.

    The story of "The Merchant of Venice" was quite common, but not only by
    Jews as lenders.  Basically, there was no law limiting the penalty for
    failure to repay a loan.  All loans involved the threat of physical
    harm.
    
    The prohibition on lending was really a protection for the borrower.

    The lack of financial structure of the period prior to the development
    of the Venetian banks was really, really abysmal.

    As my fathe rused to say.... " I'd rather be healthy and rich than
    sick and poor anyday!"
    
    Marc H.

I'd say that love of money is pride.  Previous to using money, bartering was 
the normal method od doing business.  A bricklayer might build a wall for a 
plumber in exchange for installing a toilet.  The difficulty is that if the
plumber doesn't need a wall built, the bricklayer may still need the toilet.

Money is simply a universal bartering tool.  Instead of the bricklayer 
building a wall for the baker who caters the wedding for the daughter of the 
electricial who rewired the addition for the plumber who then installs the 
toilet, a common denominator is established that is traded directly for all 
transactions, but the idea is still bartering the fruits of one person's skill 
for another.

For the rich or the poor, loving money is to focus on themselves, either what 
they have done, or what they wish they could do.  It is a very easy trap for 
both rich and poor.  Being too poor, it is very easy to focus on where your 
next meal will come from, where you will sleep, how you will get medical care.
Being too rich, it is very easy to focus on becoming even richer, on what you 
can do with all they money you've amassed, with removing money form others so 
you will have more.

So to love money is to either love one's own skills, or envy those of another.
The focus is shifted away from God and therein lies the road to evil.

The early church was financially communistic.  Everyone gave their all to the 
community, so that everyone could live in relative comfort, away from the 
stress of being too poor or too rich.

Peace,

Jim

	Is one a happier, healthier, better person for having more money?

	Proverbs 17:1 Today's English version reads "Better to eat a
	dry crust of bread with peace of mind than have a banquet in 
	a house full of trouble."

	Poor people can enjoy happy, healthy and fulfilling lives without
	having the added burden of striving for money. And yet the world
	paints a picture that the need for monetary gain is the all important
	thing. Even above moral principles and love of God. The world
	says "Greed is healthy".

	In today's soceity money is important, it brings in the groceries,
	it can also be used to God's glory by helping to pay for the
	materials needed for printing literature that helps direct 
	people to God's word. However, many have got their priorities
	wrong. Pursuit of money comes before everything, their love of
	God,own family and neighbour.

	Christians are commanded to love God first and secondly their
	neighbour as well as having to love their own family. Money 
	should be a means to an end, ie supporting ones family in a 
	material way (As Jim said in .15 money is a bartering tool). 
	However, for a family head it should not take preferance to the
	families spiritual need. By putting the pursuit of money above
	the pursuit of "righteousness, godly devotion,faith, love, 
	endurance, mildness of temper" Christians "have stabbed 
	themselves all over with many pains." 1 Tim 6:11 NWT.


	Phil.