tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post5972926055851688717..comments2023-04-26T08:41:33.463-04:00Comments on Daily Donna-Marie: A Dose of Inspiration: Poverty and ChristianityDonna-Marie Cooper O'Boylehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415118689761630639noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-60940482118226643682007-10-23T15:00:00.000-04:002007-10-23T15:00:00.000-04:00Donna, kudos to you for hosting this great discuss...Donna, kudos to you for hosting this great discussion. I didn't see it yesterday when it was happening, but I surely enjoyed reading it today! :)Sarah Reinhardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05682511477646768745noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-45927905559384609232007-10-23T08:11:00.000-04:002007-10-23T08:11:00.000-04:00Jesus told us to trust in God, through the story o...Jesus told us to trust in God, through the story of the lilies of the field. I think this is the kind of "poverty" that many of us need to embrace today, as misfortunes come our way. It isn't easy to learn that we are not "in control" (due to job loss, business failure, natural disaster). It isn't easy to have to give up a lifestyle we were accustomed to; but to offer that to God and trust in Him for what we need is - in my opinion - one of the ways that we live in a "spirit of poverty", not seeking poverty, but seeking to turn lovingly, patiently, and trustingly to God in all things.Simple Faith and Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09963791921016417189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-58392344392046367182007-10-23T02:53:00.000-04:002007-10-23T02:53:00.000-04:00Hi All,If I may, I'd like to post the comments I s...Hi All,<BR/>If I may, I'd like to post the comments I sent to Barb for her awesome answer on the poverty and riches debate. All you folks have supplied amazing answers and are obviously Spirit-filled people who know their Scripture. Other Christians I ask about poverty, have a muddled understanding. Its been a great debate, and I'll leave it now. Maybe I can drop by later and pose another simple question - like 'why pray to saints?"<BR/>Blessing to everyone from an Evangelical Scotsman in the UK,<BR/><BR/>James<BR/><BR/>Hi Barb,<BR/>James Hastings here, the UK Christian who posed the poverty question on Donna Marie's page. It is a question I have posted on many Christian blogs and yours is the only answer which is correct. <BR/>It is not money or wealth that are wrong, but the love of these or how we go about getting them or wanting them too much. It is about being good stewards and tithing, not hoarding. It is about understanding from where our wealth comes, (the Father), not believing we are the primary source.<BR/>Understand that, and you'll see it is perfectly possible to get into heaven wearing a Rolex watch.<BR/>Your husband is an awesome example of poor in Spirit. Of course, he could not buy soldier's dinners or help a homeless woman and her baby if he was materially poor. What a guy.<BR/>I'd refer you to a great article on being poor in Spirit at www.flameministries.org which is the home of the Catholic charismatic group, Flame Ministries in Australia. I am a big supporter of theirs, and I'm not even a Catholic.<BR/><BR/>Blessings<BR/><BR/>JamesAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-47431881602046223282007-10-22T23:14:00.000-04:002007-10-22T23:14:00.000-04:00Based on James' response, it seems like maybe he a...Based on James' response, it seems like maybe he already knows the answer to his question. <BR/><BR/>As a mother of six, with two adopted from the developing world (where the average annual family income is about $120USD); I can tell you that we knew that my husband and I felt confident that we would be able to financially provide for our Ethiopian children at a level far more secure than their first family was able. <BR/><BR/>What is more important, however, is our ability to provide security for their eternal souls. And our "developed" nation, that is a much less certain thing. We don't worry nearly as much about the poverty of their bodies as we do their souls now that they are here.<BR/><BR/>Poverty is everywhere. Sometimes we just need to look a little harder to see it.<BR/><BR/>JaneJane (a.k.a. patjrsmom)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04315726536529466575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-40911000703626585382007-10-22T20:32:00.000-04:002007-10-22T20:32:00.000-04:00I agree with Esther that each of us is called to l...I agree with Esther that each of us is called to live according to our station in life.<BR/><BR/>Jesus Christ did not condemn the possession of worldly goods, or even of great wealth; for He himself had rich friends. <BR/><BR/>Christ constantly pointed out the danger of riches, which, He says, are the thorns that choke up the good seed of the word (Matthew 13:22). Because of His poverty as well as of His constant journeying, necessitated by persecution, He could say: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests: but the son of man hath not where to lay his head" (Matthew 8:20).<BR/><BR/>While poverty has no intrinsic goodness, it is good only because it is useful to remove the obstacles which stand in the way of the pursuit of spiritual perfection.<BR/><BR/>As Christians, we are called to share our material goods with others.<BR/>In the acts of corporal mercy, to feed the hungry: "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat." Mt. 25:35, to give drink to the thirsty "...I was thirsty and you gave me to drink..." Mt. 25:35, to clothe the naked: "I was...naked and you clothed me..." Mt. 25:36, and to shelter the homeless: "...I was a stranger and you took me in..." Mt. 25:35.<BR/><BR/>As an Oblate with the Community of St. John, I made a promise of poverty, which basically focuses on poverty of spirit as Barb has described above. <BR/><BR/>Jesus tells us in the Eight Beatitudes: Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <BR/><BR/>I have witnessed in my lifetime Christians who have been extremely generous to others living in poverty because this is what the Lord has called us to do: Christians who have invited complete strangers into their homes to live for a period of time; Christians who have provided food, the clothing off their backs, and rent or house payments to the unemployed and the poor.<BR/><BR/>Our own small Community has raised thousands of dollars<BR/>for those in third world countries and have assisted those who were affected by the tsunami. Some in our Community have worked with Mother Teresa and have physically and spiritually assisted the poor.<BR/><BR/>Here in Kansas, the state where I live, Christians have taken time off from their own jobs to assist those who were affected by the tragedy in New Orleans.<BR/>Man here are involved in Habitat for humanity and others in the community build homes for them.<BR/><BR/>Poverty is not a good thing in itself, but when we give of what we have to others and care for their corporal and spiritual needs, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ.<BR/><BR/>God can bring good out of these situations of suffering and trial - that is the grace and the miracle that occurs.<BR/><BR/>Jesus never praised nor promoted wealth, but He did teach us how important it was to love one another.<BR/><BR/>Having a blog or three TV's per household or a brand new car are not necessities in this life, but food, clothing, and shelter are and should never be denied anyone.<BR/><BR/>God gives us each a free will. If there are those among us who waste our resources and do not give God his due by assisting others in this area, then they will have to answer to Him on judgement day.<BR/><BR/>I, for one, have difficulty understanding how some Hollywood celebrities can spend so much money on their animals(purchasing diamond collars, sending them to pet spas, feeding them gourmet food, etc,) when there are so many people starving in the world. I love animals, but people are much more important.<BR/><BR/>I hope you understand what I am trying to say. Christ commanded us to love others as we love ourselves. If everyone would follow this teaching, poverty in this world would be eradicated.<BR/><BR/>God bless you!Jean Heimannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15337901330501175087noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-39638869480480131472007-10-22T18:01:00.000-04:002007-10-22T18:01:00.000-04:00Hi Donna and all:I don't know that as Christians w...Hi Donna and all:<BR/><BR/>I don't know that as Christians we embrace poverty. Personally, I don't see it that way. I think we are called to be content in our own station in life, be it rich, poor or middle class.EC Gefrohhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06821950576683551325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-31438803803183117352007-10-22T16:57:00.000-04:002007-10-22T16:57:00.000-04:00Let's try that again!Let's try that again!<BR/><A HREF="http://sfomom.blogspot.com/2007/10/poverty-and-christianity.html" REL="nofollow"></A>Barb Szyszkiewiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00329184613713551475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1902597507647015589.post-66392224417285492872007-10-22T16:21:00.000-04:002007-10-22T16:21:00.000-04:00This deserved more attention than the space of a c...This deserved more attention than the space of a comment box would permit. My response is here:<BR/>a href=<"http://sfomom.blogspot.com/2007/10/poverty-and-christianity.html">/aBarb Szyszkiewiczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00329184613713551475noreply@blogger.com