Isaiah 25:4 KJVAAE
[4] For thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.
I was thinking of the poor, today. I remember how, when I was in seminary, and I wrote a treatise on how God favors the poor, a rich woman (who was my instructor), gave me a worse grade because she said it is equal, and God does not favor the poor. "Poor people can go to hell too," is what she said. While she said I was "not being equal," I think she herself was "not being equal," to Christ, when He says, "Blessed are the poor." (Luke 6).
She, being rich, wanted to favor her own ways, and her own sentiments, over the Bible.
This is the trap of the rich. It is one that I try to actively avoid, and remember that, when there is money involved, more is not necessarily better. It comes, with a cost!
Not all rich people are terrible people. But some needs to learn this verse:
Luke 6:20-26 KJVAAE
[20] And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said,
Blessed be ye poor: for yours is the kingdom of God.
[21] Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
[22] Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
[23] Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
[24] But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.
[25] Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
[26] Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.
I do not think all rich people who are rich now, will always be this way. Some, will give up their riches, for the kingdom of God. Giving to others, lifts this burden from the rich: those who are rich, need to give, or they will, in the afterlife, receive what they gave to the poor, in this life:
Luke 16:19-31 KJVAAE
[19] There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day:
[20] and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
[21] and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
[22] And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
[23] and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.
[24] And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
[25] But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.
[26] And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.
[27] Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father's house:
[28] for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.
[29] Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.
[30] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.
[31] And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
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