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[Flitzerbiest]

...would the founder of a religious movement which decried the corrupting influence of wealth and greed promise his followers a future in a city whose walls were made out of gemstones and whose streets were paved in pure gold?

[kwd111]

...would the founder of a religious movement which decried the corrupting influence of wealth and greed promise his followers a future in a city whose walls were made out of gemstones and whose streets were paved in pure gold?

IMO, because one and the other are not the same.  You nailed it when you said that wealth can have a corrupting influence and greed or love of money would be the root of it.  But it is quite possible to have the wealth but not the greed and not let the wealth have you.

For today, to help the needy, the suffering and the poor it would be necessary for one to have wealth but letting it be wealth with a purpose.  Many of our universities and hospitals were created with that understanding

In the time to come... a couple of thoughts of possibilities...

1)  In the time to come, with the tempter in the lake of fire (if it is an analogy - it would still mean that he is put away forever) temptation is no longer.  

2)  If gold is pavement and precious stones the foundation and both ares so common... would anybody want them anymore?  

[Lilly]

I agree with Ken.  I don't see that Jesus decried the corrupting influence of wealth, rather he decried corrupt men who put that wealth ahead of doing what's right.  Both Abraham and King David were wealthy men, but they weren't condemned as corrupt.  On the contrary they were both commended by God.

The rich young ruler who Jesus told to give his wealth away then come follow him, couldn't do it because he valued his earthly wealth more than the promise of heavenly wealth.  If wealth were truly the problem, why would Jesus tell him to give it to the poor?  Wouldn't that be corrupting the poor? 

Wealth is necessary and provides for people.  The problem lies in the hearts of men who horde wealth and use it for evil rather than good.

[SquirleyWurley]

I.e., Jesus wasn't a Marxist, nor a zealot

[Flitzerbiest]

I don't see that Jesus decried the corrupting influence of wealth, rather he decried corrupt men who put that wealth ahead of doing what's right. 

Silly me.  I just read the gospels instead of taking the time to assimilate the Evangelical party line on prosperity.

[SquirleyWurley]

Blessed are the poor, look to treasures in Heaven...

Yes there is a contrast, there.  Where are you going with this?

[Flitzerbiest]

Blessed are the poor, look to treasures in Heaven...

Yes there is a contrast, there.  Where are you going with this?

Toward seeing the contrast between Christians looking forward to "mansions of glory" and Jesus, who slept with his head on a rock and preached woe on the rich.

[SteveC]

...would the founder of a religious movement which decried the corrupting influence of wealth and greed promise his followers a future in a city whose walls were made out of gemstones and whose streets were paved in pure gold?

IMO, because one and the other are not the same.  You nailed it when you said that wealth can have a corrupting influence and greed or love of money would be the root of it.  But it is quite possible to have the wealth but not the greed and not let the wealth have you.

For today, to help the needy, the suffering and the poor it would be necessary for one to have wealth but letting it be wealth with a purpose.  Many of our universities and hospitals were created with that understanding

In the time to come... a couple of thoughts of possibilities...

1)  In the time to come, with the tempter in the lake of fire (if it is an analogy - it would still mean that he is put away forever) temptation is no longer.  

2)  If gold is pavement and precious stones the foundation and both ares so common... would anybody want them anymore?  

Seems silly that god would care about such issues. It seems that either Christians or god have a rather banal and sophomoric perspective on life and death.

[smoodock]

This reminds me of a joke I once heard. I forget a lot of it but a rich man was dying and told God he wanted to bring something with him. God told him that was not allowed, but the man persisted. God finally said—oh all right what is it you wish to bring. The man told him all his gold. God shrugged his shoulder and said okay but why you wish to bring asphalt with you! :-)

The moral is what we value here is not what is valued in the Kingdom. If it is there at all, it will be pavement beneath our feet or perhaps a city gate. Will cities have gates in the Kingdom? If we have spiritual bodies, would we need to open a gate to get into or leave the city? Perhaps, but if so, one could probably buy the material at the heavenly equivalent of Home Depot! Now where is the flyer? I think they are having a sale, and I heard mention of some awfully inexpensive pearly gates! :-)

[SteveC]

Blessed are the poor, look to treasures in Heaven...

Yes there is a contrast, there.  Where are you going with this?

Seems to me that unless somebody slices off a body part there's no contract with god. That's right my friend, no body parts, no contract, and when you get to heaven you'll see god standing at some rickety old gate with his fingers crossed behind his back, welcoming you to junkyard heaven.

[SquirleyWurley]

Blessed are the poor, look to treasures in Heaven...

Yes there is a contrast, there.  Where are you going with this?

Toward seeing the contrast between Christians looking forward to "mansions of glory" and Jesus, who slept with his head on a rock and preached woe on the rich.

Please specify.  Does it bother you If a Christian sleeps with his head on a rock preaching woe to the rich, suffering much in this world, looking forward to treasure in heaven?

[Kemay]

...would the founder of a religious movement which decried the corrupting influence of wealth and greed promise his followers a future in a city whose walls were made out of gemstones and whose streets were paved in pure gold?

Actually, did Jesus, in fact, ever make such promises? The visions of heaven as a palace of gold with gem-studded thrones and such, comes from books like Ezekiel and the Apocalypse of John (Revelation). I don't recall Jesus ever actually describing heaven in detail, and certainly not in terms of cities of gold and jewels.

[kwd111]

I don't see that Jesus decried the corrupting influence of wealth, rather he decried corrupt men who put that wealth ahead of doing what's right.

Silly me.  I just read the gospels instead of taking the time to assimilate the Evangelical party line on prosperity.

Broad brush strokes of unsupported statements aren't your style.

Deut 28 and 8 speak of God blessing people because of their obedience because of their love for God.

Is there a reason why you think Christians shouldn't prosper?  And do you own a nice home?  And a car?

[kwd111]

Blessed are the poor, look to treasures in Heaven...

Yes there is a contrast, there.  Where are you going with this?

Toward seeing the contrast between Christians looking forward to "mansions of glory" and Jesus, who slept with his head on a rock and preached woe on the rich.

Yes... a contrast.

Right after He said Luke 6:25" Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger."  KJV

Is there a point you are trying to make?

[SteveC]

Blessed are the poor, look to treasures in Heaven...

Yes there is a contrast, there.  Where are you going with this?

Toward seeing the contrast between Christians looking forward to "mansions of glory" and Jesus, who slept with his head on a rock and preached woe on the rich.

Yes... a contrast.

Right after He said Luke 6:25" Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger."  KJV

Is there a point you are trying to make?

I'd like to see some contrast between an idiotic perception of heaven and a mature perception of heaven in the gospels. Just when god and Jesus, who should know heaven well enough, have the opportunity to describe heaven, they fall prey to the juvenile tendency to describe heaven in terms of Earth.  It seems your gods perceptions are limited to the imaginations of man. I wonder why?

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