Jesus' Teachings of Poverty in Luke
Luke wrote to tell us of Jesus' opinions on possessions and poverty. People take for granted the possessions that they have, which causes them to live of the flesh instead of for Jesus. "Blessed are you poor;the reign of God is yours" (Luke 6:20). Jesus' says that the poor manifest a deep trust and hope in God, because that is all they have to live and depend on. Throughout Luke it is the poor who readily receive Christ and trustingly respond to his proclamation.
Rich peoples' possessions are an obstacle for their spiritual growth. Jesus notes that a lack of material possessions, being "poor", opens the heart to respond to God's gift of mercy and love happily. Some people have nothing but the reassurance that they are saved and get to spend an eternity with our Lord and savior. For "the characteristic aspect of the Lucan treatment of the excuses is their involving quality. Those invited are so entangled by, so preoccupied with their acquisitions (property and wife) that they are deaf to the call." In contrast, the poor, experiencing the Father's love and providential care (Luke 12:30), possess the Kingdom now.
God could care less about the things that we think have value. He only wants us to value and live for him. Most people suffering from poverty are full of greed and lust, just because you are poor doesn't mean that you are open and read to receive the kingdom. He was telling us that the "blessed" poor are those who permit the freedom of the spirit. Freedom form possessions can provide the freedom for God.
"No one can be my disciple if he does not renounce all his possessions"(Luke 14:33). We cannot have eternal joy if we do not stop living for the flesh. If we give up our worldly desires we can whole-heartedly follow Jesus. Possessions and riches can stunt spiritual growth. We cannot truly walk away from everything, but healthy balance of ourselves and Jesus is the way that we should live. Renunciation can make one free and in possession of self and God. We will not go to hell for having things, but when they keep us for God that is when we should reevaluate our lives.
I like the part about some poor people aren't saved into the Kingdom only the "blessed" are. Some poor people just want more and never turn to God for help. I really like your statement about what being poor really is. The reassurance part for someone people is very true. I really liked your paper.
ReplyDeleteLike you said, we don't always realize that jesus said that they poor were blessed. We just distance ourselves based on what is popular to every one else. We should realize that the poor should not be neglected but cared after.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the part when you said, "Jesus says that the poor manifest a deep trust and hope in God, because that is all they have to live and depend on." This means that the wealthy people in this world care more about their money and are just forgetting all about Christ.
ReplyDeleteI like your statement on how possessions are obstacles and that intertwines with my paper on how being rich can be a stumbling block.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that people always take their things for granted and they fail to realize what they do have. By doing that, they are not living for Jesus. The wealthy people get so caught up in money that they forget who truly gave them that wealth in the first place.
ReplyDeleteI like how you said that people take for granted the possessions that they have which causes them to live for the flesh and not for Jesus. Also how you said that rich people's possessions are obstacles in their spiritual growth, some people have nothing but the reassurance that they are saved and get to spend an eternity with our Lord and savior which is true. The poor have more than the rich because they have the Lord. You shouldn't be caught up in your possessions when you should be focusing on God.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jackie. The part you put about all the poor aren't saved, only the true believers are. Very few people put that thought to mind when they wrote. Yes, God loves the poor, but not all will go to heaven if they don't believe in and love Him.
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