7/17 Wt. “Seeking Riches That Are True”

[Witness]

A few highlights:

 ^“Although Jesus does not explain why he calls riches “unrighteous,” the Bible makes clear that commercialism was not part of God’s purpose. Par 6

 Along with the political and religious elements, the greedy commercial system, represented by “the merchants” of Revelation 18:3, constitutes part of Satan’s world. Unlike the complete separation that God’s people maintain from politics and false religion,  most cannot separate themselves completely from the commercial part of Satan’s world. Par 2

Another way to gain friendship with Jehovah is by minimizing our involvement with the commercial world and using our circumstances to seek “true” riches. Par 12

“Our annual Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM) Growth Markets Summit, held on April 24th and 25th in New York City, featured a series of in-depth conversations on important themes and dynamics shaping the Growth Markets today. The event comprised 18 different sessions featuring over 40 leading CEOs, CIOs, policy makers, political scientists, industry experts, investment fund managers and senior Goldman Sachs professionals. We were honored to be joined by over 400 attendees representing over 275 organizations from 37 countries.”   2012 GROWTH MARKETS SUMMIT

http://www.goldmansachs.com/gsam/pdfs/growth-summit-2012/2012GMS_RECAP2.pdf

The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society were among the 400 attendees.

“An obvious way to prove ourselves faithful with our material things is by contributing financially to the worldwide preaching work that Jesus foretold would take place.  (Matt. 24:14) A young girl in India kept a small money box and gradually added coins, even giving up toys to do so. When the box was full, she handed the money over to be used for the preaching work. A brother in India who has a coconut farm contributed a large number of coconuts to the Malayalam remote translation office, reasoning that since the office needs to buy coconuts, his supplying them directly will help his contribution to go further than it would if he gave cash. That is practical wisdom. Likewise, brothers in Greece regularly contribute olive oil, cheese, and other foods for the Bethel family.” Par 8

Is it considered “practical wisdom” for the Watchtower to use another’s hard earned funds to support its commercial endeavors which are far from minimal? Although it is apparent that the Wt. is using another’s riches 'unrighteously', the “unrighteous riches” Jesus was referring to had no reference to commercialism or monetary donations made by such touching examples in paragraph 8.  This is conclusive when reading Matt 19:21-24,29; 6:19-21

Each anointed one has a spiritual debt to pay to his Master, Christ.  (1 Cor 12:1-11; Matt 13:8; Luke 17:10)  The Steward appointed over God’s household refuses to let his fellow slaves pay their debt, the return on the provisions they received.  This is the reality with the GB, who selfishly refuses to accept input from other anointed ones, thus this “wasteful steward” cannot be trusted with handling all provisions of God’s House.  Prov 15:22; 1 Cor 4:8; Mark 10:42-44

In the parable, the steward was cutting the debts owed to the Master, Jesus, using practical “earthly” wisdom to save his own soul, but he had no authority to do so. Thus, the steward’s wisdom is centered not on the Kingdom, as a son of light, but on acquiring power and authority over all in God’s House, as a “son of this system of things”, which the GB has successfully done.
 If this steward was to ‘make friends’ by sharing authority with all in the house, he would later be judged by his fellow servants, as faithful. John 20:23 

The Watchtower makes the comment,

“Although Jesus does not explain why he calls riches “unrighteous,” the Bible makes clear that commercialism was not part of God’s purpose.” Par 6

The attached article is written by an anointed one, who has been blessed with the spiritual understanding of "unrighteous riches".   If the Wt. doesn't 'get it', who are they serving, God or wealth?  Luke 16:13

Wasteful Steward - http://pearl-wastefulsteward.blogspot.com/

 

 

[JW Insider]

@Witness

OK. You made me look. I wanted to see if "my company" was listed there, too. And it was.

By "my company," I mean the company I retired from after 27 years. I've even attended the GSAM Summits in New York and elsewhere, not to pay attention to them, but just to provide a presence so our name could be among the list of hundreds of other financial institutions. We paid for the summit and sometimes sent substitutes rather than the fund asset managers, just because we needed our name listed among many other companies, and because our company managed over a trillion dollars in assets from some of those same companies on the list, especially their retirement accounts for example.

But I didn't really think I'd see the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society on the list. At the time, I suppose they were already planning to centralize all the excess funds from all the congregations up to their various branch headquarters, and then, in some cases, move all the excess branch money up to the central New York headquarters. In addition they were and are still in the midst of between 1 and 2 billion dollars worth of real estate sales online.

I know that it might look bad to some, but this is not an "unrighteous" thing. Remember that Jesus also said in an illustration:

(Matthew 25:27) 27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my coming I would have received it back with interest.

I know he wasn't talking about real money in the final application of the illustration, but in principle, Jesus does speak out against bankers.

[Evacuated]

22 hours ago, JW Insider said:

in principle, Jesus does speak out against bankers.

Has something been mispelt here? I've liked on the basis of what I think you mean.

Anyway, I would be concerned if the Society did not invest prudently a proportion of its assets. I would see otherwise as a negligent mismanagement of donated resources.

[JW Insider]

@Eoin Joyce Sorry about that. I meant "....Jesus does NOT speak out against bankers."

[Witness]

On 4/15/2017 at 6:46 AM, JW Insider said:

I know that it might look bad to some, but this is not an "unrighteous" thing. Remember that Jesus also said in an illustration:

(Matthew 25:27) 27 Well, then, you should have deposited my money with the bankers, and on my coming I would have received it back with interest.

I know he wasn't talking about real money in the final application of the illustration, but in principle, Jesus does (not) speak out against bankers.

Not unrighteous in the least?  The organization mingles with other secular commercial mega corporations but tells the sheep to guard themselves in commercial endeavors? 

From JWfacts.com –

“Though condemning the world's commercial system as part of Satan's system, the Watchtower Society has not held back from utilising it to the fullest, in the process becoming a multi-billion dollar organization. In 2010, the valuation of Watchtower real-estate in Brooklyn alone exceeded a billion dollars. By claiming religious or charity status, the billions earned over the last century have been largely tax free.

The Watchtower Society has used stocks, bonds and trusts as investment vehicles. One such trust was the H M Riley Trust, from the deceased estate of Henrietta Riley.

This trust trades in a wide spread of bonds and shares in companies such as Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Proctor & Gamble, Phillip Morris (one of the world's largest cigarette manufacturers) and Cardinal Health (who supply medical equipment including for blood transfusions.)

In 2007, Watchtower had an SEC filing for a $40 million dollar hedge fund through K2 STB Fund Ltd, located in the Cayman Islands. For a full description see watchtowerlies.org.

Shares have also been held in Rand, a supplier to the U.S. Department of Defence, as shown at this SEC filing as of 20th Feb 2015.”

Does the title “Jehovah’s organization” confirm it is “no part of the world”, when indeed it is thick in the middle of it, participating in the same activity as any large commercial entity?

And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”  John 2:16  (Greek meaning for merchandise - a place were trade is carried on, esp. a seaport, a mart, an emporium)

Did the early apostles build a “market” that relies on money?

“For we are not like the many who market God’s message for profit. On the contrary, we speak with sincerity in Christ, as from God and before God.”  2 Cor 2:17

That was their only focus, taught to them by Jesus.  It was the doctrine “which accords to godliness”, not “useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. (investments) From such withdraw yourself.”  1 Tim 6:5

The organization has created not only a literal commerce of trade, but a spiritual one, where any “buying and selling” must be done through the GB’s final words enforced by the elder body.  Luke 6:24-26; James 5:1

In Matt 25:24-27, the slave of Christ (anointed ones) is too afraid to speak up against the “banker” (GB), to use the talent received from Christ (which is truth), in the banker’s “marketplace”.  1 John 2:20,27; 1 Cor 4:1; Matt 25:14,15; Rev 3:18.  Upon his return, Jesus tells the fearful slave, “you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." Acts 1:2,8,9; Matt 28:19,20  The slave could have put aside his fear and given his “talent” (knowledge of truth) to the bankers in control of the spiritual commerce – the GB.  Zech 8:16; Eph 4:25   Instead, the slave kept the talent/truth buried “in the ground” – in his own heart.  Fear, accomplished by the threat of disfellowshiping.

“Stop making my house a house of merchandise”.  God’s “house” is the heart of each anointed one – his Temple. John 14:23; Eph 2:21; John 2:19-21; 2 Cor 3:3    The GB, the other anointed and all in the org have filled their heart with earthly treasures that must be nourished, pursued, attended to, leaving the deposit of spiritual truth to wither. Matt 6:19-21

2 Cor 6:16 - And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For youare the temple of the living God. As God has said:

“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”

“agreement” – “a putting together or joint deposit”  The Watchtower “idol” is the earthly, even spiritual treasure that takes precedence over the Holy Spirit and truth in an anointed one’s heart.  All JWs have done the same.

  “Therefore speak to them, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the multitude of his idols, that I may seize the house of Israel by their heart, because they are all estranged from Me by their idols.”’   Ezek 14:4,5

 

 

 

[Evacuated]

8 hours ago, Witness said:

the Watchtower Society has not held back from utilising it to the fullest

Hardly, otherwise there would be no activity in the preaching work and related matters.

Sensational though these snippets of information may appear to be, as presented here, they only seem to serve to reinforce evidence that the Society is following Jesus' direction recorded at Luke 16:9.

It seems to me that, in this matter the principle of Rom 14:14 applies, and that Paul's words at Romans 14:4 are appropriate (as they are for us all):

"Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for Jehovah can make him stand".
 

 

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

9 hours ago, Witness said:

The Watchtower Society has used stocks, bonds and trusts as investment vehicles. One such trust was the H M Riley Trust, from the deceased estate of Henrietta Riley.

This trust trades in a wide spread of bonds and shares in companies such as Exxon Mobil, Coca Cola, Proctor & Gamble, Phillip Morris (one of the world's largest cigarette manufacturers) and Cardinal Health (who supply medical equipment including for blood transfusions.)

In 2007, Watchtower had an SEC filing for a $40 million dollar hedge fund through K2 STB Fund Ltd, located in the Cayman Islands. For a full description see watchtowerlies.org.

.

When anyone makes money in the stock market ... that money DID NOT just fall out of the sky .... the 5% of people who GAMBLE in the stock market make money BECAUSE the money they make COMES FROM the 95% of people who gambled, and LOST.

  Everybody in the stock market, however.. is WILLING PARTICIPANT ... just like in a Lottery ... some win, and most lose .. BUT THERE ARE NO VICTIMS !  People voluntarily assume all kinds of risks.  The list is infinite!

I have no problem at all with the Society gambling with hundreds of millions of dollars in the Stock Market with contributed money ... making investments that may or may not turn out well ... everything in life is a gamble ... I knew at least 10 Witnesses personally, who were killed in automobile accidents ... yet I still drive ... so do you!

I just wish that we would not be disfellowshipped and have our families destroyed for buying a one dollar lottery ticket. 

... sigh ...

[Evacuated]

3 hours ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

I just wish that we would not be disfellowshipped and have our families destroyed for buying a one dollar lottery ticket. 

Only happens in LaLa Land.

[Witness]

8 hours ago, Eoin Joyce said:

Sensational though these snippets of information may appear to be, as presented here, they only seem to serve to reinforce evidence that the Society is following Jesus' direction recorded at Luke 16:9.

Watchtower - “Although Jesus does not explain why he calls riches “unrighteous,” (Matt 13:10-15) the Bible makes clear that commercialism was not part of God’s purpose.” Par 6

Matt 6:19-21; Luke 16:13; Matt 19:21; Luke 18:22; Mark 7:9-13

8 hours ago, Eoin Joyce said:

that, in this matter the principle of Rom 14:14 applies, and that Paul's words at Romans 14:4 are appropriate (as they are for us all)

 ^“But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.  Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

 But you, man of God,  flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness."  1 Tim 6:6-11