FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD THROUGH MATERIAL RICHES?

[Witness]

Jesus - The Way, the Truth, the Life

Chapter 87

"Only Jehovah God and his Son can receive someone into the heavenly Kingdom or the Paradise on earth under that Kingdom. We should diligently cultivate friendship with them by using what material riches we have in supporting Kingdom interests. Our everlasting future will thus be assured when gold, silver, and other material riches fail or perish."

This is saying we can buy, with material riches,  a friendship with God and Christ.  We can buy, with material riches, our way to eternal life. Do you believe this, JWs?

No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.  Matt 6:24

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Matt 19:21-26

Jesus didn't say give to an organization that is highly developed and ready to expand to twice its present size.    He said, give to the poor, to those in need.   You've been duped into believing that donating to the organization will secure your "everlasting future".  Does the Bible say anywhere that money is necessary to gain eternal life?  Perhaps, money is necessary to feed the dreams of men and their expanding organization.  Perhaps money is necessary to feed an idol that promises salvation.  Rom 1:25; Rev 13:1,4,8

Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income.   This too is meaningless.  Eccl 5:10

Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed.  1 Tim 6:17-19

Do not love the world nor the things in the world If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.  1 John 2:15-17

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”  Luke 16:14

Can we secure a friendship with the Father and Christ with material riches - money - when it is said...

For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.  1 Tim 6:10

 

 

To understand the parable of the  "Wasteful Steward", go to - 4womaninthewilderness blogspot, Pearl Doxsey

 

 

 

[Witness]

The WT publication continues: 

 Jesus also says that those who are faithful in caring for and using whatever riches or material things they have will be faithful in caring for matters of greater importance. “Therefore,” Jesus points out, “if you have not proved yourselves faithful in connection with the unrighteous riches, who will entrust you with what is true [such as Kingdom interests]?”—Luke 16:11.

Jesus is showing his disciples that much will be asked of them if they are to be received “into the everlasting dwelling places.” One cannot be a true servant of God and at the same time be a slave to unrighteous, material riches. 

If 8 million people are handing over material riches to one entity, who is it that is a slave to material riches?  It is the people who operate the entity, and who convince the 8 million people, that a “true servant of God” will do so, since the entity states their eternal lives depend…on the entity.  Although, the 8 million people have also become slaves to material riches, which are bound up in the entity that they believe will lead them to eternal life.

 This is idolatry.  Exod 23:13; Jonah 2:8; Ps 16:4; Acts 17:29; Rom 1:25

“They lift it upon the shoulder and carry it;
They set it in its place (in one’s mind and heart) and it stands there.
It does not move from its place.
Though one may cry to it, it cannot answer;
It cannot deliver him from his distress.  Isa 46:7

 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matt 11:28-30

A comment made a few years back...

The meaning of unrighteous riches can be seen in 1 Cor 4:8 –  ^“You are already full! You are already rich! You have reigned as kings without us—and indeed I could wish you did reign, that we also might reign with you!”

This 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.  Each anointed in God’s house owe the Master a debt.  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”. 

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

Jesus requires each servant of his house to give obedience to him only, not to one who thrives on “unrighteous riches”, who assumes the Master’s belongings are in his control.   John 14:23,15; 8:51; 15:10; 1 John 2:5

It is true that when one exercises power and authority over others, material, worldly wealth come along with it.  Ezek 16:14,15; Jer 2:20; Rev 2:21; 17:4; 18:3,7,12-14

But never did Jesus give the indication that material wealth could gain one advantage into the Kingdom. We know his entire message was to follow him, leaving behind anyone and anything, for his name’s sake.  By doing so, he promised those would receive “a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life”.  Matt 19:29

Matt 19:16-14; 18:16-24

Jesus’ parable of the steward in Luke 16:1-15 and the wicked slave in Matt 18:31-35 harmonize in giving a clear picture of the present day situation of undue authority over God’s house by the self-proposed “faithful and discreet slave”, assuming command through the use of tyrannical “unrighteous riches”. 

 

 

 

[Witness]

On 10/19/2019 at 9:48 AM, Witness said:

Matt 19:16-14; 18:16-24

Should read:  Matt 19:16-24

[Matthew9969]

Yep, build a billion dollar high security luxury compound, Beth Sarim part 2.

[Witness]

14 hours ago, Matthew9969 said:

Yep, build a billion dollar high security luxury compound, Beth Sarim part 2.

I really am amazed at the Wt leader’s take on this.  It’s as if Jesus Christ's atonement for our sins, means nothing. Heb 10:28,29  Our obedience to his teachings must means nothing. But what really must matter to Jesus (according to the GB), what really will seal the deal for receiving eternal life, is donating material riches toward “kingdom interests”; (meaning the organization), which will ‘assuredly’ secure our place in the Kingdom.

Jesus, who always warned of the snare of riches, would not take on a new agenda and bless the GB OR JWs  today, by writing one's name in the Book of Life for that one's pursuit or use of material riches.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not let all kinds of strange teachings lead you from the right way.”  Heb 13:8,9a

"A godly life brings huge profits to people who are content with what they have. ⁷ We didn’t bring anything into the world, and we can’t take anything out of it. ⁸ As long as we have food and clothes, we should be satisfied.

⁹ But people who want to get rich keep falling into temptation. They are trapped by many stupid and harmful desires which drown them in destruction and ruin. ¹⁰ Certainly, the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. Some people who have set their hearts on getting rich have wandered away from the Christian faith and have caused themselves a lot of grief.

¹¹ But you, man of God, must avoid these things. Pursue what God approves of: a godly life, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.  1 Tim 6:6-11

Earthly treasures/riches/”things”/ are not listed.