Should Christians Be Poor?

I understand this is a very controversial subject to discuss. The opinions on the subject are often at loggerheads, and I have seen hot steaming debates stem from this issue. It is a big question to consider at a time where many pastors spend their sermons boasting about their designer watches and shoes, and the number of private jets they have. It is a question to consider at a time where many church congregants are more concerned about seeing what the pastor's wife's outfit than they are about understanding the sermon and its application to their lives.

Should christians be poor? I'll just share my opinion on the subject matter and I hope you share yours in the comments.

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When the issue of serving God and having money comes up, many people refer to Matthew 19 where Jesus told the rich man to sell all his possessions and follow him. This in the literal sense indicates that Jesus wanted the rich man to be poor, hence he desires that all his followers should be poor. I beg to differ.

The bible makes it clear that we cannot serve God and money (Luke 16:13); but the bible does not say we cannot have both God and money. The bible emphasizes the need for us to understand that money is not a god that we should serve; money is not the almighty; money cannot do all things. God is the only one we ought to serve; God is the only one who can do ALL things; God is the only one worth serving, and we can use our money to serve God.  

As Christians, we tend to believe that those who are well-of financially are battling hidden demons as a result of having so much money. That is an unhealthy attitude to money, and may be the reason many Christians are stuck financially. It may be the reason you are not experiencing that breakthrough you desire; it may be the reason many people are passing you by. By believing money is the root of evil, rather than the actual declaration that the love of money is the root of all evil, you are setting yourself up for stagnation and regression. The love of money refers to greed and blind sinful ambition. Money itself is not the problem. Your attitude towards it is.

Jesus said "seek ye first the kingdom of God and all other things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). In other words, let your heart yearn for the word of God; let your life be a depiction of the obedience of God; let God be the centre of your life, and everything else will be added unto you.

So no, as a Christian, you should not aim for poverty. Others may be starting at the bottom, but you don't have to start at the worst bottom of all. Your heavenly father own the heavens, the earth, and all that exists therein! So why are you living like he only owns a room in a house. I know many Christians would act differently if their earthly fathers owned an estate in a city. Well, you have a heavenly father who owns the whole earth; why aren't you taking your place and exercising your authority. Make God the center of your life. Make God the only important thing you consider with every breath. Everything else will be added unto you. XOXO