“If you wish to be perfect, then go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and then you will have treasure in Heaven” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 19:21)

This particular Bible verse is quite appropriate for Black Friday, and yet not for the reason most of you might assume. You see, the most ancient manuscripts of this verse do not contain any mandate for giving away ALL of our money and becoming completely destitute ourselves (though I can attest that this is not at all a bad thing) — they merely encourage us to GIVE to the poor after relieving ourselves of our attachment to the things we already possess, as well as our attachment to the things we wish to posses in the future.

Now it IS much easier to accomplish this adjustment of attitude when you have less “stuff” (as I have both personally witnessed and personally experienced repeatedly over the last nine+ years of my life), AND YET it is NOT necessary to own nothing to enter the deep-seated state of Bliss that Jesus calls the “Kingdom of Heaven”.

It is merely necessary for you to use whatever you do own for the betterment of others.

So have a Peace-full Black Friday, my Friends — one filled with just as much Generosity as your yesterday was filled with Thanks.

“No one has ever become poor by giving.” ~ Anne Frank

“The world says: ‘You have needs — satisfy them. You have as much right as the rich and the mighty. Don’t hesitate to satisfy your needs; indeed, expand your needs and demand more.’ This is the worldly doctrine of today. And they believe that this is freedom. The result for the rich is isolation and suicide, for the poor, envy and murder.” ~ Fyodor Dostoevsky

 

 

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt