Just as a brief reminder: if you are a Christian and you tithe money to a church of any size instead of giving that money directly to the poor of your community, you have completely missed the point … AND I will say as well that if you are a preacher or a pastor or a reverend in a church of any size who is even one cent richer than the poorest member of your congregation, then you most certainly are NOT a true “Man (or Woman) of GOD” … Amen.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and yet have neglected the weightier matters of the law: namely, justice and mercy and faithfulness … For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me … Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these among you, so you did it for me.” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 23:23 & Matthew 25:35-40)

NOTE:  This post is in no way aimed only at Joel Osteen’s obscene opulence, but rather at ALL preachers & pastors & rabbis & reverends who still profess the gall to worship Jesus Christ while simultaneously serving the poor & hoarding material wealth.

P.S. And for those of you who would argue that Jesus himself was wealthy – and therefore was accepting of, if not an advocate for – the accumulation & maintenance of personal riches, please consider the following:

*The question is not whether or not Jesus was poor, but rather why some are so determined to say that he wasn’t — especially when doing so would show Jesus to be at least a partial hypocrite (see Matthew 19:21 + Mark 10:25 + the verses I mentioned in this original post, for starters) — and we all know how much Jesus clearly hated hypocrisy & how much he vehemently disliked hypocrites.

*“If you wish to be perfect, go, sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in Heaven; then come thereafter and follow me.” ~ Matthew 19:21

*Jesus did not have a lucrative occupation … The Greek word in Matthew for Jesus’ occupation has been translated into “carpenter”, but a more accurate translation would change the word to a “laborer”.

*Jesus and his disciples were poor, according to archaeological evidence: Eric Meyers, a professor of archaeology at Duke University and editor of the Oxford Encyclopedia of Archaeology in the Near East, says he has personally excavated the village of Nazareth where Jesus lived. He pointed out that the Bible says Jesus was so poor that he couldn’t afford his own tomb for his burial. “There is no way to speak of wealth in that context,” he says. “This is living at the margins of society, eking out an agricultural existence.”

*Wen Jesus was presented in the temple, his parents sacrificed two turtle doves which, according to the Book of Leviticus (Leviticus 12:2-8), was the sacrifice offered by poor people.

*When a scribe came to Jesus and declared his intentions to follow him, Jesus said to that man: “Foxes have dens to live in, and birds have nests, but I, the Son of Man, have no home of my own, not even a place to lay my head” (Matthew 8:20). Jesus did not have a home to call his own. As an itinerant preacher he probably depended on people like Lazarus and his family and well-to-do admirers to provide for him and his disciples.

*Why did Mary in her praise then say “He has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty.”

*Jesus accepted no tithes in the entire Bible.

*In Matthew 11:7-8, Jesus noted — “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?” But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.” … Neither John or Jesus dressed as those who show God’s blessings today with thousand dollar suits and shoes.

*Jesus made it quite clear that his Kingdom is “not of this world”.

*Check out Zechariah 9:9 as well –” Behold, your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.” Even his fulfilling prophecy as a king was in humility of his position. He came as a servant, not a king, but today we have those who want to have crowns recognized for their positions now. Quite the opposite in the Scripture, he who is exalted will be humbled. We are to follow Jesus’ pattern, yet some actually think if Jesus came today he’d have the best clothes, drive a Roll’s and eat steak every night.

*Jesus was buried in ANOTHER MAN’s TOMB. If he was rich or his family, they would have buried him in his own family tomb. But this again proves that He had no money for this. Neither did his family nor the apostles have the money to by such a burial, it was borrowed, actually donated to be exact.

* See Mark 6:32-44: (the miracle of the 5,000 fed), where we find Jesus asking the disciples to feed the hungry people who have sat all day listening to His teaching. They respond by thinking what they possess in money to have this ability. (v.37)[Two hundred pennyworth of bread] About twenty-eight dollars a fair amount but not in any way riches for thirteen people. The disciples had a common purse in which they carried their money, consisting of the donations of their friends and money to be given to the poor ( John 12:6; Matt 26:8-9; Luke 8:3), though they had this amount in their possession. Philip asked Jesus the question (John 6:7) –about them taking ALL that they had (twenty eight dollars) and spending it on a single meal?

*Jesus sent the disciples out without money (Mt. 10:9-12) “ Provide neither gold nor silver nor copper in your money belts, nor bag for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staffs; for a worker is worthy of his food. Now whatever city or town you enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and stay there till you go out.”

*Before Jesus is betrayed (Luke 22:35-36) And He said to them, “When I sent you WITHOUT MONEY bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?” So they said, “Nothing.” Then He said to them, “But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.” If the disciples were well to do they wouldn’t need to sell one of their two garments for a small sword. Jesus also reminded them of how they were sent out with nothing and God met their needs. This again proves they did not have wealth.

*The Temple tax which Peter paid For Jesus and himself did not come out of the pocket of their treasurer. Matt. 17:24- 27: “When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?” He said, “Yes.” V.27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for me and you.” If the disciples had money as Faith teachers claim Jesus would not have had Peter go fish for a coin, they would have already had it. This is one of the miracles we don’t see anyone copy today, despite their claims of “we can do all that Jesus did.”

*When Mary took a pound of very costly oil and (Jn.12) anointed the feet of Jesus, Judas Iscariot, said, “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denari and given to the poor?” This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” If all this money was available there would be no need to go out and find more – as he did in Luke 22:4-5: “So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money.” Mark 14:10-11: “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him.”

*Did not Jesus say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.” (Luke 6:20)

*See Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; “but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

* See Matthew 13:22-23: “Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

*See Matthew 10:38: “And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.”

*And see Mark 8:34-37: “When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? “Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? In other words the pursuit to be financially free and keep on gaining is not what we are to be focused on. Denying oneself may mean to give up a lot. It depends on how attached and attracted ones soul is to the comfortable things of life.

* And see Luke 12:15-21: And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.” Then He spoke a parable to them, about a rich man who was planning his future expansion, he sums it up in vs.21″So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Do we ever hear sermons on the TV of being rich toward God without money? I think not!

*And see Luke 14:33: “So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.” This again is a hyperbole. Give up your possessions for self use (sometimes completely divorcing oneself from them) so as not trusting in the world but God alone.

Filed under: My Favorite Verses by Scaughdt