Christian Teachings on Wealth and Poverty Essay - 1838 Words

Christians believe that someone with wealth has the ability to influence the world for the good and for the bad. This would suggest that, for some people wealth is not a bad thing, as it could be used to help more of Gods children to become closer to God. However, Christians do also teach that money can only be gained in moral and lawful ways, and that the money the gain is a gift from God and is therefore it is intended to be a force for good in the world, not evil. Christians also teach that if people should have the wrong attitude towards their wealth then it can lead people away from God, which means that one would have to be careful with his money. Jesus Parable of the Sheep and Goats†¦show more content†¦Jesus Golden Rule states that you should, Do unto others as you would have them do to you. This shows us that Jesus believed in, and taught that you should help those less fortunate than you and that in the end they will repay you. Another parable that Jesus taught was that of the Good Samaritan, a popular story in which a man helped a man who was supposed to be his enemy, after he had been badly beaten. Jesus taught that you should love and help your neighbour, and that this means it is sometimes necessary to share your wealth with those less fortunate than you. There are also teachings in the Old Testament about how people should treat the poor. In the book of John 3:17-18, John says that we should not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth. John was saying that it is not enough to simply talk about helping the poor; one must actively try to change the situation by using your wealth for good. Islam teaches that wealth is something given by God and that it is therefore not up to the individual to decide what to do with it. It is also, therefore, something to be shared and which should benefit everyone. Islam teaches that wealth should be shared, that it is commanded by God and that the wealth should be given as part of the Five Pillars, namely Zakah. Zakah is translated form Arabic and means purification, this means thatShow MoreRelatedChristian Teachings on Poverty and Wealth Essay2189 Words   |  9 PagesChristian Teachings on Poverty and Wealth Ever since the beginning of the Christian faith, poverty and wealth have been a big issue. Before Jesus was born, the rich would use religion to keep the poor away from them. The wealthy thought their riches were a blessing from God and that their faith and dedication was a reason for God bestowing them with wealth. They believed that the poor were not true followers of God and therefore suffered with poverty. They thought thatRead MoreEssay about Christian Teachings on Wealth and Poverty702 Words   |  3 Pages wealth is not what you need to enter heaven. To enter heaven you must be caring and share your riches with the poor and needy. 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