It's not the money that makes the man...
"It's not the money that makes the man, the money is only an indicator of what kind of man he is"
This quote came direct from a conservative acquaintance of mine, on facebook, in the midst of a discussion about obnoxious CEO salaries versus proposed minimum wages.
I knew they felt this way. How else to explain the easy distain for the poor? But I've never actually seen one of them put it quite so obnoxiously.
This guy is also a hardcore evangelical type who runs a "come to Jesus" youtube channel. I'm guessing he subscribes to the prosperity doctrine.
I wonder how we are to properly educate the general public about these folks. That's my question. I have no illusions about changing *his* mind, but I don't think that most folks realise just how ridiculously indoctrinated these people really are.
How should I respond to this guy (OR, to his "friends" on facebook, or others who back his various positions in other topics)?
= new reply since forum marked as read
...and got the quotes below (among many others) from openbible.info. Like many things in the Bible, some of the passages seem to be inconsistent with one another and there is some ammunition for prosperity gospel as well as the more traditional interpretations. However I'd say that there is a clear message of generosity, caring for others, not putting money above all, etc.
Hebrews 13:5 ESV
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
1 Timothy 6:10 ESV
For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Matthew 6:24 ESV
No one can serve two masters, for 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 God and money.
Ecclesiastes 5:10 ESV
He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.
Matthew 6:19-21 ESV
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.
Luke 12:33-34 ESV
Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
1 Timothy 6:17-19 ESV
As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Matthew 6:31-33 ESV
Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Proverbs 22
ESV
The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
Proverbs 13:11 ESV
Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
Proverbs 13:22 ESV
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous.
1 Timothy 5:8 ESV
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Luke 16:11 ESV
If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?
Malachi 3:10 ESV
Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.
Acts 8:20 ESV
But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!”
Luke 21:1-4 ESV
Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Philippians 2:3-4 ESV
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Exodus 22:25 ESV
If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.
Ecclesiastes 10:19 ESV
Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything.
Luke 14:28 ESV
For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
Proverbs 30:8-9 ESV
Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?” or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God.
Proverbs 21:20 ESV
Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
Ezekiel 28:4 ESV
By your wisdom and your understanding you have made wealth for yourself, and have gathered gold and silver into your treasuries;
Proverbs 22:26-27 ESV
Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?
Luke 19:23 ESV
Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?
Luke 12:23-24 ESV
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
Isaiah 55:2 ESV
