biblical_prosperity missionary why_didn't_god_eradicate_all_the_sins_and_evils was answered most creatively by Toxic_Kisses. And it gave rise to this blathe. Interesting points! Thank you! I agree with you that suffering does bring us closer to God. The bible even tells us that we are "tested like Gold being purified in fire" to bring us to higher levels of spiritual_maturity. But it is possible to rejoice in the blessings of life that God gives as well! Speaking from personal experience, I would say that God is MORE into blessing us than making us suffer. I think the suffering is usually a result of our OWN decisions throughout life and God lets us reap what we sew. But that goes the other way too. I would like to clear up a common misconception regarding biblical_prosperity, since you mentioned it. Many people think that God despises wealth, I, too once thought that, however, The bible actually says that God makes people wealthy! (Deut 8:18). Plus, there are many Proverbs that provide principles on how to build and keep wealth. One being "Leave an inheritance for your children's children" and "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich." (Proverbs 10:22) Many times the bible instructs us how to gain prosperity, which properly translated is complete abundance, harmony and wholeness in every area of our lives (health, finances, relationships, etc.) not just money. Jesus says in John 10:10 that He came to give us an abundant life. He told us the parable_of_the_10_talents which is about investing principles and multiplication of resources. I could go on and on, maybe I will here: Biblical_Prosperity. So... How did this misconception become doctrine? Simple: A misunderstanding and misquotation of a bible verse became widespread. People inaccurately quote : "Money is the root of all evil." When the actual verse is 1 Timothy 6:10 "The LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil." Money is necessary and important, no one can do much without it. Money is not evil. It's when Money is worshipped instead of God that things start getting out of hand. I've done studies on this and this is the conclusion of what the bible says: Money is good, and necessary, but it is meant to be given away and shared, not hoarded. All of everything belongs to God anyway, and the better you use what He gives you, the more He will give you to use. 050111 ... missionary Here is the actual blathe I was trying to paste, but I pasted it in the wrong window... Bible Evidence For Prosperity * Jesus Christ "became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9) * God has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. (Psalm 35:27) * "The blessing of the Lord makes one rich." (Proverbs 10:22) * God is not selfish or stingy but "gives us richly all things to enjoy." (1 Timothy 6:17) * "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." (Psalm 33:5) Why did God create such abundance and give it to us unless it is His will for us to have it? "The earth He has given to the children of men." (Psalm 115:16) * Christians are joint heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:17) With Him God also freely gave us all things. (Romans 8:32) * We will reign (as kings) in life through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17) The rich rules over the poor (Proverbs 22:7) so it can not be God's will for His people to be poor. * God "gives (us) power to get wealth." (Deuteronomy 8:18) * "For all the promises of God in (Christ) are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us." (2 Corinthians 1:20) * God teaches us to profit. (Isaiah 48:17) * God gave us instructions on how to be prosperous and have good success. (Joshua 1:8 & Psalm 1:1-3) Why would He tell us how if it was not His will for us to prosper? * God desires that we prosper. (3 John 1:2) * You should have "all sufficiency in all things" so you can "have an abundance for every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8) * Christians have been called to freedom. (Galatians 5:13) Whom the Son of God sets free is free indeed. (John 8:36) If you do not have financial freedom you are not truly free. * Human (and even animal) parents desire the best for their children. Jesus said "how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things." (Matthew 7:11) Do you desire your children to lack anything good? Is God as good as you? * We are to ask the Father and receive that our joy may be full. (John 16:24) Being full equals abundance. * God loves a cheerful giver and most people need more than just what is necessary to really be one. (2 Corinthians 9:7) * He is the God of peace. Peace means "prosperity in every way" in both the Hebrew of the Old Testament and the Greek of the New Testament. "The chastisement for our peace was upon (Jesus Christ)." (Isaiah 53:5) * "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law" (Galatians 3:13) which includes poverty and lack. * The blessing of Abraham is supposed to come upon those who are in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:14) "The Lord blessed Abraham in all things." (Genesis 24:1) "(Abraham) was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold." (Genesis 13:2) * "God shows no partiality" (Acts 10:34) and He made several people in the Bible wealthy. * God says wisdom is the principal thing and commands us to get it. (Proverbs 4:7) Jesus has been made unto us wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:30) Riches and honor come with wisdom. (Proverbs 3:16 & 8:18) * Instructions are given that you may lack nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; James 1:4) * God "has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness." (2 Peter 1:3) * Jesus told us to pray that God's "will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10) Heaven is a place of abundance. 050111 ... shhh Then again, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:24) http://www.biblicalhebrew.com/nt/camelneedle.htm http://www.debunker.com/texts/needleye.html 050112 ... methinx Ah, but do you know what the eye of the needle is? 050112 ... shhh Implying that the eye of the needle is a gate in Jerusalem? "there is no evidence for such a gate." Like I said, http://www.biblicalhebrew.com/nt/camelneedle.htm and http://www.debunker.com/texts/needleye.html 050112 ... methinx People will believe anything they see in print, providing it proves thier point. 050112 ... shhh Exactly my point. 050113 ... missionary Excellent points, But what does it say right after that verse... Matthew 19:24-26 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Why would His disciples be astonished and ask "Who then can be saved?" unless they believed that most, if not all people were disqualified by this teaching? They knew that the Gospel Jesus preached truly set people free from every curse, including the curse of poverty, and so they were "astonished" that the very freedom Jesus gave made it impossible for them to go to heaven. Or, rather, about as likely as it is for a camel to walk through the eye of a needle... So that's when Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." In man's limited mind, we can be consumed by "limitations", but God sees no limits on what He can do, nor what we can do and thus makes all things possible... All things including camels walking through the eyes of needles, and all those made rich by the Teachings of Christ to have also enjoy riches in heaven. "For where a man's heart is, there his treasure is also." 050113 ... missionary The rich man's heart was obviously enslaved to his wealth in material possessions, so Jesus told him that the same requirement for ANYONE to get into heaven was true for this guy as well: Plant your heart in Heaven. Or rather, Plant Heaven in your heart. Oh wait... first read this, then read that again...It will make more sense. Here is the whole passage from Luke 18:18-30 Jesus Counsels the Rich Young Ruler Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, "Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"     So Jesus said to him, "Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. You know the commandments: "Do not commit adultery,' "Do not murder,' "Do not steal,' "Do not bear false witness,' "Honor your father and your mother."'     And he said, "All these things I have kept from my youth."     So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."     But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.     With God All Things Are Possible And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."     And those who heard it said, "Who then can be saved?"     But He said, "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."     Then Peter said, "See, we have left all and followed You."     So He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life." (Notice: "In this present time AND in the age to come...") 050113 what's it to you? who go blather from