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**Qeiafib** · 03-04-2009, 08:39 AM

Well, it would shock me if it were the only thing I saw in the Church. But on the contrary there, as has been said, many other references.
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An interesting subject we can pull from this, is about the role of the wealthy in the Church. There is, for sure, a call for poverty, but at least physical, material poverty is not mandatory.

Most of the patriarchs of the OT considered abundance a blessing. In the NT, Our Lord clearly says to the "bad rich" that he *could* be saved as he was; his call for poverty was prompted because he said he wanted even more. Zacchaeus gave away a lot of his money but certainly not everything. Jesus could only have a proper tomb because the wealthy Joseph of Arimateia could provide it. I remember reading somewhere that in the first centuries the wealthy widows were the main sponsors of the Church.

The point is that the Church has material costs, and *high* material costs at that, that only the wealthy can pay.

One thing that impresses me a lot is that one of the very few times that Judas is given voice in the Gospel is to "protest" against spending luxurious fragrances with Jesus instead of giving to the poor and Jesus reproaches him. I think there is a place for wealthy and even a certain splendour in the Church, because God came to renew everything, even abundance.

Of course, it does not change the fact that there is a temptational aspect to wealthy. But there is also in food, sex, sleep, intelligence, beauty, etc. For all that I know, I, who am not wealthy, I am thankful to the Lord that there are wealthy people to support and sponsor the Church. I hope that they use this gift of abundance as the intelligent, the beautiful, the eloquent, the good singers, the good writers should use theirs: to God's glory more than to themselves. Said that, I am not surprised to see rich people indulge sometimes in the benefits of their gift, just like the intelligent, beautiful etc also do at times. As we do with our own gifts so many times. Let's pray for them and look at our sins to avoid falling prey to temptations.

03-04-2009, 08:39 AM	#20
Qeiafib Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 526 Senior Member	Well, it would shock me if it were the only thing I saw in the Church. But on the contrary there, as has been said, many other references. --- An interesting subject we can pull from this, is about the role of the wealthy in the Church. There is, for sure, a call for poverty, but at least physical, material poverty is not mandatory. Most of the patriarchs of the OT considered abundance a blessing. In the NT, Our Lord clearly says to the "bad rich" that he could be saved as he was; his call for poverty was prompted because he said he wanted even more. Zacchaeus gave away a lot of his money but certainly not everything. Jesus could only have a proper tomb because the wealthy Joseph of Arimateia could provide it. I remember reading somewhere that in the first centuries the wealthy widows were the main sponsors of the Church. The point is that the Church has material costs, and high material costs at that, that only the wealthy can pay. One thing that impresses me a lot is that one of the very few times that Judas is given voice in the Gospel is to "protest" against spending luxurious fragrances with Jesus instead of giving to the poor and Jesus reproaches him. I think there is a place for wealthy and even a certain splendour in the Church, because God came to renew everything, even abundance. Of course, it does not change the fact that there is a temptational aspect to wealthy. But there is also in food, sex, sleep, intelligence, beauty, etc. For all that I know, I, who am not wealthy, I am thankful to the Lord that there are wealthy people to support and sponsor the Church. I hope that they use this gift of abundance as the intelligent, the beautiful, the eloquent, the good singers, the good writers should use theirs: to God's glory more than to themselves. Said that, I am not surprised to see rich people indulge sometimes in the benefits of their gift, just like the intelligent, beautiful etc also do at times. As we do with our own gifts so many times. Let's pray for them and look at our sins to avoid falling prey to temptations.
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