Dear Wisdom,
Please help us to better understand the teachings of Jesus:
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through or steal.
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 3:19
This passage discourages the accumulation of wealth. Yet wealthy people have done much good with their money, such as foundations like Gates and Buffet. The Catholic Church is one of the more wealthy organizations on earth. Please explain this passage. Thank YOU!
Care to comment, Wisdom?
Answer
Jesus is trying to teach man to not just focus on human physical wealth and consider there is nothing more.
Look at how people admire them and are considered important. One could be the richest man on earth, but when they die, it has no value in the spiritual realm. A soul’s lesson is not based on gathering human wealth. The soul is seeking the greatest treasure of all life.
God placed this gift where man doesn’t think of looking because they look outside of themselves. Man finds God in their heart.
Jesus never said human wealth was evil.
He did not want humans to think a person can buy a place in heaven or God favors the wealthy. Churches promoted this belief for gathering money. There were people who came to Jesus claiming they wanted to be saved. Jesus realized they just wanted to “possess” it. Jesus was saying it is more valuable than anything on earth.
What people did not understand was the concept they already possessed it. It came with their birth of being human. All they had to do was connect with God and make God their “Captain” or be willing to be a follower. Man does not like to give up their status as being important and revered.
It is not that the wealth is evil. Man usually places the human trappings before God. It is to these people he told to give up their wealth because they valued God less.
Jesus tried to teach balance, but a lot of that message was edited out of the Bible.
It is true in today’s times as it has been throughout history.
Print the stories that hold the most drama.
Jesus was trying to instruct one to seek the Source of All Life and make this a priority before gathering human wealth.
*It is not wrong to have wealth, just do not put it before God.
Thank you so much, Wisdom, with love.
You are welcome our little vent.
An air vent helps circulate air. Sometimes vents help hot air escape or there are vents that can help warm or cool a building. They help adjust the temperature.
When one has God in their life, they have more control over their life, and bring balance when they let God circulate throughout their life.
Let God flow and be a part of every aspect of your life.
When one tries to stop life because they do not want to change, this goes against nature.
*Learn to celebrate all of life with God.
This is your true treasure.
