The Love of Money

[CriticalStinker]

There's no sin in having money or desiring to earn more money.

The sin is when one starts to worship money, that's it.

In what context? A religious aspect or a societal one?

If we’re talking religion, my guess is a lot of people who are rich have made very questionably ethical choices to get there. Keep in mind, rich is different than wealthy.

If we’re talking about societal, most of us are big boys and girls. We know the rules, we have access to information.

[UltraBudgie]

Are there those who literally worship wealth... and have ritualized routine and practice in a perpetual act of sacrifice to the God of their faith?

In two pages of replies, yours is the only one that mentions the word "God". And in a context where you should have really used a lower-case 'G'.

But the word "money" appears 25 times.

Money demands attention, insists that it is what is necessary to provide what we need in life.

God is infinitely patient, allowing us all the leeway we need to find out how well that works.

[MalevolentTwitch]

In two pages of replies, yours is the only one that mentions the word "God". And in a context where you should have really used a lower-case 'G'.

But the word "money" appears 25 times.

Money demands attention, insists that it is what is necessary to provide what we need in life.

God is infinitely patient, allowing us all the leeway we need to find out how well that works.

There's a reason that I refuse to mention the Almighty in any fashion at all in regards to this thread...

[UltraBudgie]

There's a reason that I refuse to mention the Almighty in any fashion at all in regards to this thread...

Well there's a beautiful little Catch-22, because now I am curious and want to ask, but I will also respect your personal reasoning.

[CriticalStinker]

There's no sin in having money or desiring to earn more money.

The sin is when one starts to worship money, that's it.

I disagree. If we're talking about what is a sin in Christianity, part of that can occur by acquisition, not just worshiping.

[MalevolentTwitch]

Well there's a beautiful little Catch-22, because now I am curious and want to ask, but I will also respect your personal reasoning.

The premise of this thread already assumed that for the love of money, we have turned our gaze away from the Most High. As such we are already discussing profane and human matters such as idolatry and vain short sightedness. Since we are contemplating our own human flaws, there should be no need to invoke the name of our Creator or argue about the manner in which that name is invoked.

[UltraBudgie]

The premise of this thread already assumed that for the love of money, we have turned our gaze away from the Most High. As such we are already discussing profane and human matters such as idolatry and vain short sightedness. Since we are contemplating our own human flaws, there should be no need to invoke the name of our Creator or argue about the manner in which that name is invoked.

I see what you're saying, and I think I disagree, but I'll just leave it there and see if others have an opinion, too.

[DBCowboy]

The utility companies, the internet companies, the gas companies, the trash companies, the water companies, just take money.

I tried to pay them in, "You'll be happy" wishes, but it was a no-go.

[Bush Master]

Desire for material things always brings suffering.

It's ok to have things, but don't get too attached to them.

[rickymouse]

The problem is that religious organisations always want our money, so....

And that's as true today as it has been throughout the better part of recorded history.

Actually, it is not just churches that want our money, it seems everyone wants our money.  Especially the medocal and pharmaceudical industries.  Then there are the big corporations that want us to buy things we do not need, followed by the salespeople at the stores who try to talk us into buying things that are way more than we need.  I think Churches desire for our money to help others and maintain their churches on the local level is not that bad, 

The churches help programs are a lot more efficient than the help programs that the government has.  When the government gets involved, things get all messed up and expensive it seems.  I think the church help programs were much more effective for the money spent.  Vinnies and other programs that help people are pretty good, so is the Salivation army and some other projects.  But there are some churches that do not utilize the moneys collected well, my mother used to donate to some of those scam TV churches.