Christian Teachings on Wealth and Poverty

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Christianity teaches us that wealth is not what you need to enter heaven. To enter heaven you must be caring and share your riches with the poor and needy. As a result of Jesus' teachings, the early churches shared all they had to make sure no one was in need. Jesus taught us that the pursuing of wealth could lead you into temptations. He said that we will be judged not on the size of our bank balance, but on how we have helped those who are less fortunate. A well-known Christian teaching goes as follows: "It is harder for a rich man to go to heaven than it is for a camel to go through the eye of a needle". This means it is impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. So this quote is trying to say that by just being rich it is impossible to be secured a place in heaven. The reason being is that because rich people have an excess of money they might spend it on sinful things such as drugs, gambling and prostitution. "And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they have riches enter into the kingdom of God". Mark 10:23 Jesus is telling his disciples that by just being rich you will not enter heaven. You have to be caring and giving to enter heaven. This quote also backs up Jesus' teachings on wealth and poverty. "But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and are caught in the trap of many foolish and harmful desires that pull them down to ruin and destruction". Timothy 6:9-10 In Timothy's Gospel it tells us that if you are rich you are likely to fall into temptation by sins such as Drugs, gambling and prostitution. The following quote is attr... ... middle of paper ... ...ossessions. The Lord will not reward people that don't give up their possessions or do not help the poor. The reward if you do help the poor and give up possessions is to enter heaven. This is a Hadith saying that no one should leave someone starving: "He who eats and drinks whilst his brother goes hungry is not one of us". This Quote is saying that someone who does not help the poor is not worthy of being a Muslim. It also shows that all Muslims must help the poor. To summarise Islamic beliefs on wealth and poverty, I would say that all Muslims should regularly donate money to charity. If a Muslim does not do this he or she is not worth being a follower of the Islamic Religion. And that paying Zakah is not a choice you have to do it and if. You don't you will also be thought of, as not being a true Muslim.

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