Perfection – Giving
Here are the Bible Verses to Support this Claim
1) Perfection
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” (Matthew 19:21, KJV)
2) Percentage
“And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.” (Mark 12:41 – 44, NASB)
Conclusion
Is it Practical?
This is a Command toward ‘Perfection’. When we analyze our Giving based on the ‘Percentage of all we own’ (our ‘net worth’ in cash, bank balance or property) , we realize that ‘we ain’t giving too much either’.
This Measure is ‘Fair’ because ‘only then there is no advantage/disadvantage in regards to Giving’ as the ‘Percentage Count’ eliminates the ‘seeming unfairness’ (which is ‘fair-relatively speaking’):
“… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Luke 12:48, NASB)
“”In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” – apostle Paul (Acts of the Apostles, 20:35, NASB)
There are modern ways to Fulfill the Command above without Jeopardizing one’s financial security.
For example, it is well known that Bill Gates has pledged almost all of his wealth to Charity (a clever way to do it as it only happens after he dies – putting him in no immediate financial risk due to the modern financial system allowing this to happen after his death too).
Also, if we are married, our wealth also belongs to our spouse and it is best to ‘pass it on’ after the ‘death of the spouse’ to the ‘children’ or charity combined if there is a surplus.
Giving a financial security for children (if one has it) may be better if the kids are poor too (i.e. unable to make their own wealth, as the Verse above may classify them as ‘poor’ as well!) instead of donating all to charity.
So, it’s not a black and white answer and as you see, there are quite a few ways to do it without sacrificing your financial security.
Peace to you
Unsung and Unknown Heroes of Faith
A True Medical Hero in Image. So, are there heroes of faith likewise in ministry?
Firstly, please note that the “medical discoverer (in image) never charged a patient” but the ‘others using his discovery’ continue not just charging their patients but charging exorbitantly ‘as though they discovered it in the first place’.
I often found or read of this same attitude in discoverers or givers like that (e. g. Tesla too). The others copy and commercialize heavily what ‘they gave away freely’.
Things are not much apart in the Religious Context as well where in First Christianity Lord Jesus Christ Commanded His Best-First 70 missionaries to ‘not take any money at all’ but may ‘stay in a house which received them taking food there’ (allowed) and even Commanded that whenever His Gifts of “Healings or Demonic Deliverance is Done”, it must be Done “Free of Charge” (hence no offering collections should be undertaken during those church rallies if we truly Honor these Spiritual Gifts He has given, right?)
“Bible” Verses:
“Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road.” – Lord Jesus Christ to the Earliest 70 Missionaries (Luke 10:4, NKJV)
“Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.” – Lord Jesus Christ (Matthew 10:8, NASB)
Conclusion
‘God’s Gifts, God’s Rules if you claim that your gifts come from God’
No Inspired Author of the Word of God puts it better than the Selfless Anointed Apostle Paul regarding this Topic as he clearly Reveals the Truth of the ‘higher way’ (of doing Ministry for “Free” whilst working as he didn’t quit his secular job as a tentmaker claiming the full time excuse, Acts 18:3) vs the ‘lower way’ (of taking “wages/money as Salary” for preaching the Gospel or doing His Ministry Work). Please don’t be angry with me for Speaking this Truth as it is not my words nor my opinion but God’s Word in Verses below (so, please be careful of your vain words lest you find yourself Fighting God Himself), to quote:
“… 5Do we not have a right to take along a believing wife, even as the rest of the apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? 6Or do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? … 8I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? Or does not the Law also say these things? … 11If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you? 12If others share the right over you, do we not more? Nevertheless, we did not use this right, but we endure all things so that we will cause no hindrance to the gospel of Christ… 14So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.15But I have used none of these things. And I am not writing these things so that it will be done so in my case; for it would be better for me to die than have any man make my boast an empty one. 16For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for I am under compulsion; for woe is me if I do not preach the gospel. 17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have a stewardship entrusted to me. 18What then is my reward? That, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel…” – The Blessed Apostle St. Paul to All the Gentiles (1 Corinthians 9:5 – 6, 8, 11 – 12, 14 – 18, NASB)
Never think that any ministry is smaller than others or another is greater because of numbers. Why? God Judges and Measures Relatively and in Percentages to be Fair to All: remember the poor widow with 2 coins who gave more than all as Christ Declared (Luke 21:1 – 4)? Also Christ Said that when ‘more is given, more is required’ implying for example that when people support you more for ministry work, the output needs to be more (a relative measure is inherent implying equality if the support is less likewise and so no one is at any disadvantage, Luke 12:48).
Such ones like apostle Paul who go the ‘higher way’ of ministry as Described often Gain some Spiritual Gifts above the Rest, to quote in the remarkable life of the following recent Christian who also underwent his ministry also likewise along the lines of these Commands of Perfection by Lord Jesus Christ (“Verses” quoted above), to quote:
“… “When suffering from hunger and thirst, I used to complain, and to ask why the Lord did not provide. He had told me not to take any money with me. If I had taken money I could have bought what I needed… Again before the fast, I was sometimes tempted to give up the life of a sadhu with its hardships, to go back to the luxury of my father’s house, to get married and live in comfort. Could I not be a good Christian and live a life of communion with God there also? But then I saw that, though it was no sin for others to live in comfort and have money and home, God’s call for me was different; and the gift of Ecstasy which he had given me is better than any home. Here I find wonderful joys which transcend all others. My real marriage is with Christ. I do not say that marriage is not good for others. If I am already bound to Christ, how can I marry another?” … ” – the Blessed Sadhu Sundar Singh (Pages 23 – 24, Chapter I: The Man and His Making, ‘The Message of Sundar Singh’, 1921)
Source:
https://archive.org/stream/cu31924029356684/cu31924029356684_djvu.txt
Personally, I can never reach such Spiritual Perfections. Hence, I admire these Saints of Christ together with such ones from First Christianity (those saints whom I often quote) as the Best Imitators of our Most Perfect Master Himself, the God-Incarnte in Flesh, Lord Jesus Christ.
Regarding the Rarely known Truth that even a regular ‘poor working man convert’ can exceed even ‘his pastor who had devoted his life to full time ministry’ into a higher spiritual abode upon death due to ‘Percentage, Love & Obedience Measure’, Sadhu Sundar Singh saw this in one of his Spiritual World Visions as follows, to quote:
“A PROUD MINISTER AND A HUMBLE WORKMAN – A minister who looked on himself as an exceedingly learned and religious man died at a ripe old age. And without doubt, he was a good man. When the angels came to take him to the place appointed for him by the Lord in the world of spirits, they brought him into the intermediate state, and left him there with many other good spirits, who had lately arrived, in charge of those angels who are appointed to instruct good souls, while they themselves went back to usher in another good spirit. In that intermediate heaven, there are grades upon grades right up to the higher heavens, and the grade into which any soul is admitted for instruction, is determined by the real goodness of his life on earth. When the angels, who had put this minister in his grade, came back conducting in the other soul, for whom they had gone, they brought him up beyond the grade in which the minister was, on their way up to a higher plane. Seeing this the minister in a blustering voice called out, “What right have you to leave me half-way up to that glorious country, while You take this other man away up near to it? Neither in holiness, nor in anything else, am I in any way less than this man, or than you yourselves.” The angels replied, “There is no question here of great or small, or of more or less, but a man is put into whatever grade he has merited by his life and faith. You are not quite ready yet for that upper grade, so you will have to remain here for a while, and learn some of the things that our fellow-workers are appointed to teach. Then, when the Lord commands us, we will, with great pleasure, take you with us to that higher sphere.” He said, “I have been teaching people all my life about the way to reach heaven. What more have I to learn? I know all about it.” Then the instructing angels said, “They must go up now, we can’t detain them, but we will answer your question. My friend, do not be offended if we speak plainly, for it is for your good. You think you are alone here, but the Lord is also here though you cannot see Him. The pride that you displayed when you said, ‘I know all about it’ prevents you from seeing Him, and from going up higher. Humility is the cure for this pride. Practice it and your desire will be granted.” After this, one of the angels told him, “The man who has just been promoted above you, was no learned or famous man. You did not look at him very carefully. He was a member of your own congregation. People hardly knew him at all, for he was an ordinary working man, and had little leisure from his work. But in his workshop, many knew him as an industrious and honest worker. All who came in contact with him recognized his Christian character. In the war, he was called up for service in France. There, one day, as he was helping a wounded comrade, he was struck by a bullet and killed. Though his death was sudden, he was ready for it, so he did not have to remain in the intermediate state as long as you will have to do. His promotion depends, not on favoritism, but on his spiritual worthiness. His life of prayer and humility, while he was in the world, prepared him to a great extent for the spiritual world. Now he is rejoicing at having reached his appointed place, and is thanking and praising the Lord, who, in His mercy, has saved him, and given him eternal life.” – Sadhu Sundar Singh (‘Visions of the Spiritual World’, Pages 50 – 53, Chapter VI: State of the Righteous, 1926)
Source:
Truth – Wisdom from God is “Impartial” hence it gives equal chances to anyone (rich or poor) to attain the highest spiritual levels according to the relative measure given to each first (John 3:27, John 3:27), Verse:
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17, NKJV)
Before accusing me of wasting my time of writing all these (your opinion), please take note that it is ‘also a type of ministry’ to ‘write/speak in words’ against ‘such false arguments’ as the “Bible Verse” below Describes such a “Ministry” too:
“casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,” – The Blessed Apostle Paul, Christ’s Apostle to the Gentiles (2 Corinthians 5:10, NKJV)
Peace to you
