Unnecessary lesson on spending money

I was interested to read the article in the Daily Herald about Crown Financial Ministries, which aims to inform Christians on how God wants people to spend their money. Apparently a ten-week course is offered, with prayer, Bible study and homework with a practical application, in order to determine God's wishes.

Now, I am not a Christian but I do have a passing acquaintance with the Bible and I think I already know what Jesus wants Christians to do with their wealth. Jesus wants Christians to give all their possessions to the poor. This is clear from, for example, Mark 10:21. When a young man asked Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life, Jesus told him ,"One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me."

Jesus went on to say, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

So it appears that there is very little doubt about what God requires Christians to do if they want to get to heaven. It doesn't take a ten-week course to explain it. The message for Christians is clear: A big-screen TV? Don't buy one, instead give the money to the less fortunate. The BMW? Sell it, buy a bicycle, and donate the money to charity. That huge house you rattle around in just so you can impress your friends and neighbors? Turn it into a homeless shelter. You will be rewarded in the next life.

But if, instead, you ignore God's wishes and hang on to these possessions, there seems to be a grave danger that you'll be headed for a far less pleasant place when the last bell tolls.

Dick Page

Naperville