{"id":1181,"date":"2011-04-08T10:01:19","date_gmt":"2011-04-08T14:01:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.fbclafayette.org\/?p=1181"},"modified":"2011-12-12T09:27:49","modified_gmt":"2011-12-12T14:27:49","slug":"rags-or-riches","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.faithlafayette.org\/church\/rags-or-riches\/","title":{"rendered":"Rags or Riches?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hand<\/p>\n

I’d like to interact with you on a few questions related to wealth and poverty.\u00a0 These are simply meant to be conversation starters, so pick one or two and let’s edify each other.<\/p>\n

1. Should we view poverty\/affluence from a global, national, or local standard? Why?<\/p>\n

2. Is there such a thing as “working class” poverty in America?<\/p>\n

3. Would you consider yourself rich or poor? Do global economic conditions play a role in your assessment? Should they?<\/p>\n

4. Did Jesus imply (through his interaction with the rich man) that we should be willing<\/em> to give up everything to follow Him, or that we should actually give up everything<\/em> to follow him? Was this an isolated case directed specifically at people who love their wealth?<\/p>\n

5. Is it OK to enjoy wealth and blessing from God? Is it more than OK? Why? (You can find Pastor Green’s take<\/a> in his recent post.)<\/p>\n

6. Does stewardship play a role in how we view our wealth or poverty?<\/p>\n

I’ve included some passages below that speak to some of these questions to kind of get the juices flowing.<\/p>\n