Comments on: Selling All, Giving to the Poor http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor the home of Nathan Colquhoun Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:37:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Mike http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1059 Mike Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1059 Interesting... I was going to write a post about this passage tonight. Must be something in the water. Interesting… I was going to write a post about this passage tonight. Must be something in the water.

]]> By: Ron Smith http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1060 Ron Smith Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1060 I just gave my car to a poor person. I'll be in heaven if you need me. I just gave my car to a poor person. I’ll be in heaven if you need me.

]]> By: Ron Smith http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1061 Ron Smith Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1061 I have a lot of time up here to myself so I am getting some old testament reading done..<br /> Its appears the theme is to be blessed with things. To have a nation blossom from you, to get stuff, to inherit animals, land and wealth. Why and when does this theme change with Christ? <br /> <br /> I am sure people can justify why they have been blessed through stuff. <br /> I have a lot of time up here to myself so I am getting some old testament reading done..
Its appears the theme is to be blessed with things. To have a nation blossom from you, to get stuff, to inherit animals, land and wealth. Why and when does this theme change with Christ?

I am sure people can justify why they have been blessed through stuff.

]]> By: len http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1062 len Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1062 nathan<br /> Ron's question is mine also.. at least, I'm stealing it! What does "shalom" mean in the new covenant? What does it mean to have life, and that abundantly? Is it only spiritual.. a renewed dualism.. and we have to wait for heaven for the good life? I feel you have painted yourself into a corner..<br /> Secondly, I tell my friends I know what it is to be poor.. and it comes from a conversation with a black brother in Fresno in 1989. See.. he visited our church.. and later told us he couldn't relate. "Those dudes think they had a bad day if they get a flat tire." He was unemployed, ex-addict, living in the slums. And he talked about choices.. of which he had none. It came to me that poverty means powerlessness. And I understand that. My wife and I have had to deal with significant debt, and we've seen most of our friends have choices while we had none. $10,000 a year isn't poor in Calcutta... but in Canada.. yoiu bet it is. nathan
Ron’s question is mine also.. at least, I’m stealing it! What does “shalom” mean in the new covenant? What does it mean to have life, and that abundantly? Is it only spiritual.. a renewed dualism.. and we have to wait for heaven for the good life? I feel you have painted yourself into a corner..
Secondly, I tell my friends I know what it is to be poor.. and it comes from a conversation with a black brother in Fresno in 1989. See.. he visited our church.. and later told us he couldn’t relate. “Those dudes think they had a bad day if they get a flat tire.” He was unemployed, ex-addict, living in the slums. And he talked about choices.. of which he had none. It came to me that poverty means powerlessness. And I understand that. My wife and I have had to deal with significant debt, and we’ve seen most of our friends have choices while we had none. $10,000 a year isn’t poor in Calcutta… but in Canada.. yoiu bet it is.

]]> By: Anonymous http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1063 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1063 Hey Len, thanks for the comment.<br /> <br /> I am having a difficult time with your first set of questions because you make it seem as if the 'good life' depends on abundant wealth. I think our physical lives are direct reflection of our spiritual lives and they are interconnected which is why it makes sense that Jesus told the rich man to go sell everything, maybe he saw that his physical possessions were getting in the way of his spiritual life.<br /> <br /> I did write this post a week before this one that I think is more along the lines of what you are saying, that might clear up some of the things, though I do warn you this is all a fairly new train of thought that I'm working through and trying to understand.<br /> <br /> http://nathancolquhoun.com/blog/index.php/2006/08/02/the_kingdom_what_does_poor_even_mean<br /> and this one<br /> http://nathancolquhoun.com/blog/index.php/2006/07/29/the_kingdom_living_like_the_poor<br /> <br /> I guess what I have a hard time doing is saying that poor is relative when it only makes sense to me that everyone is supposed to be my neighbour.<br /> Hey Len, thanks for the comment.

I am having a difficult time with your first set of questions because you make it seem as if the ‘good life’ depends on abundant wealth. I think our physical lives are direct reflection of our spiritual lives and they are interconnected which is why it makes sense that Jesus told the rich man to go sell everything, maybe he saw that his physical possessions were getting in the way of his spiritual life.

I did write this post a week before this one that I think is more along the lines of what you are saying, that might clear up some of the things, though I do warn you this is all a fairly new train of thought that I’m working through and trying to understand.

http://nathancolquhoun.com/blog/index.php/2006/08/02/the_kingdom_what_does_poor_even_mean
and this one
http://nathancolquhoun.com/blog/index.php/2006/07/29/the_kingdom_living_like_the_poor

I guess what I have a hard time doing is saying that poor is relative when it only makes sense to me that everyone is supposed to be my neighbour.

]]> By: myste http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1067 myste Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1067 thanks for posting this. i absolutely agree that material wealth is usually what stands in the way of actually having an abundant life.<br /> <br /> Jesus cares that we have a rich spirit. all of the external stuff should not be a concern to us because our heavenly Father will provide for us as needed. <br /> <br /> Our lives should not be about seeking and reveling in God's blessing, they should be focused on blessing God. thanks for posting this. i absolutely agree that material wealth is usually what stands in the way of actually having an abundant life.

Jesus cares that we have a rich spirit. all of the external stuff should not be a concern to us because our heavenly Father will provide for us as needed.

Our lives should not be about seeking and reveling in God’s blessing, they should be focused on blessing God.

]]> By: Tom Haws http://www.nathancolquhoun.com/2006/08/15/selling-all-giving-to-the-poor#comment-1118 Tom Haws Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1118 Nathan,<br /> <br /> It's impossible to have any real understanding of the meaning of this passage until, as you say, you have actually put it into practice to at least some extent or in some way.<br /> <br /> The first time I relinquished claim on my worldly possessions, it revolutionized my view of life. And as I gradually accustomed myself to the idea that nothing really was mine, amazing things started to happen.<br /> <br /> The day you give a stranger the car you are driving, the watch you are wearing, the shoes or coat you have worn for 10 years, or whatever, your whole world turns upside down.<br /> <br /> Thanks a million for telling the truth about this important and unambiguous saying of Jesus. Nathan,

It’s impossible to have any real understanding of the meaning of this passage until, as you say, you have actually put it into practice to at least some extent or in some way.

The first time I relinquished claim on my worldly possessions, it revolutionized my view of life. And as I gradually accustomed myself to the idea that nothing really was mine, amazing things started to happen.

The day you give a stranger the car you are driving, the watch you are wearing, the shoes or coat you have worn for 10 years, or whatever, your whole world turns upside down.

Thanks a million for telling the truth about this important and unambiguous saying of Jesus.

]]>