rich people, poor people ?

[Julianne]

If God loves us all equally, then why are their rich people and poor people ? If homeless people are homeless lets say becase they lost all of their money, then why havent they been given the opportunity to live a comfortable life. In the bible it says something about having either God or Money and that you can't have both. However if someone was extremely rich and constantly spent money on luxury items, yet are good people then will they get into heaven because they have both God and Money ? And if they do, then why isn't everyone rich as silly as that sounds ? And on that note, I dont understand the purpose of why some people suffer more than others. Sometimes i look around at people in this life, and they have absolutely everything they need and I know getting jealos is the wrong thing to do and I dont want to sound mean but why are things taken away from good people rather than those for forsake God. If everything happens for a reason and God has a plan for all of us and I do believe he does, but if someone is homeless on the street or whatever then it doesnt really give them much hope to believe in a God ? So what if at the end of the day they have neither money or God ? where will it leave them because i know people who have money will thank God generally speaking, and people who dont have money will tend to blame God ? I see that happen every day ?..

[DavidObeid]

Hi Julianne,

You've said a fair bit there. Let me address your question a bit at a time, you may want to start new threads for each different question my response leads you to ask.

1. God does not love everyone equally.

2. There are rich and poor because God wants some people to realise their dependence on Him and others the opportunity to share His love with those less fortunate.

3. Our Lord never lived a comfortable life. Comfortable lives are not an absolute right for everyone.

4. The Bible speaks about "loving" God or money, not "having" God or money.

5. Some people suffer more than others because God wants to draw good from their suffering. Our Lord Himself suffered more than anyone else, and the result it brought about was our redemption.

6. If people are misfortunate they have more reason to believe in God, not less. Think of a new born baby - it has no hope of taking care of himself or herself and so cries out. It is meant to be the same with us when there is no way we can help ourselves - we cry out to God to help us.

7. Everyone, rich or poor, must have God's grace in order to be saved. Without love of God and neighbour, rich or poor, we are damned.

[Julianne]

okay thank you, I understand all points except 1 and 2 so ill start new threads :)

[danieljankovic]

I think I have found the passage you were reffering to Julianne,

24 And Jesus seeing him become sorrowful, said: How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God. 25 For it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Luke 18:22-25

PAX

[Julianne]

yeah it was something like that
thank you :)

[Stephen Spiteri]

There's also:

"For the poor you have always with you: and whensoever you will, you may do them good: but me you have not always." - Mark 14:7 (D-R)