The bottom line on riches

The Bible talks about riches in many ways.

Matthew 19:23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. [kjv]

What does it take to make one "rich"? How can one define "rich".

Matthew 19:23

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KJV: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Greek: ο δε ιησους ειπεν τοις μαθηταις αυτου αμην λεγω υμιν οτι δυσκολως πλουσιος δυσκολως εισελευσεται εις την βασιλειαν των ουρανων

Wycliffe: And Jhesus seide to hise disciplis, Y seie to you treuthe, for a riche man of hard schal entre in to the kyngdom of heuenes.

Luther: Jesus aber sprach zu seinen Jüngern: Wahrlich, ich sage euch, ein Reicher wird schwerlich ins Himmelreich kommen.

Matthew 19:24

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KJV: And again I say unto you, 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.

Greek: παλιν δε λεγω υμιν ευκοπωτερον εστιν καμηλον δια τρυπηματος τρηματος ραφιδος διελθειν εισελθειν η πλουσιον εις την βασιλειαν του θεου εισελθειν

Note: There appears to be a pun by Jesus here that is somewhat approximated by the Greek into which the Aramaic saying was translated.

Matthew 19:25

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KJV: When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?

Greek: ακουσαντες δε οι μαθηται αυτου εξεπλησσοντο σφοδρα λεγοντες τις αρα δυναται σωθηναι

Matthew 19:26

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KJV: But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Greek: εμβλεψας δε ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις παρα ανθρωποις τουτο αδυνατον εστιν παρα δε θεω παντα δυνατα εστιν

Latin: aspiciens autem Iesus dixit illis apud homines hoc inpossibile est apud Deum autem omnia possibilia sunt

Do you get the idea that without Jesus, this cannot be done? But with Jesus, it is possible.

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. [kjv]

ριζα γαρ παντων των κακων εστιν η φιλαργυρια ης τινες ορεγομενοι απεπλανηθησαν απο της πιστεως και εαυτους περιεπειραν οδυναις πολλαις [gnt]

Greek: A root of all badness is the love of silver which some have reached out for ...
In 1 Timothy 6:10, Paul tells Timothy, Bishop of Ephesus, that the "love of money", literally "love of silver", is the root of "all" "badness".

Is there any "badness" that is not due to "money" or, literally "love of silver"? The Greek word translated as "coveted" is that of "reaching out for". The word translated as "evil" is that of "bad" in general and of the "sick" in particular.

[Reach out for money - bad. Reach out to be a bishop - good.]

More: 1 Timothy 3:1 Desire to reach out to be a bishop

More: Matthew 9:8-13 The healthy make a strong case for evil sick time

More: Overly burdened in the cares and concerns of evil

More: 1 Timothy 6:1-21 Style and content issues

After the resurrection, a beggar in the temple expects money from Peter.

Acts 3:6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. [kjv]

ειπεν δε πετρος αργυριον και χρυσιον ουχ υπαρχει μοι ο δε εχω τουτο σοι διδωμι εν τω ονοματι ιησου χριστου του ναζωραιου περιπατει [gnt]

3:7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. [kjv]

Folklore story: (paraphrased):

Pope to Francis of Assisi, showing him a treasure of gold and silver: "They can no longer say gold and silver have we none.".
Francis of Assisi to Pope: "But now you cannot say, in the name of Jesus get up and walk.".

The KJV (King James Version) uses "have I none" where the Greek is "does not exist".

More: Existence is not is existence

More: Luke 1:14 Naive about the nativity

I never met a rich man who was happy, but I have only very occasionally met a poor man who did not want to become a rich man. Malcolm Muggeridge (British broadcaster)

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Reply to people with who have ideas on how he can make a lot of money with his farm.
I can't afford to be that rich. Sam Snyder

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About people who want do farm work for him:
They want the money but they do not want the work. Sam Snyder

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Jeremiah 22:13

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KJV: Woe unto him that buildeth his house by unrighteousness, and his chambers by wrong; that useth his neighbour's service without wages, and giveth him not for his work;

Hebrew: הוי בנה ביתו בלא צדק ועליותיו בלא משפט ברעהו יעבד חנם ופעלו לא יתן לו׃

Greek: ω ο οικοδομων οικιαν αυτου ου μετα δικαιοσυνης και τα υπερωα αυτου ουκ εν κριματι παρα τω πλησιον αυτου εργαται δωρεαν και τον μισθον αυτου ου μη αποδωσει αυτω

Experience demands that man is the only animal which devours his own kind, for I can apply no milder term to the general prey of the rich on the poor. Thomas Jefferson (American statesman, diplomat, scientist and 3rd President of the United States from 1801-1809) .

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When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost. Billy Graham (American evangelist)

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Wars are caused by unprotected wealth. Douglas MacArthur (American military leader)

One way is a strong defense. Another way is not to let anyone know about that wealth.

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He does not possess wealth; it possesses him. Benjamin Franklin (American scientist, inventor, philosopher, statesman)

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