Affluence, Privation and Spirituality

[Karlysymon]

The average annual income of countries correlates negatively with national levels of religiosity.

According to a study from 2015, Christians hold the largest amount of wealth
(55% of the total world
wealth), followed by Muslims (5.8%), Hindus (3.3%), and Jews (1.1%). According to the same study it was found that
adherents under the classification Irreligion or other religions hold about
34.8% of the total global wealth.
A 2014 study by the Pew Research Center, Jewish ranked as the most financially successful religious group in the United States, with 44% of Jewish living in households with incomes of atleast $100,000, followed by Hindu (36%), Episcopalians (35%), and Presbyterians (32%).

"In the midst of prosperity lurks danger. Throughout the ages,riches and honor have ever been attended with peril to humility and spirituality. It is not the
empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life. Unless the human subject is in constant submission to the will of God, unless he is sanctified by the truth, prosperity will surely
arouse the natural inclination to presumption."

 

[DesertRose]

Throughout the ages,riches and honor have ever been attended with peril to humility and spirituality. It is not the
empty cup that we have difficulty in carrying; it is the cup full to the brim that must be carefully balanced. Affliction and adversity may cause sorrow, but it is prosperity that is most dangerous to spiritual life.

Interesting info Karly! I think the extremes of wealth and poverty are both trials or tests.
I was looking for a quote regarding not having wealth in the heart but in the hand and using it wisely.
When looking at that chart I see that some may have extreme wealth because they have no concerns regarding its lawful acquisition. ( i.e their wealth could have been acquired through means such as usury, gambling, pornography, fraud or the various forms of intoxicants.)
Our role models were spiritually wealthy not materially wealthy.
They had a higher purpose in life.

 

[Vytas]

In other words

Mat 19:24 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.

Jews holding only 1% of wealth is a joke though, we know better than that...

 

[rainerann]

7Two things I asked of You, Do not refuse me before I die: 8Keepdeception and lies far from me, Give me neither poverty norriches; Feed me with the food that is my portion, 9That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?" Or that I not be in want and steal, And profane the name of my God.…

Proverbs 30:7-9

 

[Karlysymon]

Interesting info Karly! I think the extremes of wealth and poverty are both trials or tests.
I was looking for a quote regarding not having wealth in the heart but in the hand and using it wisely.
When looking at that chart I see that some may have extreme wealth because they have no concerns regarding its lawful acquisition. ( i.e their wealth could have been acquired through means such as usury, gambling, pornography, fraud or the various forms of intoxicants.)
Our role models were spiritually wealthy not materially wealthy.
They had a higher purpose in life.

yeah, that's true. The 1st chart shows the US as an outlier/exception and we can debate the reasons. But even when wealth has been accrued in a proper/healthy manner, there is always the present danger of apostasy. The human heart, inherently rebellious, craves independence from the Creator.

 

[DesertRose]

The human heart, inherently rebellious, craves independence from the Creator.

Good point. Hopefully some human hearts will live according to the wisdom of the Creator, Karly. God willing.
The anti-Christ system will be wholly materialistic so we need more words and thoughts to counter the excessive material beliefs.

 

[DesertRose]

 

[Karlysymon]

Materialism is a form of identity confusion. This means that for many of us, our identity becomes fused with our possessions. Our possessions become our God. As one person said, “I am nothing without my things.”