The Doctrine of Nonaccumulation

APPENDIX THE COMMANDS OF CHRIST ON THE USE OF POSSESSIONS Maybe you feel that this book has been dominated by man’s opinion rather than by what the Bible really says. Just in case that is true, I’ve included this Appendix, made up almost entirely of New Testament verses that deal with the subject of economics. If you decide to throw away the rest of this book, go ahead, but first tear out this chapter and keep it. After all, you are already carrying around these same passages with you if you have a complete New Testament. What are Christ’s commands? 1. Matthew 6:19a • “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth.” (KJV) • “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth.” (NASB) • “Make no store of wealth for yourselves on earth.” (Bible in Basic English) 1a. This night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself. (Lk. 12:20–21) 1b. Take therefore no thought for the morrow. (Mt. 6:34) 1c. Beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of things which he possesseth. (Lk. 12:15) 1d. They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare . . . but thou, O man of God, flee these things. (1 Tim. 6:9, 11) 1e. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. (Heb. 13:5) 1f. Covetousness, let it not be once named among you. (Eph. 5:3) 1g. But seek ye first the kingdom of God. (Mt. 6:33) 2. Luke 12:33a • “Sell that ye have, and give alms.” (KJV) • “Sell your possessions, and give to charity.” (NASB) • “Give what property you have in exchange for money, and give the money to the poor.” (Bible in Basic English) 2a. But lay up for yourselves treasures in Heaven. (Mt. 6:20) 2b. Give to every man that asketh thee. (Lk. 6:30) 2c. And if any man sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. (Mt. 5:40) 2d. Lend, hoping for nothing again. (Lk. 6:35) 2e. Use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves. (Lk. 16:9) 2f. As ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them. (Lk. 6:31) 2g. But rather give alms of such things as ye have. (Lk. 11:41) What are the principles behind Christ’s commands? 1. Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Mt. 6:21) 2. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Lk. 16:13) 3. For that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. (Lk. 16:15) 4. The love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Tim. 6:10) 5. He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. (Lk. 4:18) 6. Blessed are you who are poor. (Lk. 6:20) 7. Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom? (Jas. 2:5) 8. And the rich he hath sent empty away. (Lk. 1:53) 9. But woe unto you that are rich. (Lk. 6:24) 10. 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. (Mt. 19:24) 11. Whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. (Lk. 14:33) 12. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? (1 Jn. 3:17) 13. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Mt. 25:40) 14. My God shall supply all your need. (Phil. 4:19) How important is it to obey Christ’s commands? 1. Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (Jn. 15:14) 2. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man. (Mt. 7:24) 3. Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? (Lk. 6:46) 4. And hereby do we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. (1 Jn. 2:3–4) 5. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. (Jn. 14:21) 6. In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that . . . obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Thess. 1:8) 7. If ye love me, keep my commandments. (Jn. 14:15) 8. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Mt. 7:21) What classes of people should obey Christ’s commands? 1. Charge them that are rich . . . that they be . . . ready to distribute. (1 Tim. 6:17–18) 2. Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor . . . he was very rich. (Lk. 18:22–23) 3. Zacchaeus . . . he was rich . . . and said . . . the half of my goods I give to the poor. (Lk. 19:2, 8) 4. This poor widow hath cast in more than they all. (Lk. 21:3) 5. He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none. (Lk. 3:11) 6. In . . . their deep poverty . . . beyond their power . . . gave. (2 Cor. 8:2, 3, 5) 7. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working . . . that he may have to give to him that needeth. (Eph. 4:28) To what extent should we obey Christ’s commands? 1. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. (2 Cor. 8:12) 2. That your abundance may be a supply for their want . . . that there may be equality. (2 Cor. 8:14) 3. And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (Acts 2:45) 4. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them . . . and distribution was made unto every man, according as he had need. (Acts 4:34–35) 5. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor. (2 Cor. 8:9) 6. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content. (1 Tim. 6:8) 7. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. (Gal. 6:10) 8. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. (2 Cor. 9:7) What are the consequences for not obeying Christ’s commands? 1. Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches . . . shall eat at your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. (Jas. 5:1–3) 2. Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. (Lk. 16:25) 3. The deceitfulness of riches . . . choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. (Mk. 4:19) 4. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away. (Jn. 15:2) 5. Every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. (Lk. 3:9) 6. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. (Rev. 3:16–17) 7. Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire . . . for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat. (Mt. 25:41–42) 8. And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, . . . neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. (Lk. 12:47)