Ask Me Help Desk - Gving up things for the lord

Gving up things for the lord

I had a moment earlier and was listening to a song online on a website and was about god . It made my eyes water a bit . I had been holding back from the lord and sticking hard to my material possessions . After listening to what this song was saying it hit me hard. And I took all 150 or so of my coveted cd collection and dumped them all in the trash.

And to tell the truth I never felt so free in my life. It was as a heavy burden had been lifted off my chest. I felt like I could have done cart wheels down the hall... I felt closer to the lord in my heart,,

My question is did any one else out there have to give up things that they had grown quite fond of in there life. Whether it be cds, beer, movies, gambling etc...

And how did you feel after words as well

Where do you live... 150 cds?? I'll take them!
At the very least.. don't be wasteful. Trade them in for cash etc... You worked hard for the money to buy those didn't you? Why should you feel bad for owning stuff?

I'm not christian and I'm not materialistic in the least. I guess it really depends how how you were raised as a child. I value my kids, my wife, my family, playing sports, going places, etc. much more than a big screen TV or an expensive car (I have neither).

Pardon me am I in the christian post. I may have posted in the wrong area I'm not for certain??

Im new to this and seem to get lost on here quite often

God Bless you!! It has never seemed I HAD to give anything up for the Lord. The Holy Spirit will lead you and guide you as you grow deeper with God. God changes your heart and the world things or processions you have and dearly loved will be replaced with the great and wonderful things of God. Don't worry about what you SHOULD throw he'll continually to impress that on as He did with your CD's. Yes, I've given up a lot of the things I use to do.. but, I'd whether have Jesus then any thing that the world can give.

Moved to Religious Discussions as this is really the best place for this discourse.

Hello ironsheik7 (once again : why that "7"?? )

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Giving up things for the lord?. i took all 150 or so of my coveted cd collection and dumped them all in the trash.

Well, if you are happy doing that, I will be the last one to suggest you should do otherwise.

But if you are serious just be consequent : dump all these western society items that have no real life-spiritual value. So dump the television, hifi set, VCR, CD, and DVD drive. Dump the computer, and all other non-essential possessions, including the car, motorbike, snowbike, rollerskates, etc. : from now on only use public transport.
Start living as one of the first Christians : than you show that you really meant what you posted as topic starter.

You can also change your job : whatever you are, find a job that has intrinsic social value , like a nurse or a social worker. Be there not just for yourself and your own interest, but be there for others !

I wonder though what is your reasoning to "give up things for the lord".
Do you think he asks for that? And if so, why don't you go all the way, as I suggested above ?

:)

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Credendovidis , Actually, you are correct in what you told ironsheik7 unbeknown to you( I think) is exactly what the Lord would have us do.. that is to make Him Lord of our lives!

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Originally Posted by Eileen1218

Credendovidis , Actually, you are correct in what you told ironsheik7 unbeknown to you( I think) is exactly what the Lord would have us do ..that is to make Him Lord of our lives!

Do you think I joked? No I did not. I just picked at a phony "hallelujah" balloon here.
Fact is that living a more simple life (that often is more dedicated to others just requires a serious set of social values and willingness to give up on the western feelings of greed (the "Me, Myself, and I" syndrome)

I know. I did. And I did not even need "the lord" in my life as inspiration...

Please note that I disagree with your... " to make Him Lord of our lives" !
I am a Secular Humanist.

:)

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Wow... I feel like I've been "told off"... I wasn't being sarcastic to you or mean. I was only discussing!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eileen1218

Wow...I feel like I've been "told off"...I wasn't being sarcastic to you or mean. I was only discussing !!!

No I did not "tell you off". Neither was I sarcastic to you ! I just posted my views.

Sometimes I get the impression that many, many christians have extra long toes.
Why that sensitivity when someone has similar views on society, but disagrees on the religious views?
It is almost as if you think that one needs to be christian to feel uncomfortable with the greed syndrom of the average western citizen...

:)

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Jesus said to the rich man 'You need one thing,' he said. 'Go and sell all your possessions. Give the money to poor people. Then you will have real wealth, in heaven. Then come! Follow me!'
Jesus told the rich man this because he was *attached* to his material possessions. We can have whatever but is it holding us back? Is it something (as Eileen said) the Holy Spirit is telling us to give up?
I have a house full of stuff and I know that it holds me back. I am in the process of selling and giving most all of it away.
You are what you can't let go of.

Also watch people, l agree with Cred here, the western world runs around accumulating useless stuff when they could be helping others. We do not use our time wisely, with running to Wal Mart to buy the latest blow up holiday yard decorations that we end up either throwing away or stuffing into the cluttered garage until next year.

Quote:

Originally Posted by N0help4u

...the western world runs around accumulating useless stuff when they could be helping others.

This is so true.

Yea but when you get to heaven, Jimi and Morrison are going to come up to you and ask you why you threw their music in the trash man. You'll be getting off on the wrong foot dude. Plus, you probably won't be getting free tickets to the concerts they have up there. I hear they are the best.
Elvis on the harp singing Love Me Tender. Whoa!
Keith Moon not too stoned. It's awesome.

Quote:

Originally Posted by magprob

Elvis on the harp singing Love Me Tender.

However nice that song may be, hearing it into all eternity sounds like HELL to me!!

Funny thought : Elvis singing endlessly, in a topic about giving things up...

:D :rolleyes: :) :p :rolleyes: :D

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I would think god would say to you...
Silly Silly Silly. What you did was just pure wasteful. If you feel you need to sacrifice something for me, how about your time. Many opportunities there. Or sell your cds on eBay and donate the money to a good cause. I hate to see good property destroyed and that is just what you did.

Ironsheik,

I feel missionary work would be right up your alley.

Some people buy CD's to bring them happiness in the form of music, if trashing them brings you an equal amount of happiness if not more, then I'd say they served their purpose either way.

When we ask ourself what would Jesus do, I can say it would be no where close to what the modern Christian does. Those of you who claim we spend too much time at walmart are correct. Christmas has turned into the center piece of our materialistic world.

Personally, as greedy as the entertainment industry has gotten, I'm with you! Although I'm not trashing my CD's, I just haven't purchased any new ones for quite some time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Credendovidis

Do you think I joked? No I did not. I just picked at a phony "hallelujah" balloon here.
Fact is that living a more simple life (that often is more dedicated to others just requires a serious set of social values and willingness to give up on the western feelings of greed (the "Me, Myself, and I" syndrome)

I know. I did. And I did not even need "the lord" in my life as inspiration ...

Please note that I disagree with your ... " to make Him Lord of our lives" !
I am a Secular Humanist

.

Obviously, you have not given up the "western" comfort of computer and internet access :p Just like a greedy westerner ;)

g&p

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthebox

Obviously, you have not given up the "western" comfort of computer and internet access :p Just like a greedy westerner ;)

g&p

You equate internet access to the rest of the world to the same western excesses such as 52" plasma TVs, huge houses, big SUVs, etc?

Nk.

How is it any different? - a house is used, an suv is driven, a TV is watched.

Who are you to judge what another person should drive or what house they live in or the TV size they can watch?

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Romans 14

g&p

So it's all very black and white?
American consumerism... believing that appearing wealthy is their god given right. LOL!
Apparently the OP felt that he had to give up his possessions to feel closer to the lord, I wonder where the hell he got that idea!

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Nk

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthebox

Who are you to judge what another person should drive or what house they live in or the tv size they can watch?

So you are OK with greed? You are not truly a Christian.

Proverbs 30:8-9 — “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Luke 6:24 — “But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10-15 — “Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless. As goods increase, so do those who consume them. And what benefit are they to the owner except to feast his eyes on them? The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of a rich man permits him no sleep. I have seen a grievous evil under the sun: wealth hoarded to the harm of its owner, or wealth lost through some misfortune, so that when he has a son there is nothing left for him. Naked a man comes from his mother's womb, and as he comes, so he departs. He takes nothing from his labor that he can carry in his hand.”
Mark 10:25 — “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Proverbs 23:4-5 — “Do not wear yourself out to get rich; have the wisdom to show restraint. Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle.”
1 Timothy 6:9-10 — “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Luke 16:25 — “But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.’ ”
Deuteronomy 6:10-12 — “When the LORD your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the LORD, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

Mark 10:21 — “Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ ”
1 Timothy 6:6-7, 17-19 — “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ... Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
Luke 12:15-17a, 19b-21, 33 — “Then he said to them, ‘Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’ And he told them this parable: ‘The ground of a certain rich man produced a good crop. He thought to himself, ... “[I] have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.” But God said to him, “You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you.” This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God. ... Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ...’ ”

Quote:

Originally Posted by NeedKarma

So it's all very black and white?
American consumerism ... believing that appearing wealthy is their god given right. LOL!
Apparently the OP felt that he had to give up his possessions to feel closer to the lord, I wonder where the hell he got that idea!

nk

I never commented that the bible advocates consumerism or greed, American or otherwise. But thanks for the references ;)

My comments are directed to those who sit in judgement of those who drive suvs or live in large houses or watch TV on sets greater than a certain size. That smells of ENVY ;) Maybe they can afford it, maybe they go off roading, maybe they have 6 kids? Maybe they take care of elderly parents or more than one family lives in that large house? Why should I care if my neighbor drives an suv? How about if your neighbor has an $80 k or more 911? Why suv?

Odd that:

1] it is only American consumerism that you direct your comments at.
If it were not for American consumerism where would the economies of China, India
Etc be at? Were it not for people consuming the goods and services of others that
Provides them with a job? Is that not what an Obama "stimulus" package is suppose
To do, but theoretically, encourage consumption? Otherwise, we should all be Amish or
Subsistence farmers.

2] funny how on most of your posts indicate you don't believe in God or the bible yet are
Willing to quote from it :confused:

G&P

Like I said, missionary work would be the way to go- if you were going to go down this road.

Personally, I don't buy into a lot of this "keeping up with the Joneses" thing. But its not because of any religious thing, its just because I fail to see the point in replacing a working TV set with a new one just because "everyone else is doing it".

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthebox

Obviously, you have not given up the "western" comfort of computer and internet access :p Just like a greedy westerner

No, indeed. I did not give up my computer and internet connection.
But I did give up 30 years of my life to help and educate those living under the worst of possible conditions in the third world.
Ever since I am back I spend lots of my time with participating in several unpaid volunteer work with handicapped children and with various activities in the local hospes.

So I did - and still do - my share of giving to others, instead of surrounding myself with more and more stuff.
Obviously, I'm not a greedy westerner...

How about you? What did/do you do for those who are in real need ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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Since I basically live on the air I breath and most of what I own is stuff that was given to me for work I did. Since I try and help others and give a lot of what I worked for away I would say I am not a greedy westerner. I only have my vehicle, music, books, clothes, a few house decorations and boxes of stuff I either sell or give away.

I understand the live with less concept. I don't understand how dumping a CD collection in the trash instead of donating it to, say, the Salvation Army for resale, a homeless shelter, makes anyone closer to the Lord - ?

This seems the opposite of donating time/goods/services to the less fortunate.

I have to agree with Inthebox you can have material things and still be a Christian. As Inthebox pointed out envy is as much a sin as greed. If you work hard for what you have it doesn't mean you are greedy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

I understand the live with less concept. I don't understand how dumping a CD collection in the trash instead of donating it to, say, the Salvation Army for resale, a homeless shelter, makes anyone closer to the Lord - ?

This seems the opposite of donating time/goods/services to the less fortunate.

I have to agree. Dumping them in the trash seems like a little "drama moment". Like you needed to do something radical to scratch that itch. Makes more practical sense and seems more beneficial to do something constructive than destructive.

Constructive beats destructive every time.;)

Some Christian groups teach that burning material possessions is the only way to really be free of them. They tend to see bad spirits or influences 'in' them and that giving them over to others is more like passing the sin instead of ridding it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by N0help4u

Some Christian groups teach that burning material possessions is the only way to really be free of them. They tend to see bad spirits or influences 'in' them and that giving them over to others is more like passing the sin instead of ridding it.

Just when I thought I'd heard everything - not arguing with you. I'm know you always know what you are talking about.

So if I decide to go with a less expensive car I'm supposed to torch mine? And a Christian group believes in bad spirits and influences in inanimate objects?

Yikes!

I didn't explain it very well but that is the gist of why some Christians started that and carried it over to any possessions.

(I was in what some people would call a cult in the mid 70's)

N0help4u : I think that the idea to put the torch to personal "christian" belongings is quite a better and humane one than the previous "christian" idea to put the torch to persons with different "religious" ideas!!

So well done!!

:)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Credendovidis

N0help4u : I think that the idea to put the torch to personal "christian" belongings is quite a better and humane one than the previous "christian" idea to put the torch to persons with different "religious" ideas !!!

So well done !!!

How true.

I still think that if burning CD's that you paid for brings personal satisfaction, have at it!

Would I burn CD's for this reason? No, but then that's me.
I have microwaved CD's before.

I would like to add, the original poster did not specify what KIND of CD's he is burning.
Perhaps they were CD's of a satantic nature, or otherwise contrary to his new belief. If this were the case, then I can see reason in burning them. If if that be the case, then better to burn them, than to give them away to someone for who those CD's might influence someone in the wrong way.

Probably heavy metal or rap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewc24301

... I would like to add, the the origional poster did not specify what KIND of CD's he is burning.

Let's hope that all CD's of the fanatic fundamental religious type (whatever religion) are destroyed. That's the best you can do with them...

:)

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Credendovidis

No, indeed. I did not give up my computer and internet connection.
But I did give up 30 years of my life to help and educate those living under the worst of possible conditions in the third world.
Ever since I am back I spend lots of my time with participating in several unpaid volunteer work with handicapped children and with various activities in the local hospes.

So I did - and still do - my share of giving to others, instead of surrounding myself with more and more stuff.
Obviously, I'm not a greedy westerner ....

How about you? What did/do you do for those who are in real need ?

? ? ? ? ? ? ?

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My righteousness is by the blood of Christ - Ephesians 2: 8-9

So I will not get into a works contest with you, though I admire and respect and applaud you for the things you have done, are doing. :)

G&P

Quote:

Originally Posted by inthebox

... So I will not get into a works contest with you ....

That's just what I expected to hear...

:rolleyes:

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My righteousness is by the blood of Christ - Ephesians 2: 8-9

What exactly does that mean?