Around Tokyo
Love and Faith vs. Money
Rich people try to solve every human and social problems by use of money. And money works to achieve their goals. Money gives them cozy and convenient life. But, poor men have to strive and struggle for money. While rich men are enjoying easy life, poor men have to suffer so as to earn any money. And, the Lord Jesus Christ said that it was impossible for rich men to be accepted in Heaven.
Money makes people happy, since money provides what they want for them. So, while rich men are enjoying happy life, poor men have to live in unhappiness. And, the Lord Jesus Christ said that it was sick men who needed doctor, meaning that the rich and happy do not need the God.
So, the issue of being rich or poor takes the central part in the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is more emphasized than the issue of life or death. Indeed, every rich man or poor man tends to think about money more than his life or death.
The Lord Jesus Christ simply told that there was the afterlife or Heaven and the hells. Every one should go into Heaven or the hells after death in this world. But, He taught strongly that the rich could not be accepted in Heaven while the poor could. It means that it is very difficult for a man destined to the hells to change his fate after death or in the afterlife. To be accepted in Heaven, a man should be poor while living in this world. But, it is extremely difficult for anybody to accept this theory. A man should usually choose sure happiness in this world to be realized by money more than uncertain happiness in Heaven to be realized after death in this world.
However, to earn money and big money, one has to win in competition against the weaker, the naive, the innocent, etc. So, rich men do not have compassion on losers in society. Rich men would stop loving poor neighbors. And, they would love money, which promises worldly happiness, more than the God, who is said to make men happy in Heaven after death. The rich should revere money as a god. But, according the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, money is another form of Satan. Therefore, the elite and rich people revere Satan as their God. That is why this world under influence of money is a kind of the hells.
In contrast, there is no need for money in the Kingdom of the God preached by the Lord Jesus Christ. Money has no power and effect in the Kingdom of the God. However, every problem must be solved by love to neighbors and the God as well as faith in the God.
Therefore, followers of the Lord Jesus Christ should be poor, fighting money that is Satan,
Matthew 3, King James Version
9 And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
10 And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
12 Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
13 Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.