Jesus’ teaching on wealth and poverty - The teaching of Jesus - CCEA - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - CCEA - BBC Bitesize (2024)

Jesus’ teaching on wealth and poverty

God and possessions (Matthew 6:24-34)

Jesus taught, “You cannot serve both God and money.” Therefore people should not worry about food and clothes. God makes sure that sparrows are fed and wild flowers look beautiful. God also makes sure His people have what they need. Jesus said, “seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well”.

One of the dangers of having a lot of wealth and possessions is that you can become too fond of them. Nothing should come before God. Jesus emphasised this when he said, “You cannot serve both God and money.”

Jesus then explained to his followers why they did not need to get too worried about material things. God has given them life, so He will give the things that are necessary for them to live. Jesus then makes the following points to help people understand this:

  • The birds do not worry, but God provides for them. People are much more valuable than birds.
  • Excessive worrying is no use – it is not going to change anything.
  • A wild flower may soon die, yet God gives it great beauty. God does this for flowers, so He will look after people even more and provide for them.
  • Worrying too much about material things can be a sign of not putting enough trust in God. Jesus told people to get their priorities right – live for God and have faith that He will look after you.
  • Each day produces problems and difficulties, so try to cope with these by concentrating on one day at a time.
Jesus’ teaching on wealth and poverty - The teaching of Jesus - CCEA - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - CCEA - BBC Bitesize (2024)

FAQs

What did Jesus teach about wealth and poverty? ›

Jesus himself taught the importance of helping those who are poor and in need. The Church also teaches about the preferential option for the poor – this means that in order to improve life for the poor, we should speak for the voiceless and defend the defenceless.

What are Jesus' teachings on treasure and wealth? ›

Jesus' teaching about carrying out good deeds can be found in the Bible, where he makes a comparison between carrying out good deeds and putting money into the bank: Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

What are the main teachings of Jesus answers? ›

His preachings are:
  • God is one and he is the most merciful. ...
  • Everyone should develop brotherhood feelings about others.
  • Loving the people who are in distress is equal to worshipping God.
  • One should serve others without expecting anything from them.
  • Serving people is equal to the worship of God.
Jul 3, 2022

What were the main points of Jesus's teaching? ›

Within Jesus Christ's teachings we find the plan for our happiness, our redemption, and our salvation—a divine blueprint that includes faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, keeping God's commandments, receiving the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end.

What does Jesus say about wealth? ›

Jesus is speaking to the negative aspects of riches in the Parable of the Sower when he warns that we can be “choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures.” (Luke 8:14).

What is the main message of the Gospel of Wealth? ›

Purpose of "The Gospel of Wealth"

Carnegie argued that excess wealth should be used to benefit society. He stated the wealthy should not be irresponsible with money waste or self-indulgent. Instead, one should use one's wealth throughout their life for good social causes.

What did Jesus teach the most about? ›

The Kingdom of God

We see most of Jesus' teaching on 'The Kingdom' in the gospels of Matthew and Luke, although it appears frequently in all four gospels. While the Kingdom of God can be harder to explain, don't worry. Jesus frequently used parables and stories to explain what the Kingdom of God is like.

What is the most important lesson that Jesus taught us? ›

Love God and your neighbor

This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Matthew 22:37–39). When you replace hate with love, and anger with kindness, you'll feel closer to God and notice more peace in your life.

What are the five major teachings of Jesus? ›

Selflessly loving your neighbors, loving your enemies, forgiving others, serving others, and having faith are five teachings of Jesus that will improve your life. These teachings help us have better inner peace and improve our relationships with those around us.

What was Jesus trying to teach us? ›

Jesus taught that the kingdom of God had come, and that he, as the incarnate and divine Lord, was its ruler. This kingdom challenged the standards of the kingdoms of men and called its citizens to live in radically different ways. Jesus was known for his ability to teach.

Did Jesus preach or teach? ›

Following the Savior's initial call to those first disciples (not yet Apostles), the work began. This is what Matthew says: “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matt.

What was Jesus' main purpose? ›

Jesus was sent into the world in order that people might have life in relationship with God. The goal of his being sent, according to 14:6, is that people might "come" to the Father, which in the immediate context means that they might know and believe in God.

What would Jesus do about poverty? ›

Jesus cared deeply about the poor and the downtrodden, demonstrating his compassion in tangible ways: giving sight to the blind, touching the leper, healing the sick. But he also preached the good news of God's love and salvation. Being on Jesus' side means doing it all.

What does the Gospel of Luke teach about wealth poverty and generosity? ›

The rich do not come off looking well in the Gospel of Luke. Luke throws harsh indictments on them and challenges them repeatedly to be aware of the poverty around them, to take action on behalf of the poor and to share their wealth in response to the cries for mercy from them.

What does Christianity teach us about poverty? ›

Many Christians believe it is part of their religious duty to help the poor. They follow the example of Jesus, who reached out to the poor in society. Some Christians believe that faith and the fight for justice go hand in hand.

What does Jesus say about money wealth and generosity? ›

The Bible tells us that we should give generously and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:7). It tells us that we should not be anxious about our finances (Philippians 4:6-7). It tells us that we should store up treasures in heaven, not on earth (Matthew 6:19-20). When you give generously, you put God first in your life.

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