How can I say?
"Harder for a rich man" is surely not an understatement. Possession and poverty are mystery.
Babylon is about possession. I will destroy the name of Babylon, and the remains, and the bud, and the offspring. [Is 14.22] Mine, yours, and the temptation and the desire.
Embracing poverty is just too radical for many people, just as it was too radical for them two thousand years ago - those who go away sad are not those who do not accept a particular religion - it is those who pass up opportunities to both give, and embrace poverty, with faith that it is o.k., we're richer even, in another way, now and/or in the next life - we can have this faith in God now, because we are alive. This is to be poor "in spirit" - to embrace the poverty, and not just goods - this is to 'fear' Him, like Indiana Jones when he stepped out into the canyon. "Let go" ,"use the force", however you want to say it - "Fear Him" - get into it, do it - "Follow Me".
People already know this stuff inside - when they personally see monks or some kindly mormons, or whoever, their hearts are lightened by the radical nature of what they are doing. Many are attracted to jwism because it appears to be radical in this way - it's a trap that it's not. Saints are applauded for giving yet being both poor and happy. St Francis is still applauded for his ways of giving to the robbers and the hungry wolf and for loving nature and talking to the birds and walking free about the earth. Even in his own time people virtually kissed the ground he walked on, declaring him to be holy in their eyes.
But possession runs so deep that even all the spiritual heroes are dismissed in the preference to sleep on the thought that with God all things are possible, rather than whoever does not give up all he has cannot be My disciple. The latter is the call to Adventure and become the hero - the former a reassurance. The innate desire to possess, with all the associated burdens, has people listening out for the reassurance seeking the spiritual shelters for possessions. How do we know which religion has the true God and what is the true religion with the absolute truth? How can we buy this ? Even our sayings reflect it all - "I don't buy it".
We know the answer and we were told the way, and our hearts 'pick up on it'. Who are these that fly as clouds? Know you the great paths of the clouds.
Bang
Edited by - Bang on 24 July 2002 19:54:53