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How can we avoid becoming slaves of today’s commercial world?
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1, 2. In this system of things, why will there always be some poor people?
TODAY’S economic system is harsh and unfair. Young people search in vain for employment. Many risk their lives to move to more prosperous lands. Poverty is widespread, even in affluent lands. And the gap between rich and poor is widening. According to recent estimates, the richest 1 percent of the earth’s population have as much wealth as the rest of its inhabitants combined. While such a figure is difficult to confirm, no one disputes that billions of people are desperately poor, while others have enough wealth to last for many lifetimes. Jesus recognized this harsh reality with the words: “You always have the poor with you.” (Mark 14:7) Why such inequality?
2 Jesus understood that the current economic system would not change until God’s Kingdom comes. Along with the political and religious elements, the greedy commercial system, represented by “the merchants” of Revelation 18:3, constitutes part of Satan’s world. Unlike the complete separation that God’s people maintain from politics and false religion, most cannot separate themselves completely from the commercial part of Satan’s world.
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MINIMAL INVOLVEMENT IN “THE COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES OF LIFE”
12. How did Abraham show that he trusted in God?
12 Another way to gain friendship with Jehovah is by minimizing our involvement with the commercial world and using our circumstances to seek “true” riches. Abraham, a man of faith in ancient times, obediently left prosperous Ur in order to live in tents and pursue his friendship with Jehovah. (Heb. 11:8-10) He always looked to God as the Source of true wealth, never seeking material advantages that would indicate a lack of trust. (Gen. 14:22, 23) Jesus encouraged this sort of faith, telling a rich young man: “If you want to be perfect, go sell your belongings and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come be my follower.” (Matt. 19:21) That man lacked faith like that of Abraham, but others have shown implicit trust in God.
13. (a) What admonition did Paul give to Timothy? (b) How can we apply Paul’s counsel today?
13 Timothy was a man of faith. After calling Timothy “a fine soldier of Christ Jesus,” Paul told him: “No man serving as a soldier involves himself in the commercial businesses of life, in order to gain the approval of the one who enrolled him as a soldier.” (2 Tim. 2:3, 4) Jesus’ followers today, including an army of over one million full-time ministers, apply Paul’s counsel to the extent that their circumstances allow. Resisting the pressures of advertising and the world around them, they remember the principle: “The borrower is a slave to the lender.” (Prov. 22:7) Satan would like nothing better than to have us spend all our time and energy as slaves to his commercial world. Some decisions could keep us in financial bondage for years. Huge home mortgages, lingering student loans, expensive car payments, even extravagant weddings can result in great financial pressure. We demonstrate practical wisdom when we simplify our life and reduce debt and expenses, setting ourselves free to slave for God rather than for today’s commercial system.—1 Tim. 6:10.
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originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
Modern day slavery. Billions of people sell themselves to highest bidder every day.
originally posted by: whereislogic
Oh, regarding her request above: "So tell me how we fail to understand."
2 Corinthians 4:2-4
But we have renounced the shameful, underhanded things, not walking with cunning or adulterating the word of God; but by making the truth manifest, we recommend ourselves to every human conscience in the sight of God. 3 If, in fact, the good news we declare is veiled, it is veiled among those who are perishing, 4 among whom the god of this system of things has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that the illumination* of the glorious good news about the Christ, who is the image of God, might not shine through.
Amiga Scenedemo - Human Traffic - FINAL (Riverwash 2011)
originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
a reply to: Kettu
Nope, I don't other than going back to the tribal structure we used for hundreds of thousands of years before we let strangers enslave us and take us away from family.
originally posted by: schuyler
originally posted by: 3NL1GHT3N3D1
a reply to: Kettu
Nope, I don't other than going back to the tribal structure we used for hundreds of thousands of years before we let strangers enslave us and take us away from family.
Those tribes had slaves. They would raid neighboring tribes as strangers and enslaved them by taking them away from family.
clear warnings were issued starting in early 2011 that Libya's black as well as migrant population would be the first to fall victim at the hands of the Islamist Libyan rebels that NATO's war empowered.
But it is important to remember that CNN itself at the time regularly promoted the false "black mercenary" narrative which helped fuel and excuse such atrocities, even though it is now much belatedly investigating and decrying Libya's current migrant slave auctions,
To put this into context, here are some key figures:
originally posted by: BlueJacket
We have allies that practice slavery. Shouldn't we at the bare minimum not trade, nor anything else with any nation that allows slave trade.
I mean if we really do care, shouldn't we be doing something like the above?