# "How many millions are you going to make off the crucifixion of Christ?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 23, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718 "2004-02-23T18:42:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2004, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/81 "2004-02-26T23:10:01Z")
> [@James Madison](#): > > I will first have to say it is necessary to ascertain what is meant by the phrase of “store up…treasures on earth”. It is pretty self explanatory: “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” is obviously earthly, material wealth. What part of “Do not store up” don’t you understand? > [@](#): > > I do not think it means one cannot acquire wealth or keep and save tangible goods because if so, then most of us are going to Hell. What’s your point? That’s why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to go to Heaven. > [@](#): > > King David and King Soloman are most certainly already there if Jesus is stating we cannot save tangible goods. Why is it a foregone conclusion that Solomon and King David are in Heaven? > [@](#): > > I think the last sentence conveys the point of the entire paragraph. Do not delight or love your “possessions”. No, it means choose one or the other; man cannot serve two masters. > [@](#): > > Place your love and heart on the Kingdom of Heaven and God and let this be your treasure. So you think you can go to heaven _and_ keep your trust fund, just so long as you don’t love it too much? How con-_veniiiiieeeeennnt!!!_ ---
**Author:** ![James\_Madison](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/96bed5/32.png) [@James\_Madison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Madison)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2004, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718/82 "2004-02-27T17:41:29Z")
> [@Fear Itself](#): > > It is pretty self explanatory: “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” is obviously earthly, material wealth. What part of “Do not store up” don’t you understand?What’s your point? That’s why Jesus said it is hard for a rich man to go to Heaven.Why is it a foregone conclusion that Solomon and King David are in Heaven?No, it means choose one or the other; man cannot serve two masters.So you think you can go to heaven _and_ keep your trust fund, just so long as you don’t love it too much? > > How con-_veniiiiieeeeennnt!!!_ “Do not store up,” is a phrase open to interpretation. It cannot literally mean “do not own anything,” as this would have condemned even Paul the apostle since he owned “clothing”. In fact this would have condemned every individual who came after Jesus but in the name of Jesus, such as Peter, James, John, and practically all the other apostles because they most certainly “owned” material objects here on earth. Furthermore, the storing up of wealth is not necessarily why Jesus was saying it is hard for a rich man to go to heaven but rather it was the rich man’s love for the money over God violating the commandment of “Love thy God with all thine heart, soul, and mind.” Additionally, it was the lack fo compassion the rich man showed for those in need. It was the lack of helping those in need when the rich person had the money to do so because his motive for doing so was out of greed and a desire to hold onto his riches. Finally, there are biblical scriptures indicating David and Soloman are in heaven. Although I do not currently have a trust fund, the mere fact I may have one would not send me to hell so long as I loved God more than the money and was willing to help those in need. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-millions-are-you-going-to-make-off-the-crucifixion-of-christ/230718.md?page=4)