October 30th, 2006
An E-Mail in Search of Wisdom
This e-mail was actually sent to me on 10/8/06 and I’ve been sitting on it, pondering it, letting it swirl around in my head for quite a time. The opening sentence is what gets me the most… I don’t believe I’m a wise person, but evidently Susan does, since she sent this directly to me, so she values my thoughts on the matter. I would appreciate it for those who I send this to, to read it over, and if you have any thoughts, to maybe send her an e-mail as well. You don’t have to, that’s your decision. After reading this over about a good two dozen times and praying about this, whether this is spam or not, I think it will still make for a great quiet time all the same.
Dear Church of Christ men,
If you believe you are a wise person, can you please help me with this scenario of conflict?
John owned a new house worth $200,000.00 and he was renting it to a friend (Doug) in the church.
One day Doug asked John if he could buy the house and so John agreed.
Because Doug was new to the country John decided to give him $30,000.00 off of the appraised value.
So the price was set at $170,000.00 and they agreed to the deal.
Because they were friends, John and Doug did not set a specific date for when Doug would need to obtain financing but John was expecting it to be 3 to 6 months at most.
However as time went on, Doug was unable to get financing but John was not concerned because they were good friends and he assumed that Doug would respect that properties do appreciate in value.
But then 1 and ½ years later, (when John and Doug were not as good friends anymore) Doug obtained adequate financing.
However, now the house had been appraised at $270,000.00.
Doug then went to John and insisted that he sell the house to him for $170,000.00.
John felt that the $30,000.00 that he had already given him was a very generous gift, and that Doug should really take into consideration that houses and land appreciate in value.
Doug strongly felt John was in the wrong.
Here are my questions:
1. Is greed involved here?
2. Could they both be greedy?
3. In your opinion which one more, Doug or John?
4. Is it possible for a person to be greedy and not know it?
5. If so, how can God condemn the greedy?
6. In short, how could this situation be resolved?
If you feel you have a clear answer to this situation, could you please email me, but please if possible, don’t email me without first sending this to someone else who you feel is wise - you must know someone. I would really like as many replies as possible to obtain a “FAIR” evaluation.
Please reply in the 1. 2. 3. Format
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help.
Susan.
wisdomplease@shaw.ca
(All names assumed for privacy)
I personally feel there is way more to this story than what is given. I am not a lawyer or a judge, so I don’t know what an official would say. But I do know a little scripture, and that’s what I will address this with…
“If you believe you are a wise person…”
Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Proverbs 28:11
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
“…when John and Doug were not as good friends anymore…”
This is a curious statement. Why are they not good friends anymore? Doug is still renting from John, so they still have monthly contact with each other, at least for rent. Hopefully, John and Doug are both faithfully going to church, so they have that contact as well. Something doesn’t seem right… there’s some information that is missing here.
1. Is greed involved here?
Maybe. Then again, maybe not. It could be a problem with undisclosed assumptions. John assumed but didn’t tell Doug things. Doug assumed but didn’t tell John things. As a result, feathers became ruffled, and what was already a failing friendship just became a bit tougher. Which of the two is going to be the bigger person?
2. Could they both be greedy?
Maybe. Then again, maybe not.
3. In your opinion which one more, Doug or John?
If greed is involved, which I can’t say that it was based on the information given (it’s a pretty short synopsis), I would say it was even-steven. But I don’t think greed was the real issue. I think it boils down to expectations not being lined out or voiced and a friendship that has grown distant and maybe hard feelings by a lack of love by one or both parties.
4. Is it possible for a person to be greedy and not know it?
Yes. Ignorance is not necessarily bliss.
5. If so, how can God condemn the greedy?
That’s a strange question. Matthew 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18 all discuss how greed can make it hard for a person who has wealth to make it to heaven. Mark 7:20-22 says, “He went on: What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” And then there is Luke 12. And in that chapter one verse really sums up everything: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
6. In short, how could this situation be resolved?
Matthew 5:21-26
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
This is good, but the real issue is the two greatest commands. John and Doug need to be resolved with each other, I am sure anger has settled in between the two.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So how can this situation be resolved? How can many situations be prevented/resolved? Love God with every ounce of my being, or in this case, John and Doug love God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind. And then, to love each other as they would love themselves. Hypothetical or not, they come to talk to each other with a humble heart, a loving heart for God and each other, then it should be resolved fairly quickly.
And then, there is also Matthew 18.
I think this was fun. I don’t know if I did all that good a job with addressing the questions, but I did enjoy studying the scriptures. It was nice to break away from crushing my brain into commentaries and M’s, L’s, J’s and Q’s… it’s just a great feeling. And now, I have to go back to squishing my brain into these things. I will say this, I am learning a lot, but I really miss doing my Quiet Times the way that I was doing them before. Hopefully, soon, I can get back to doing them that way. Johnny Out.
An E-Mail in Search of Wisdom
This e-mail was actually sent to me on 10/8/06 and I’ve been sitting on it, pondering it, letting it swirl around in my head for quite a time. The opening sentence is what gets me the most… I don’t believe I’m a wise person, but evidently Susan does, since she sent this directly to me, so she values my thoughts on the matter. I would appreciate it for those who I send this to, to read it over, and if you have any thoughts, to maybe send her an e-mail as well. You don’t have to, that’s your decision. After reading this over about a good two dozen times and praying about this, whether this is spam or not, I think it will still make for a great quiet time all the same.
Dear Church of Christ men,
If you believe you are a wise person, can you please help me with this scenario of conflict?
John owned a new house worth $200,000.00 and he was renting it to a friend (Doug) in the church.
One day Doug asked John if he could buy the house and so John agreed.
Because Doug was new to the country John decided to give him $30,000.00 off of the appraised value.
So the price was set at $170,000.00 and they agreed to the deal.
Because they were friends, John and Doug did not set a specific date for when Doug would need to obtain financing but John was expecting it to be 3 to 6 months at most.
However as time went on, Doug was unable to get financing but John was not concerned because they were good friends and he assumed that Doug would respect that properties do appreciate in value.
But then 1 and ½ years later, (when John and Doug were not as good friends anymore) Doug obtained adequate financing.
However, now the house had been appraised at $270,000.00.
Doug then went to John and insisted that he sell the house to him for $170,000.00.
John felt that the $30,000.00 that he had already given him was a very generous gift, and that Doug should really take into consideration that houses and land appreciate in value.
Doug strongly felt John was in the wrong.
Here are my questions:
1. Is greed involved here?
2. Could they both be greedy?
3. In your opinion which one more, Doug or John?
4. Is it possible for a person to be greedy and not know it?
5. If so, how can God condemn the greedy?
6. In short, how could this situation be resolved?
If you feel you have a clear answer to this situation, could you please email me, but please if possible, don’t email me without first sending this to someone else who you feel is wise - you must know someone. I would really like as many replies as possible to obtain a “FAIR” evaluation.
Please reply in the 1. 2. 3. Format
Thank you so much, I really appreciate your help.
Susan.
wisdomplease@shaw.ca
(All names assumed for privacy)
I personally feel there is way more to this story than what is given. I am not a lawyer or a judge, so I don’t know what an official would say. But I do know a little scripture, and that’s what I will address this with…
“If you believe you are a wise person…”
Isaiah 5:21
Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Proverbs 28:11
A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man who has discernment sees through him.
“…when John and Doug were not as good friends anymore…”
This is a curious statement. Why are they not good friends anymore? Doug is still renting from John, so they still have monthly contact with each other, at least for rent. Hopefully, John and Doug are both faithfully going to church, so they have that contact as well. Something doesn’t seem right… there’s some information that is missing here.
1. Is greed involved here?
Maybe. Then again, maybe not. It could be a problem with undisclosed assumptions. John assumed but didn’t tell Doug things. Doug assumed but didn’t tell John things. As a result, feathers became ruffled, and what was already a failing friendship just became a bit tougher. Which of the two is going to be the bigger person?
2. Could they both be greedy?
Maybe. Then again, maybe not.
3. In your opinion which one more, Doug or John?
If greed is involved, which I can’t say that it was based on the information given (it’s a pretty short synopsis), I would say it was even-steven. But I don’t think greed was the real issue. I think it boils down to expectations not being lined out or voiced and a friendship that has grown distant and maybe hard feelings by a lack of love by one or both parties.
4. Is it possible for a person to be greedy and not know it?
Yes. Ignorance is not necessarily bliss.
5. If so, how can God condemn the greedy?
That’s a strange question. Matthew 19, Mark 10 and Luke 18 all discuss how greed can make it hard for a person who has wealth to make it to heaven. Mark 7:20-22 says, “He went on: What comes out of a man is what makes him ‘unclean.’ For from within, out of men’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man ‘unclean.’” And then there is Luke 12. And in that chapter one verse really sums up everything: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
6. In short, how could this situation be resolved?
Matthew 5:21-26
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”
“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
This is good, but the real issue is the two greatest commands. John and Doug need to be resolved with each other, I am sure anger has settled in between the two.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7
Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
So how can this situation be resolved? How can many situations be prevented/resolved? Love God with every ounce of my being, or in this case, John and Doug love God with all their heart and with all their soul and with all their mind. And then, to love each other as they would love themselves. Hypothetical or not, they come to talk to each other with a humble heart, a loving heart for God and each other, then it should be resolved fairly quickly.
And then, there is also Matthew 18.
I think this was fun. I don’t know if I did all that good a job with addressing the questions, but I did enjoy studying the scriptures. It was nice to break away from crushing my brain into commentaries and M’s, L’s, J’s and Q’s… it’s just a great feeling. And now, I have to go back to squishing my brain into these things. I will say this, I am learning a lot, but I really miss doing my Quiet Times the way that I was doing them before. Hopefully, soon, I can get back to doing them that way. Johnny Out.
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