Are Jesus' Words on Worry, Birds and Flowers... Worrisome?

General Faith
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So I’ve been having a conversation with a friend. He is finding himself getting very, very disillusioned with Matthew 6:25-34.

His reason: "I work with (legal) immigrant families who can’t always feed their kids and don’t often know where the next meal is coming from, or even if they are going to get snatched from their home from one minute to the next. How am I supposed to look them in the eye and tell them “Hey, don’t worry - God makes sure the birds have food, but you…?”

He adds that his ex-wife came back many years ago from a trip to Europe where she visited Auschwitz. And in the light of God having “allowed” those atrocities to have happened, she just could not stay on board with “look to the birds and the flowers.”

It’s depressing, but it’s also a real and raw question.

Of course, there are parts of me that just easily answer: 1 - if you are here, present, currently living on this earth, have you not been “provided for,” that you continue to exist? And did worrying contribute anything to your past however many years, months, days, minutes? 2 - Jesus isn’t done speaking; he will go on to give all of us individually and corporately the responsibility to care for the poor, hungry, and each other… but I also don’t want to be glib or simplistic.

How would you answer him?

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I think what Jesus was trying to say is about our perspective. The most important thing is not what we eat or wear. They’re important but more important is trusting in God and seeking Him. He also said that we’d have tribulation here on earth and we’re not to fear those who can kill our body, but to fear those who can kill our body and our soul in hell. The Bible talks about our life as being a vapor. Here today and gone tomorrow. What awaits us after today is eternity and that’s what we’re to live for. It’s all about what’s the important thing; the everlasting thing. It’s not saying that food and clothes aren’t important. They are important, but they aren’t what life is made up of. Jesus main focus in these verses is the worry. We’re not to worry and worry is not the same as being concerned. We pray about it. We should pray about all our concerns and then trust that God will answer. Maybe not in the way we expect, but He will answer.

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WHY DO CHRISTIANS SUFFER?

There are so many biblical texts that assert that persecution and suffering are normal for those who follow Christ in a fallen world (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:18-21; 16:1-3; 17:14; Acts 14:22; Rom. 5:3-4; 8:17; 2 Cor. 4:16-18; 6:3-10; 11:23-30; Phil. 1:29; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 4:12-16).

The theological question is, “Why?”

Because of personal sin (temporal judgment). This does not imply that all problems and negative circumstances are a result of sin (cf. Job; Psalm 73; Luke 14:1-5; Nehemiah 9; John 9; Acts 5:1-11; 1 Cor. 11:29-30; Gal. 6:7), but some are!
To develop Christlikeness. Even Jesus, humanly speaking, had to be matured by means of suffering (cf. Heb. 5:8), so too, His followers (cf. Rom. 5:3-4, 8:17-18,28-29; 2 Cor. 12:7-10; Phil. 3:10; 1 Thess. 3:3; 2 Tim. 3:12; Heb. 12:5-12; James 1:2-4; 1 Pet. 1:7).
To develop a powerful, effective witness (cf. Matt. 5:10-12; John 15:18-22; 1 Pet. 2:18-21, 3:13-17).
As a sign of the birth pains of the New Age (cf. Matt. 24:6; Mark 13:8).

There is mystery here! Life seems so random and capricious. Humans wonder, “Why me, why this, why now?” These questions cannot be fully answered. But, we must remember that “God allowing” does not imply “God sending”!

There is a new day of peace and security coming (cf. Isa. 25:8; 35:10; 51:11; 65:19; these OT texts are applied to the church in Rev. 7:17; 21:4).
Two books that have helped me deal with the unfairness and evil of this fallen world are

Hannah Whithall Smith, The Christian’s Secret of a Happy Life
John W. Wenham, The Goodness of God.

Believers must remember that problems and suffering are not necessarily a sign of God’s anger or rejection. Bad things happen to faithful followers in a fallen world (cf. 1 Pet. 4:12-19). This is not the world God intended it to be! God’s promises and Christ’s self-giving death are the signs of God’s love (cf. Rom. 5:8).

Scripture must take precedence over temporary circumstances!

SPECIAL TOPIC: THE FALL OF MANKIND

SPECIAL TOPIC: A SUFFERING MESSIAH

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL’S GOD (OT)

J.

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Jesus isn’t saying the world is safe. He’s saying who to trust when it’s not.

Jesus doesn’t deny hunger or injustice or suffering in Matthew 6. He’s talking to a group of people beaten down by Roman persecution who knew the sting of insecurity well. When Jesus says, “Take no thought for your life” ~Matthew 6: 25 He’s not telling them to ignore reality. He’s telling them not to let anxiety consume your heart as though God were nowhere to be found.

Birds still have to look for food. Flowers still sprout up through rocky soil. The point of Jesus’ illustrations are trust, not lack of hardship.

Jesus never misleads us about evil. Scripture clearly explains evil. “The whole world lieth in wickedness.” ~1 John 5: 19 Jesus Himself said, “In the world ye shall have tribulation…” ~John 16:33 Auschwitz doesn’t disprove the existence of God any more than Job suffering doesn’t disprove God. The truth is the world is broken and wrapped up in rebellion.

And Jesus never tells us to trust God and neglect people. God provides through His people. “Whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need… how dwelleth the love of God in him?” ~1 John 3: 17 Faith in God never excuses us from caring for people.

Jesus ends the passage in Matthew 6 with the heart of the issue. “Seek ye first the kingdom of God” ~Matthew 6: 33 The kingdom of God doesn’t mean you won’t suffer. It means you trust who’s in control when you do suffer.

You don’t brush off people’s pain with catchy slogans. You love them. You show them the truth. God sees. He knows. He is not ignoring this. Christ became flesh, came to this broken earth, suffered unjustly, and took evil upon Himself. He is not standing by when pain happens. He came through it for us.

Matthew 6 promises us nothing about easy lives. It does tell us that even when life is hard and living is hard Jesus invites anxious hearts to trust in a Good Father who provides and encourages His children to love, give, and endure with them in a fallen world.

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Warning: Bob Utley often treats clear doctrines, especially judgment, hell, and certainty of interpretation, as open-ended. That trains readers to analyze Scripture rather than submit to it. Over time, that weakens confidence in what God has actually said.

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Sometimes we forget who we are, and we fear. But God says, fear not, your needs will be met. As a child of God, adopted by the Spirit of God, an heir to all things that are, ever were, or will be. The God who created all is now your Father. Romans 8 declares:

“The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.” Romans 8:16-17

We are now children of God. As a child of God, nothing can separate us from the love of our Father. Nothing. However, we still live in the world. From time to time, we allow the things of the world to creep in. We worry about paying the rent or mortgage. We worry about paying the electric bill. Can we afford that new car? ETC. Where is our next meal coming from?

We get so caught up in the stuff of this world that we forget our Father is GOD. When you forget that very important fact, you can allow the same fear that everyone in the world has. What is next? What will tomorrow bring? How will things work out? What must we do?

Why are you worried about your neighbor saying something that is most likely not even true about you? Or why worry about your co-worker playing games, trying to get ahead? Why are you worried about losing a job where you are making someone else rich? You do not rely on mankind. You rely on God.

Do you not realize that God is more than capable of getting you that promotion, as long as it fits into His plans? There is nothing that your neighbor, co-worker, and even boss can do that will affect God’s plans. You are part of those plans now. So why worry? Everything in this world is temporary anyway. All your “stuff.” It is all temporary.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21

You could say it this way.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.”

God is not really all that worried about how much “stuff” you have. He is more concerned with you and your soul. He is more concerned with how you treat others. Are you sharing the Gospel? Are you sharing His word? Are you doing His work?

If we try to do it on our own, we may succeed in a worldly sense. We may become successful. We may get a lot of stuff. But remember what Jesus warned us of in Luke 12:15

"And he said to them, ‘Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Jesus said a few times that the world hated Him; therefore, being a child of God and doing our Father’s Will will make the world hate us as well. But we must not take thought of what the world thinks. We are in the world, not of it. We need to rely on God Himself. He will meet our needs. Mark 11:22-24

“And Jesus answered them, ‘Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Think about that. This is a promise, given to us by Jesus himself. And in Luke 11, Jesus says it this way.

“And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will, instead of a fish, give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

As long as we are doing the right thing. Seeking first the Kingdom of God. Seeking God. Seeking Jesus. Doing His work. There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God.

Read God’s Word. Get a Bible if you do not have one. Read it. Ask God to show you what he wants you to see. Find a Church that is teaching the truth and producing fruit. Ask God to lead you to one. The one he wants you in. Get knowledge. Feed your spirit. Grow in faith. Then ask God, what would you have me do? It may be helping out in a food pantry. It may be as simple as sharing the word. It may be that you should become a Pastor. Everyone has different strengths and weaknesses. Everyone is different. But God knows who you are. He knows what you are capable of. He already has a plan and a purpose for your life. Find out what it is.

Peter

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Brother, I wanted to clarify something about Bob Utley, because your warning doesn’t reflect what he actually teaches. Utley’s work is entirely focused on authorial intent, historical-grammatical interpretation, and careful exegesis, not on leaving doctrines like judgment, hell, or interpretation “open-ended” to weaken confidence in Scripture.

When he treats difficult topics cautiously, it is not to undermine doctrine, but to ensure readers understand what the text itself says rather than substituting tradition, personal opinion, or assumptions. Careful analysis, in his approach, is part of true submission to Scripture, not a substitute for it.

Here are direct links to Utley’s commentaries and resources so you can see for yourself:

Full verse-by-verse Bible commentaries – historical-grammatical approach: Free Bible Commentary

Romans commentary – detailed treatment of judgment, sin, salvation, and righteousness: The Gospel According to Paul: Romans

Genesis 1–11 commentary – shows how Utley handles early doctrines foundational to judgment: GENESIS 1-11

Special Topics on judgment, hell, and related terms – demonstrates faithful engagement with doctrine: New Testament Special Topics by Dr. Bob Utley

Hermeneutics seminar – Utley’s basic interpretive principles, showing how careful analysis supports submission to Scripture: Biblical Interpretation Seminar by Dr. Bob Utley

Homepage overview of his method and work – emphasizes trusting Scripture and authorial intent: Free Bible Commentaries and Bible Study Tools

In short, Utley’s goal is not to weaken confidence in what God has said. It is to strengthen confidence in Scripture itself by insisting on careful reading, context, and attention to the original languages.

I hope this helps clarify his teaching so that readers can judge for themselves rather than relying on summaries.

Judge for yourself.

J.

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This statement sounds biblical because it quotes many verses. However, some of the key claims this makes are not biblical.

First, Scripture never provides a checklist diagnosis for why believers suffer. Job’s friends tried that and God condemned their speech ~Job 42:7. God tells us we will suffer (but not why we can always know why) ~Deuteronomy 29:29.

Second, Christian suffering is not “temporal judgment.” God does discipline His children ~Hebrews 12: 6, but Scripture is clear: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.” ~Romans 8:1 Believers are not being punished for sin. Jesus paid the penalty once and for all.

Third, “God allowing does not imply God sending.” The Bible never dances around the sovereignty of God. When Joseph’s brothers came to deal with him overseas, Joseph explained it like this: “Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good.” ~Genesis 50:20 Scripture says God ordains suffering ~Psalm 115:3, and is always good and righteous in it.

Fourth, we do not need extra-biblical books to understand suffering. When God says His word is sufficient ~2 Timothy 3:16–17, He means it. When the Bible speaks, we need not human authors to complete the story.

Finally, the Bible does not comfort believers by whitewashing reality. It comforts us by speaking truth into reality. This world is broken ~1 John 5:19. We should expect suffering ~2 Timothy 3:12. Christ suffered first and teaches us through His example ~1 Peter 2:21. Our hope is guaranteed by resurrection, not explanations ~Romans 8:18.

Theological soundbites do not make a statement biblical. If the framing of a statement adds to or detracts from what God has spoken, it is not biblical teaching. Only Scripture should set the terms.

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The problem isn’t whether Utley employs historical-grammatical tools. Many teachers do. The problem is where he allows conclusions and where he doesn’t.

The Bible never treats key doctrines as “always pending.” God promised His Word would give us knowledge, not unlimited choices. “The entrance of thy words giveth light: it giveth understanding unto the simple.” ~Psalm 119:130. Paul preached with authority and conviction, not endless disclaimers ~2 Timothy 4:2.

When a teacher repeatedly presents judgment, hell, and doctrinal conclusions as “just options”, it makes listeners hesitant about what Scripture does clearly teach no matter what their methods. Methods are not the criteria. Results are. “But if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” ~1 Corinthians 14:8.

Invoking authorial intent is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for leaving people wondering when the Bible is not. Jesus plainly taught judgment ~Matthew 25:46. The apostles plainly taught wrath and reckoning. ~Romans 2:5–6; ~Hebrews 9:27. They never presented these as “options pending further study.”

Posting links does not respond to the concern. The concern is whether Utley affirms what the Scripture affirms, affirmatively. Does he allow Scripture to draw the same kind of conclusion about these topics that Scripture itself draws? When the Bible has spoken clearly, guarding your listeners with “but could be this,” is not humility. It’s holding back from a good fight something God didn’t hold back. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say, “You shall not eat of any tree in the garden”?’” ~Genesis 3:1 That is the first recorded attack on God’s Word. Satan did not start by denying God outright. He started by questioning what God said.

Let readers judge by the Bible itself. “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:21. If a teacher repeatedly dims what God shines on us as plain, that isn’t encouraging confidence in what Scripture teaches. It’s conditioning people to freeze when God tells them to move.

That’s the problem.

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I’m going to be direct here. Repeatedly following my posts, attributing motives to me that I have not stated, and responding with personal accusations rather than addressing the substance of what I wrote crosses into inappropriate behavior. That feels less like disagreement and more like monitoring.

I’ve engaged your claims openly and cited sources. If you disagree, address the arguments. If you don’t want interaction, disengage. But personal accusations and continued fixation are not productive and not acceptable.

J.

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I am NOT keeping tabs on you. I am responding to assertions posted in a public forum. That is not obsession. That is discrimination.

God’s Word never instructs us to consider motive. It commands us to examine doctrine. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” ~1 John 4: 1 If anyone makes declarations about God, their words are to be judged by the Word of God - not by how they word things or what their tone is.

This is not about attitude. This is about authority. God never gave man’s reasoning the authority to teach His children. “Thus saith the LORD” is our benchmark, not “feelings”. “Every word of God endures forever, and He Himself shall judicially condemn every word that does not” ~Proverbs 30: 5 Anything we insert in addition to it is not harmless.

Paul clearly stated that man’s philosophy will clash with Divine wisdom. “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” ~1 Corinthians 3: 19 When Bible verses are pushed aside and logic prevails, confrontation is not bullying. It is obedience to God.

If someone posts scripture, we can analyze it. If someone posts opinion, we must not hold it up as biblical. The children of God are instructed to discern that difference. “Test everything; hold fast what is good” ~1 Thessalonians 5:21.

This has nothing to do with you, it has everything to do with Scripture. And Scripture doesn’t apologize for defining truth as truth and lie as lie.

If you do not want biblical response, the remedy is simple. Stop contradicting Scripture with man’s opinion in a public forum. God’s Word will always draw a line. And those who love truth will not step around it to keep the peace.

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If the church was actually seeking the kingdom instead of the world then there wouldn’t be anyone going without food and clothing. But we have rich preachers who shouldn’t be rich and they teach their flock to be rich instead of sharing everything they have. There should be equality in the church instead of rich and poor.

In this scripture below Paul isn’t commanding the church to give but he’s advising them to give. He’s testing the sincerity of their love. Thats interesting because he quoted Exodus chapter 16 where God tested the people to see if they would obey his instructions.

It seems that rich people love money and the world instead of Jesus and his kingdom. People say being rich isn’t wrong but loving money is wrong, however being rich is love for money. It sure isn’t love for the 9 million people who die each year of hunger and malnutrition related diseases. The rich gather much and keep it but Paul said they shouldn’t have anything left over and no one should lack anything.

2 Corinthians 8:**13 **For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened; **14 **but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may supply their lack, that their abundance also may supply your lack—that there may be equality. **15 **As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.” (NKJV)

James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world. (NKJV)

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What are you doing for God? For the Kingdom? “I have compassion for the poor.” OK? And? “What do you mean?” So you have compassion for the poor? That’s good. But? What do you do about it? “Wait, what do you mean? What are you implying? That I do not care? How dare you. I care. I understand. Something needs to be done to help the poor in this or that area.” Again. What are you doing? “Don’t turn this around on me. YOU hate the poor. YOU are evil. Look at you. Judging me. You are arrogant, close-minded, and racist. After all, who is the poor? Yeah, minorities. You hate them because you hate anyone who does not look like you. At least I care.”

This is the world we live in today. So Joe liberal cares about the poor. Cool. But when you look at his bank account, and or the sum of his ACTIONS towards the poor, we see the truth. There is nothing. Zero. Oh, he, sorry, my Six Years of politics sometimes creeps back, he may propose a Bill increasing the sales tax a penny, with the proceeds going to build a homeless shelter. Or he may suggest something needs to be done to clean up the downtown area and set aside a safe place where the homeless can be safer. Then he can go home feeling good about himself, knowing he is trying to help the poor. He can even brag that he is trying to do something, but? What is HE actually doing?

Jesus calls us to be the Church. You have been adopted into the family of God. Everyone who has is now your brother, or your sister, or your mother. Look what Jesus said on the Cross.

“When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:26-27

This is a very deep and meaningful statement Jesus makes here. See, as a church, this is who we are. We are brothers and sisters, mothers, and even earthly fathers or father figures. We have but one Father, and that is God. We are all one family. We should act like it. It is our job to take care of each other.

Before this, when Jesus was teaching, and His mother and brothers came to see Him, He said this.

"But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Matthew 12:48-50

You seem not to agree with the church. OK. So what do you say is the alternative?
Peter

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@PeterC

I have no idea who your post is adressed to but I would like to add my two cents. What can the church do you ask? Rebuke the rich like Jesus and his apostles did and tell them to give to the 9 million people who die every year from hunger and malnutrition related diseases. Tell them to give them medical care as well. Im poor and I get my Healthcare from the government. I have mental problems and need medication. I feel sorry for poor countries who cant afford to help sick folks like myself. Mental illness can be very difficult to live with without medication. And no im not preaching that government should help people but im saying the church should help. But im not proposing that the church stop the government from helping either. Its shameful that we have rich Christians and preachers who live in luxury as people suffer.

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Matthew 25 brother.

J.

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The Church does, as long as its people are faithful and Tithe so that there may be food in the storehouse. Malachi 3. The Church DOES teach about covetousness and caring for the poor. The Church also teaches “thou shalt not steal.” Just because someone may have more money does not mean you have the right to take it.

What about you? That was my question. Are you doing what Jesus said?

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in, I needed clothes, and you clothed me, I was sick, and you looked after me, I was in prison, and you came to visit me.’

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you as a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger, and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes, and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison, and you did not look after me.’

They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’

He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

We should all be remembering that Jesus already suffered for us. He already did everything. He already overcame Hell, Death, and the Grave. So it is not what the church should do, but rather, what are you doing because of what Jesus already did?
Peter

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@PeterC

I agree that people shouldn’t covet what the rich have. I think democrats teach people to covet. They want free education paid for by the rich, for example. Why are you asking what I give instead of what the rich give? Wouldn’t that question apply to both of us? I dont covet. I learn to be content with little. Doesn’t Paul teach equality in the church? Why are there rich in the church who live in excess and luxury while 9 million people die each year of hunger and malnutrition related diseases? I dont understand that.