What does the bible say about pyramid schemes

[manyusi]

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT...

BECOMING INVOLVED WITH PYRAMID SCHEMES?

by Mark Buckley

Beware of illegal and unethical Pyramid Schemes. There are several variations of pyramid schemes going on in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. right now. One entails people taking $2,000 to a meeting. The $2,000 is “gifted” to someone else and then the person takes eight other friends who “gift” others with $2,000. After their friends bring $2,000, the original person receives $16,000. This may seem like a great way to make money quickly. In reality, it brings pain, hurt, and confusion to many who get caught up in it. Pyramid programs by their very nature are designed to produce a great return for those who get involved early on, and anguish for those who are last to participate.

During the early part of 1997, Albanians were experiencing their first fruits of democracy. The people had not been exposed to many business practices, either legitimate or fraudulent, because of the Communist regime. When some devious individuals introduced a pyramid program to Albania, hundreds of thousands of people participated. When the nation was saturated with this program, the last people in realized that they had nobody to collect money from and the pyramid collapsed. At that point, thousands of the people went on a rampage. Anarchy broke out and a civil war began. To this day, the nation has not regained its stability. The people were naïve and somehow felt that they could get rich without really working, simply by investing in a devious pyramid scheme.

People should know better, but unfortunately there are many gullible people in the world. Most pyramid schemes are run by people who do not care about the other participants. They know that a great majority of them will lose money, but since their motivation is greed, that doesn't stop them.

There are ethical and scriptural reasons why Christians should not participate in pyramid schemes:

1. Many are illegal. The operators of the schemes will often tell people that they are legal. They will also fight charges in court to delay the legal process from shutting them down, because the longer they keep going, the more money they make.

2. The Bible says “Be not deceived, God is not mocked, whatsoever a man sows, that he shall also reap.” (Galatians 6:7). If you sow your time, energy or money into a program that ultimately causes financial loss, suffering and confusion to others, even if you made money temporarily, you will ultimately reap suffering, confusion and financial loss as a result.

3. Jesus said, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12). We would not want anyone to get us involved in any endeavor, which would cause us financial loss. Therefore, as believers, we should not entice other people into a pyramid program which may cause them to experience financial loss. Is it really worth destroying relationships with people you know and love for money?

4. Proverbs 22:1 says, “A good name is better than great riches.” If you participate in a unethical pyramid program, you are damaging your good name. People will begin to mistrust your motives. They will see you as a person who's willing to take advantage of them in order to bring profit to yourself.

5. The love of money motivates people to care more about self-interests than their neighbors or brothers. All pyramid programs will end up burning more people than they help. The basic mathematics of these programs necessitates that there will be many times more people losing than gaining money. That great majority of people will feel hurt, used, and abused. They will be disappointed and lose trust in anyone who got them involved in these programs. “The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.” (1 Timothy 6:10). As Christians, we should be promoting righteousness, peace, and joy. Our relationships should be built on love and trust.

6. The Bible says, “You must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Swindlers take advantage of other people's weaknesses to make money for themselves. Greedy people are motivated by a desire for personal gain at others' expense. Covetousness is a form of idolatry (Colossians 3:5). We should flee such unrighteousness.

7. “Those who do not work should not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The desire to make money without working for it is an unrighteous desire. God uses work to build and shape our character. He delights in providing for those who put His Kingdom and His Righteousness first. Some people talk about using wealth that they are going to gain from pyramid schemes or gambling to promote God's Kingdom. God's Kingdom is not promoted by unrighteousness. It is promoted through the loving sacrifice of those who are obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Why is it that some Christians lack significant spiritual responsibility? One reason can be found in Luke 16:11 where Jesus said, “If you are not trustworthy in the use of unrighteous mammon, who will trust you with the true riches?” The way we handle our money is something God uses to determine whether He will trust us with the true riches of His Kingdom, which includes caring for His people and the release of spiritual gifts in our lives.

I urge you to flee from any unrighteous business dealings, unethical or illegal pyramid programs, gambling, or activities that are promoted by greed. God's work is promoted most fruitfully by people who learn to love and give wisely, from an obedient, cheerful heart. If you keep God's Word, you will grow in the knowledge of Him and prosper in your soul. If you seek His Kingdom first and His Righteousness, He promises that you will always have enough of everything you need to enjoy this life. We only have one life to live; let's live it God's way!

The basic mathematics of these programs necessitates that there will be many times more people losing than gaining money. He who separates himself seeks his own desire; he quarrels against all sound wisdom. Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Summation of the ethical and Scriptural reasons to avoid unethical or illegal pyramid schemes:

1. They are illegal or at best, unethical
2. You reap what you sow.
3. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
4. A good name is better than riches.
5. The love of money is the root of all sorts of evil.
6. You must not associate with...[the] greedy, or a swindler.
7. Those who do not work should not eat.
_______________

This article was taken from the Living Times magazine July, 1997 issue, published by Living Streams Church. Used With Permission.

Mark Buckley pastors Living Streams Church located in Phoenix, Arizona. He is a gifted and anointed author and has had his works published in Ministry Today and Charisma magazines among others.

E-mail Mark at: MarkBuckley@juno.com

Or write to: Living Streams - P.O. Box 44800 - Phoenix, AZ 85064

You can be blessed by reading more of Mark Buckley's articles at the Living Streams Website: Living Streams Church - Home

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[Isimilo]

Hivi ule mchezo unaoedelea pale TBC1 Munauamini? HIV Kuna mtu ambaye mna evidence alikwishalamba zawadi?

 

[Isimilo]

ni hivi, michezo ya gambling na mifumo miingi ya biashara kwa msingi wa prohecies ni ishara ya kuwepo kwa ufalme wa babeli. hapa nitakuwa nachambua katika ground za kinabii kwa ufupi kabisa. unabii kuhusu ufalme unaoitwa Babeli. mimi siamini kwanza katika bahati na sibu.
babeli ni utawala wa giza katika ulimwengu wa Roho. ni utawala unowafanya watu wabuni vitu viingi ambavyo vitawa-keep busy at the same time ubise huo unakuwa opportunity cost ya kutokusoma neno la Mungu. yaani unkosa ample time ya kusoma neno ili upate maarifa katika ulimwengu wa Roho. then tamaa ya pesa. tamaa ya pesa imewafanya watu wawe wabunifu kila kukicha. ona mambo mbalimbali yanayo endelea. unaweza kusoma 2.Timotheo:3.1-4. tamaa ya pesa ieongelewa. pesa itawafanya watu wabuni vitu viingi. na utambue ya kwamba siku za mwisho kutarudi tabia zote za Babeli ile ambayo ilipotea.
pia ukisoma Ezekiel nitakutafutia reference. biblia inasema kwamba sehemu ambapo ukikuta watu wako bise saana na biashara. jua kabisa ni indication kubwa ya kuwepo uasi, kumsahau Mungu na kadhalika. hebu nenda pale Kariakoo, mtaa wa Kongo, kuna sehemu gorofa inajengwa na njia ni ndoogo sana. watu wanauza nguo juu wenguine chini. yaani watu wako bise kuliko maelezo. ukifika pale utawahurumia wanadamu. pale hakuna hata mmoja anayemkumbuka Mungu. ujue katika hiyo gambling kila mtu anakaa katika hali ya kutaka kubahatika and then anatumia muda mwingi mwishowe anajenga tamaa. au chukulia jinsi watu tunavyo hangaika kutafuta pesa humu duniani. halafu utasikia kuna somewhere mtu analipwa million 200 kwa week. wewe unadhani ni watu wangapi watang'ang'ana kufikia hiyo hali? nawao wazipate. kwa hiyo watu wanajifunza zaidi kutafuta pesa na kumbe kwa ndani katika hali iliyofichika wanamuacha Mungu. ghuwezi kuona directly kama unafanya dhambi.
kwa hiyo mimi naweza kusema si mpango wa mungu watu kufanya Gmbling.Bibilia kama biblia sijajawahi kuona kitu ambacho kina husu bahati na sibu ya kupata, bali nimekua nikiona bahati na sibu kuhusu kujua tatizo. kama pale yona aliposababisha taflani kwenye mashua. ilibidi watu wapigwe Kura. Pia utaona gambling au bahati na sibu ilitumika kugawanya nguo za Yesu. hatuoni bahati na sibu ikitumika kufanya jambo jema. pia kuna sehemu nadhani Yeremia au Ezekiel anaongelea mfalme wa babeli wakati atakwenda kuivamia babeli kuipeleka utumwani. kwamba atafika kwenye nchi ile njia panda.halafu atajiuliza avamie mji upi? naye pale atafanya bahati na sibu ambapo kule atakakochagua kuelekea hamdi kumbe ni Yerusalemu.
unajua ukitaka kutegua mtego ulioko hapa. usiangalie kama suala fulani ni dhambi. ila angalia opportunity cost yako kumuelekea Mungu. je unapata muda na moyo wako bado utakuwa na ile nafasi ya kumtafuta Mungu. mathalani tuseme mpria. mpira siuo dhambi directly lakini attention ambayo wanadamu wameweka kwenye mpira its exceedingly far kuliko kumtafuta Mungu. so watu wana-pay attention kwenye vitu vingine huku wakiwa hawakumbuki uhusiano wao na Mungu.
ukisoma kwa mfano Ezekiel sura ya 23.soma yote upate picha kamili. Pale Mungu anamueleza Ezekiel kuhusu binti wawili ambao mmoja ni Yerusalem na wa pili ni Syria. hawa wawili wana maana kwenye ulimwengu wa roho lakini tuache huko ngoja niseme ambavyo Mungu alikuwa anamwambia Ezekiel.
kuna sehemu anasema kwamba Yerusalemu ameifanya Sodoma Na syria dhambi zao zionekane kuwa si kitu mbele za Mungu . yaani yeye amekwenda mbali , kwa hiyo amewapa ndugu zake haki mbele ya Mungu.
kuna sehemu anasema Dhami za ndugu yako ilikuwa kuona kwmaba yeye ana mkate - yaani ni tajiri kwahiyo chakula anacho. hivi mtu kama bilionaire ukimuambia tukamlilie Mungu. atalia vipi? yaani kila kitu anacho. anaweza kwenda anywhere ana kila kitu. wewe unaye eenda na habari zako za Mungu, kwanza una njaa. utamueleza nini. kuna hilo. ni mambo mengi ambayo ukitaka naweza kukuchambulia kuhusu babeli mkuu . baadhi yamefungwa mpaka wakati wake utimie.
sioni kabisa bahati na sibu katika mpango wa Mungu lakini katika falme za giza inaonyesha zipo. zimetajwa kwenye biblia.


Biblia imeeleza nadhani vitu vyote. kwa hiyo kama imekuwa silent kuhusu kitu fulani ni bora kukiacha. kwani hautahesabiwa dhambi kwa kukiacha lakini ukifanya- ni fifty fifty conclusion ni siku ya mwisho.

 

[Joyceline]

ni hivi, michezo ya gambling na mifumo miingi ya biashara kwa msingi wa prohecies ni ishara ya kuwepo kwa ufalme wa babeli. hapa nitakuwa nachambua katika ground za kinabii kwa ufupi kabisa. unabii kuhusu ufalme unaoitwa Babeli. mimi siamini kwanza katika bahati na sibu.
babeli ni utawala wa giza katika ulimwengu wa Roho. ni utawala unowafanya watu wabuni vitu viingi ambavyo vitawa-keep busy at the same time ubise huo unakuwa opportunity cost ya kutokusoma neno la Mungu. yaani unkosa ample time ya kusoma neno ili upate maarifa katika ulimwengu wa Roho. then tamaa ya pesa. tamaa ya pesa imewafanya watu wawe wabunifu kila kukicha. ona mambo mbalimbali yanayo endelea. unaweza kusoma 2.Timotheo:3.1-4. tamaa ya pesa ieongelewa. pesa itawafanya watu wabuni vitu viingi. na utambue ya kwamba siku za mwisho kutarudi tabia zote za Babeli ile ambayo ilipotea.
pia ukisoma Ezekiel nitakutafutia reference. biblia inasema kwamba sehemu ambapo ukikuta watu wako bise saana na biashara. jua kabisa ni indication kubwa ya kuwepo uasi, kumsahau Mungu na kadhalika. hebu nenda pale Kariakoo, mtaa wa Kongo, kuna sehemu gorofa inajengwa na njia ni ndoogo sana. watu wanauza nguo juu wenguine chini. yaani watu wako bise kuliko maelezo. ukifika pale utawahurumia wanadamu. pale hakuna hata mmoja anayemkumbuka Mungu. ujue katika hiyo gambling kila mtu anakaa katika hali ya kutaka kubahatika and then anatumia muda mwingi mwishowe anajenga tamaa. au chukulia jinsi watu tunavyo hangaika kutafuta pesa humu duniani. halafu utasikia kuna somewhere mtu analipwa million 200 kwa week. wewe unadhani ni watu wangapi watang'ang'ana kufikia hiyo hali? nawao wazipate. kwa hiyo watu wanajifunza zaidi kutafuta pesa na kumbe kwa ndani katika hali iliyofichika wanamuacha Mungu. ghuwezi kuona directly kama unafanya dhambi.
kwa hiyo mimi naweza kusema si mpango wa mungu watu kufanya Gmbling.Bibilia kama biblia sijajawahi kuona kitu ambacho kina husu bahati na sibu ya kupata, bali nimekua nikiona bahati na sibu kuhusu kujua tatizo. kama pale yona aliposababisha taflani kwenye mashua. ilibidi watu wapigwe Kura. Pia utaona gambling au bahati na sibu ilitumika kugawanya nguo za Yesu. hatuoni bahati na sibu ikitumika kufanya jambo jema. pia kuna sehemu nadhani Yeremia au Ezekiel anaongelea mfalme wa babeli wakati atakwenda kuivamia babeli kuipeleka utumwani. kwamba atafika kwenye nchi ile njia panda.halafu atajiuliza avamie mji upi? naye pale atafanya bahati na sibu ambapo kule atakakochagua kuelekea hamdi kumbe ni Yerusalemu.
unajua ukitaka kutegua mtego ulioko hapa. usiangalie kama suala fulani ni dhambi. ila angalia opportunity cost yako kumuelekea Mungu. je unapata muda na moyo wako bado utakuwa na ile nafasi ya kumtafuta Mungu. mathalani tuseme mpria. mpira siuo dhambi directly lakini attention ambayo wanadamu wameweka kwenye mpira its exceedingly far kuliko kumtafuta Mungu. so watu wana-pay attention kwenye vitu vingine huku wakiwa hawakumbuki uhusiano wao na Mungu.
ukisoma kwa mfano Ezekiel sura ya 23.soma yote upate picha kamili. Pale Mungu anamueleza Ezekiel kuhusu binti wawili ambao mmoja ni Yerusalem na wa pili ni Syria. hawa wawili wana maana kwenye ulimwengu wa roho lakini tuache huko ngoja niseme ambavyo Mungu alikuwa anamwambia Ezekiel.
kuna sehemu anasema kwamba Yerusalemu ameifanya Sodoma Na syria dhambi zao zionekane kuwa si kitu mbele za Mungu . yaani yeye amekwenda mbali , kwa hiyo amewapa ndugu zake haki mbele ya Mungu.
kuna sehemu anasema Dhami za ndugu yako ilikuwa kuona kwmaba yeye ana mkate - yaani ni tajiri kwahiyo chakula anacho. hivi mtu kama bilionaire ukimuambia tukamlilie Mungu. atalia vipi? yaani kila kitu anacho. anaweza kwenda anywhere ana kila kitu. wewe unaye eenda na habari zako za Mungu, kwanza una njaa. utamueleza nini. kuna hilo. ni mambo mengi ambayo ukitaka naweza kukuchambulia kuhusu babeli mkuu . baadhi yamefungwa mpaka wakati wake utimie.
sioni kabisa bahati na sibu katika mpango wa Mungu lakini katika falme za giza inaonyesha zipo. zimetajwa kwenye biblia.


Biblia imeeleza nadhani vitu vyote. kwa hiyo kama imekuwa silent kuhusu kitu fulani ni bora kukiacha. kwani hautahesabiwa dhambi kwa kukiacha lakini ukifanya- ni fifty fifty conclusion ni siku ya mwisho.

Thax umeeleza vizuri sana.

 

[Isimilo]

nimejaribu kuchimba chimba kuhusu bahati na sibu na nimerudi tena
ISAYA 65:11-12.
ukisoma hiki kifungu wataalamu wa uchambuzi wa maandiko wanafafanua kuhusu neno number ambalo limetajwa hapa kwenye huu unabii. unabii huu ulikua unaongelea watu wa israel wakati ule wakiwa utumwani babeli. walikuwa wana-enjoy maisha na wakajifunza mambo ya babeli. number ni neno ambalo unaona hata tafsiri yake hapa haikuwekwa sawa. ilikuwa ni mungu wa bahati nasibu na kwa kuwa wametaja namba inaonekana ilihusu mambo yanayo husu tarakimu au fedha. kwa hiyo hapa inaonekana wana wa isreal walikuwa wanenda kwa mungu wa fedha ili awape uwezo wa kushinda bahati na sibu yaani fedha au gambling kwa lugha rahisi.

Isa.65
11] But ye are they that forsake the LORD, that forget my holy mountain, that prepare a table for that troop, and that furnish the drink offering unto that number.
[12] Therefore will I number you to the sword, and ye shall all bow down to the slaughter: because when I called, ye did not answer; when I spake, ye did not hear; but did evil before mine eyes, and did choose that wherein I delighted not.

pia nimejaribu kutafuta maandiko mengi yanaelezea bahati na sibu. lakini kuhusu kubahatika kupata faida kweli sijaona Ispokuwa hiyo Isaya 65:11-12.
hebu pitia vifungu vifuatavyo

Bible, King James Version.

Lev.16
1. [8] And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats; one lot for the LORD, and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Josh.18
1. [6] Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
2. [8] And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
3. [10] And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

1Sam.14
1. [42] And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

1Chr.241. [31] These likewise cast lots over against their brethren the sons of Aaron in the presence of David the king, and Zadok, and Ahimelech, and the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites, even the principal fathers over against their younger brethren.

1Chr.25
1. [8] And they cast lots, ward against ward, as well the small as the great, the teacher as the scholar.

1Chr.261. [13] And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
2. [14] And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counseller, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

Neh.101. [34] And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law:

Neh.111. [1] And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities.

Pss.221. [18] They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.

Joel.31. [3] And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink.

Obad.11. [11] In the day that thou stoodest on the other side, in the day that the strangers carried away captive his forces, and foreigners entered into his gates, and cast lots upon Jerusalem, even thou wast as one of them.

Jonah.11. [7] And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

Nah.31. [10] Yet was she carried away, she went into captivity: her young children also were dashed in pieces at the top of all the streets: and they cast lots for her honourable men, and all her great men were bound in chains.

AddEsth.11. [7] Therefore hath he made two lots, one for the people of God, and another for all the Gentiles.
2. [8] And these two lots came at the hour, and time, and day of judgment, before God among all nations.

Matt.27
1. [35] And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

Mark.151. [24] And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.

Luke.231. [34] Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.

John.19
1. [24] They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did.

Acts.11. [26] And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.