Give Everything

In the Four Gospels, Jesus *

“Give to he who asks of you, and do not turn away he who would borrow from you.”[79]

“And if any man will sue you at the law, and take away your coat, let him have your cloak as well.”[80]

“Sell what you have, and give alms.”[81]

“If you will be perfect, go and sell what you have, and give to the poor?”[82]

So according to Jesus, true followers of his way must not only give to anyone who asks of them or sues them, they must also aim to relinquish practically all of their possessions.

Obviously, there is nothing unethical about this—but can it be a component of the ideal way of life?

Can a person who gives away just about everything meet his or her basic survival needs, let alone any other needs required to completely fulfill the right way of life?

Aren’t Jesus’s teachings on this topic one-sided, and won’t they fall short when actually put into practice?


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[79] Matthew 5:42

[80] Matthew 5:40

[81] Luke 12:33

[82] Matthew 19:21