Why are the rich hated

That is a common misconception, in reality most millionaires in the USA are first generation.

* Only 19% receive any income or wealth of any kind from a trust fund or estate.

* Fewer than 20% inherited 10% or more of their wealth.

* More than half never received as much as $1 in inheritance.

* Fewer than 25% ever received "an act of kindness" of $10,000 or more from parents, grandparents or other relatives.

* 91% never received, as a gift, as much as $1 ownership of a family business.

* Nearly half never received any college tuition from their parents or other relatives.

* Fewer than 10% believe they will ever receive an inheritance in the future.

-Statistics from "The Millionaire Next Door"

Also this is nothing new. There was a study in 1892 of the 4,047 American millionaires and 84% were "new rich" having reached the top without the benefit of inherited wealth.

It really comes down to this. America is the land of opportunity and most wealthy people are average hard working, conservative frugal people.

 

Oh, and to answer the original question of the OP, envy and jealousy are the biggest reasons.

 

I've known a number of people who could be considered rich.
Apart for the ones in my family, none that I knew were self-made except one.

From what I've seen, there's a reason we're told in Matthew that it is very hard for a rich person to enter into heaven. I can understand why.

People tend to use the following equation:

Material possessions = No needs

When you don't think you need anything, why bother with God, and if you do, why bother to go beyond a superficial level?

Money also does give people some emotional comforts and the false appearance of peace. People think rich people are smart, so they give them respect. People like rich people, so they're nice to them and want to be associated with them and consider it an honor if they're friends.

When a rich person does have an emotional crisis, they often sooth themselves with physical comforts.

When they feel bad about themselves, they can give a donation and feel good about themselves.

When others bring up their bad points, they are easily able to sway others around them to their opinion because people, even the poor, often don't want to anger the rich person. After all, that person may have given to them, hired them, or they simply may consider it better to keep in the good graces of a rich person out of pride or personal benefit. Even the consequences of sin can be taken care of in cash a whole lot of the time.

Where's the need for God? It's hard to recognize when you have everyone telling you how great and wonderful you are.

The Bible tells us it is difficult for them, and I believe the reasons I stated highly contribute to that difficult. Money can and does corrupt even the best of souls.

So should we hate the rich? Nah, often I feel sorry for them, although there's a couple I have in mind that were such users that I still find hatred for them buried in me when certain reminders come up.

Envious? No way. Money is nice, but it ruins people and destroys lives. So many people think life would be better if they just had a little more money, but rarely do you meet anyone who says "okay, now I have enough."

And the bigger the bank account, the bigger the headaches. When you don't have much you're free. When you have more, there is more responsibility. More hassles. There are worries about your "stuff" getting stolen, paranoia about getting used, that your friends only like you for your money (and a lot of the times that is very true) and if the stock market falls, worry and fear take over your mind.

Some can handle it, but the majority cannot. When you look at the Forbes list or other lists, remember that philanthropy doesn't equal Christianity. The best clue you have that someone is a believer is that they profess Christ and then live in a manner that honors a just and holy God.

 

It has nothing to do with this conversation. You aren't dividing scripture properly.

 

I have money because I don't have 7 credit cards maxed out. I have money because I spend it wisely. I have money because I don't have fifteen pairs of shoes, ten suits and millions of drawers of clothes in dressers........can I go on? In plain English, I don't waste what money I do have. If I only have five dollars, I don't spend ten.........and I go without!

I listen to the poor folks all the time, and understand why they are poor. We read about the odd,,,I say odd,,,,rich person who behaves poorly, but they are few to-day. More often it is the folks who are in moderately high incomes that behave badly because of their money. It is as scripture warns,,,,,The love of money...the desires of that rich status that does the damage.

Cheers,

Jim

 

All I did was quote Scripture. Sounds like you and your twin Carpro have guilty consciences and just don't like the truth. :laugh:

Remember God said "Do not rich men oppress you..."

 

Jas 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him.

Jas 2:6 But you show no respect to those who are poor. And you know that the rich are the ones who always try to control your lives. And they are the ones who take you to court.

Jas 2:7 And the rich are the ones who insult the wonderful name of Christ, the name by which you are known.

1Ti 6:17 Give this command to those who are rich with the things of this world. Tell them not to be proud. Tell them to hope in God, not their money. Money cannot be trusted, but God takes care of us richly. He gives us everything to enjoy.

1Ti 6:18 Tell those who are rich to do good--to be rich in good works. And tell them they should be happy to give and ready to share.

1Ti 6:19 By doing this, they will be saving up a treasure for themselves. And that treasure will be a strong foundation on which their future life will be built. They will be able to have the life that is true life.

 

Before you get to take this stance, you have to explain why Jesus was housed and fed (with the 12) by wealthy people, and also why He didn't have a problem with that.

 

Satan can quote scripture. He often does.

Unless you are telling me James said it was OK to hate the rich, you don't have a point.

Unless your point was to make a personal attack.

Robert, using the P.M. box to harass people is childish. You are quite right. I will talk to you no more.

 

I never said anything about hating the rich. I quote scripture that mentions the dangers of riches. I even mentioned that the poor can be envious of the rich, which is a sin, and suddenly you and your ilk attack assuming I hate the rich. You are such a cry baby!

 

You sound "rich" to me.

I'm "rich" as well. But, like you, not in dollars and cents.

 

We know you are covetous of their wealth. You have illustrated it many times in the past, as well as here.

Is that hate? I don't think so.

But, nevertheless, it is sinful.

 

I drive an '87 Ford Ranger. If that's rich, I shudder to think of what kind of junkers some of the "share the wealth" crowd are driving.

 

Probably relatively new. They're generally acquisitive of shiny new goodies. Might be why they want someone else's money.

 

Us envious people want people like you to buy our new vehicles for us. I'll let you make the down payment for me, and then Curtis can make the payments! :laugh::laugh:

 

I see we touched a nerve.

Sounds like the guilty dog barking first.

 

Us freeloaders will use the government to buy our food, pay our rent, pay our medical expenses and make our car payments out of what you make. We will raise your taxes to do these things while we don't pay any taxes at all. :laugh:

It makes life so much easier to let the suckers pay! :laugh:

 

>We know you are covetous of their wealth.

In general, that charge doesn't compute. When one person hoards an asset it doesn't follow that people who need that asset are covetous.

For example, consider the the western water wars . . . the stuff of western movies mostly happened. When there was a drought and one rancher with control of excess water refused to let his neighbors water their cows would you call the neighbors evil for wanting to save their cows? Would you argue they wasted water during a rainy season two years ago thus it is their own fault their cows are thirsty?

"Hoarding" is amassing anything beyond all conceivable need so that other people can't have it. Working people don't understand the psychology of many rich people. To rich people more money is not the means of more consumer goods but the means of power over their neighbors.

Consider the charge to the people before they crossed the Jordan into the land. They were told it was a land flowing with milk and honey, that they would eat crops that other people planted and lived in houses that other people built and that there was more than enough for everyone. Under those circumstances, why would anyone need gold or silver?

Because money has to do with the FOOD CHAIN, not the food. Because of our sin nature some people always want more power over others. Even when there is more food and shelter than everyone can consume some people will find a means of having power over other people.

The one who support hoarding of any asset are the greedy people. They have bought into the Libertarian error that "money" is a "good" (e.g. a consumer product) that is infinitely available (rising tide raises all boats) AND that gold and silver are the best form of money because they are rare substances. Can't have it both ways!

 

This thread has veered from answering the reason why some people hate the rich to, who/what is rich, the biblical view money and riches, etc.

So for us here in America it probably is important to be reminded that even the poorest of us are mostly likely much richer than the poor in many other areas of the world.

It always healthier to focus on the blessing we do have than the things we don't have.