Monday, February 1, 2021
Those Who Are Rich
Be not afraid when a man becomes rich, when the glory of his house increases. For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not go down after him. Psalm 49:16-17
Almost everyone understands that the words of Jesus, “Do to others what you would have them to do to you,” are known as the Golden Rule (see Matthew 7:12); but in the real world the Golden Rule is, “He who has the gold has the rule.” “Money talks!” we say, and few would deny that money has power. That thought was the reasoning behind the sign which reads, “Money is not everything in life, but it is way ahead of whatever is in second place.”
That’s the way many look at it, but certainly not the way that God looks at it. It’s quite amazing that the writers of the New Testament have so much to say about those who are rich since the number of people who actually are rich is so very small. In the New Testament book of James, which came from the pen of the half-brother of Jesus, there is a stern warning to those who are rich. James begins, “Now listen, you rich people…. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you…” (James 5:1,3). Earlier in his letter, James had warned church leaders against partiality, favoring the person who had riches.
In Paul’s letters there are frequent warnings to those who are rich. For example, in his letter to Timothy, a young man who was destined to be a church leader, Paul instructed, “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasures for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:17-19).
Why so much space given in Scripture to such a small number of people? First, God wanted those who are in positions of leadership in the world of business and commerce not to make their money at the expense of the poor. He instructs business leaders to pay a decent wage for an honest day’s labor.
At the same time, God wanted those who are rich to understand that money cannot buy happiness or favor with God. He wanted them, perhaps more than anything else, to realize that what they have is a stewardship which can be used or abused, and, therefore, use it wisely.
Does this mean, then, that those who have money should give it away and live as those who have none? Acclaimed pastor Francis Chan and his wife purposely downsized their lifestyle and sold their home so that they could experience the joy of giving more deeply.
What’s the bottom line? MONEY is neither good nor evil in itself. Like the scalpel of a surgeon it can bring either pain or help. It can bring comfort and blessing or create division and difficulty.
I have known some who were rich and their lives were totally unaffected by what they had. I have also known those whose gifts came with strings attached, who gave simply for the recognition which came with the donation.
When such a gift was received by Amy Carmichael, laboring among the outcast children of India, in spite of some dire financial needs Amy returned the gift with a brief note saying that such a gift was completely unacceptable to God. What we have really is His to be used wisely for our families, the Kingdom of God, and the improvement of our world around us.
Resource Reading: James 1:1-18
Senate passes bill on splitting Rizal's second district
The Senate on Monday passed on third and final reading the bill seeking to divide the second district of Rizal into three legislative districts.
Senators unanimously approved House Bill No. 6222 dividing Rizal's second district into three legislative districts, with the towns of Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jala-Jala, Pililla, and Teresa retained in the second legislative district.
Under the measure, San Mateo and Montalban will be the third and fourth congressional districts of the province, respectively.
Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Committee on Local Government and sponsor of the bill, said the measure could help local government "to better respond to the needs of the people and also help facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following this pandemic."
"The call for apportionment is not only based on today's realities but also a resounding echo from the past, recognizing the unique histories of the towns which have molded and shaped the growth and character of the localities and the residents therein," Tolentino added.
Tolentino noted the qualifications for the reapportionment have been met given that the new second district has a population of 449,103; the third district has a population of 252,527; and the fourth district has a population of 369,222.
Citing the Constitution, he said each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory and a locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives.
https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/2/1/senate-passes-bill-splitting-rizal-second-district.html
Senate OKs bill dividing Rizal district
The Senate approved on third and final reading on Monday, a bill that would create more legislative districts in the Rizal province.
Voting 23-0-0, senators passed House Bill No. 6222, which proposes to reapportion the second district into three districts.
The bill proposes to reduce Rizal’s districts into four.
Angono and Binangonan, meanwhile, will become the third congressional district, while the municipality of Rodriguez will be the fourth district of the province.
The House of Representatives passed the bill last June, 2020.
Sen. Francis “Tol” Tolentino, chairman of the Committee on Local Government and sponsor of the bill, said that with the measure is expected to give Rizal residents the “proper representation” and help the local government units “to better respond to the needs of the people”.
He said the bill will also facilitate the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity-building efforts of the province after the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the deliberations on the local bill, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Senators Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III, and Joel Villanueva, requested to be made co-sponsors of the bill.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/02/01/senate-oks-bill-dividing-rizal-district/
Senate approves bill dividing 2nd district of Rizal
With 23 affirmative votes, zero negative, and zero abstention, the Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill reapportioning the second district of Rizal into three legislative districts.
The House Bill No. 6222 aims the part of the second district of Rizal into fourth legislative district, composed of the municipalities of Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jalajala, Pililla, and Teresa, and establish the municipalities of Rodriguez and San Mateo as the first congressional district; the municipalities of Cainta and Taytay as the second legislative district; the municipalities of Angono and Binangonan as the third legislative district of the province.
Senator Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Committee on Local Government and sponsor of the bill, said that with this measure, he is hoping that the proper representation will help the local government units involved to better respond to the needs of the people and also help facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The call for apportionment is not only based on today's realities but also a resounding echo from the past, recognizing the unique histories of the towns which have molded and shaped the growth and character of the localities and the residents therein," he added.
Tolentino said the qualifications for the reapportionment have been met given that the 4th district has a population of 449,103; 1st district has a population of 621,749, 2nd district has a population of 641,232, 3rd district has a population of 395,757.
According to Article VI, Section 5 of the Constitution each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory; and a locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives.
During the consideration of the bill on second reading, Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" Zubiri, and Senators Pia Cayetano, Win Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III, and Joel Villanueva, requested to be made co-sponsors of the bill.
The House of Representatives passed the same measure on June 1, 2020.
Senate OKs bill dividing Rizal’s 2nd district
The Senate on Monday approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to divide the first and second districts of Rizal into three separate legislative districts.
Voting 23-0, senators passed House Bill No. 6222, which aims to split Rizal’s first and second legislative districts into four legislative districts, with the fourth district containing the municipalities of Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jala-Jala, Pililia, and Teresa.
Meanwhile, the measure will establish the municipalities of Rodriguez and San Mateo as the first legislative district, the municipalities of Cainta and Taytay as the second legislative district and the municipalities of Angono and Binangonan as the third legislative district.
Senator Francis Tolentino, who sponsored the bill as chair of the Senate local government committee, expressed hopes that the measure would “help the local government units involved to better respond to the needs of the people and also help facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following this pandemic.”
“The call for apportionment is not only based on today’s realities but also a resounding echo from the past, recognizing the unique histories of the towns which have molded and shaped the growth and character of the localities and the residents therein,” he added.
According to Tolentino, the qualifications for the reapportionment have been met given that the new first district has a population of 621,749, second district has a population of 641,232, the new third district has a population of 395,757 while the new fourth district has a population of 449,103.
Under the Constitution, each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory and a locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives.
During the bill’s consideration, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri and Senators Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Joel Villanueva requested to be made co-sponsors of the bill.
https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1390718/senate-oks-bill-dividing-rizals-second-district
Senate OKs bill creating two more Rizal districts
The Senate has approved a bill dividing the first and second legislative district of Rizal to four districts.
With 23 votes, the senators adopted House Bill 6222 approved in June 2020.
The bill splits the First and Second District into four with the following division of towns:
- First Legislative District–Rodriguez and San Mateo
- Second Legislative District–Cainta and Taytay
- Third Legislative District–Angono and Binangonan
- Fourth Legislative District - Cardona, Baras, Tanay, Morong, Jala-jala, Pililia, Teresa
Senator Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Local Government and sponsor of the bill, noted that the measure “will help the local government units involved to better respond to the needs of the people and facilitate in the long-term rehabilitation and the capacity building efforts of the province following this pandemic.”
“The call for apportionment is not only based on today’s realities but also a resounding echo from the past, recognizing the unique histories of the towns which have molded and shaped the growth and character of the localities and the residents therein,” Tolentino pointed out.
In addition, Tolentino said that the qualifications for the reapportionment have been met, given that the first district has a population of 621,749, second district has a population of 641,232, the new third district has a population of 395,757 the fourth district has a population of 449,103.
Article VI, Section 5 of the Constitution states that each legislative district shall comprise, as far as practicable, contiguous, compact, and adjacent territory. A locality with at least 250,000 residents is entitled to one representative in the House of Representatives.
Aside from Tolentino, other authors of the bill in the Senate include Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, Pia Cayetano, Sherwin Gatchalian, Richard Gordon, Risa Hontiveros, Panfilo Lacson, Francis Pangilinan, Aquilino Pimentel III and Joel Villanueva.—LDF, GMA News
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