There was a similar thread about this kind of topic a couple weeks ago (Mind control alert or something). So I will re-post my own little research on Jehovahs blessings system (as described in the book called 'THE BIBLE'):
The bethel study conductor ended the article with the comment: "This article is equivalent to having Jehovahs point of view on material things."
Well, that was a good one. What is Jehovahs view on material things then?
1. Israelites leave Egypt. All obedient and nice. Blessing? They loot the bad, bad, worldly egyptians and take all their gold and silver and jewelry....
2. Than they get along conquering other cities, and again, Jehovah "blesses" them with more material things: goats, sheep, more gold...
3. Salomon. Asks for wisdom, gets it. What is his blessing? You would expect that a wise man like that would receive tons of books, libraries, but instead the blessing was again in material form: supposedly 200 Million Dollar yearly income (hey, could RunningMan do a check on this? I would love to hear his opinion on the figures, as he did a fantastic work on his book.....)
4. The promised land. What was the carrot? "A land of milk and honey"=great agriculture=wealth. They where never promised "a land of spiritual riches, and you guys will be assisting 5 times in Jerusalem and getting watchtowers and all" Nope. These folks where creating wealth, asisted meetings one time a year and dissappeared afterwards...
5. Abraham. Job, all the same. Whenever we're talking blessings its equal to CASH, MORE CASH.
6. Modern Bethel homes: they are used as the example for the regular JW family. Ok. Let's round up. All new cars, electric gates, some of them swimming pools (how many JW families do you know with swimming pool AND that are pioneering?)
Ok. Sum this up. Jehovahs point of view DEFINITELY favors YOU in making some serious CASH, as that in biblical terms IS A BLESSING. So, now, stop reading this, don't waste time, get your college degree.....
Again: Look up your Bible: Blessings ALWAYS meant = good life, cool life, cash, more cows, more goats, more of everything. Hey Salomon and his 200 Million Dollars where not bad for a blessing.
Another point (just out of this weeks bible highlights - Bible book of Esther): What where Esther, Mordecai and other israelites still doing in Persia - 60 years after they're other buddies took off to good ol' Israel????? They stayed behind, having better job opportunities and running businesses in Persia, since going back would mean shoveling the dirt and debris and living in a shack, under the priests looks! Where they condemned for doing so? The book mentions these people in a good light - Mordecai was working for the king - full-time - riding his white limousine (eh, horse) and Esther wasn't the little nice pioneer sister with bag that went to the palace to preach to the King. She participated in what I call: "Miss Universe of Persia" and was having a hot, steamy affair with the old king...that she used to her and her peoples advantage. But he WT literature likes to paint her as the brave pioneer sister....
.....I don't think the King of Persia was playing scrabble with her, when it says: she was pleasing him ;-)
I mentioned this points in my bible highlights and some JW where having problems digesting it!
Trojan.