I think in most cases it all boils down to how a person uses their riches that determines how they will be treated by a congregation.
For example, a wealthy couple in our circuit were looked upon with the usual <eyeroll> and whispered remarks about "materialism". They drove a new Mercedes. He wore a Rolex and gold bracelet. She had diamonds and gold and other assorted jewelry. They both wore fur coats and hats in the winter, even to go from door-to-door. They went on vacations to the Caribbean and Europe a couple of times a year.
Then a new CO rotated into the area. Good friends of theirs, as it turns out. Yes, this couple used the AirMiles they'd racked up to invite the CO and his wife to go Cancun with them for a week.
Suddenly, everyone's attitude was expected to change overnight. The CO was their biggest fan, and somehow knew how much this couple was contributing to the congregation and circuit (overseer?) financially. There was a talk from the platform cautioning everyone from speaking against those who were so generously supporting the Worldwide Preaching Work.
Brother Money Bags was later caught having an affair with a younger sister. Guess what? He was privately reproved. The elders must have realized that the cash flow was going to stop if he was DFd. The sister, who was of a more modest 'ilk', was DFd.
It seems you can even buy God's favor if you have enough dough-rey-mi.
Love, Scully
