From Poverty To Riches
The Bible is filled with countless descriptions that powerfully illustrate God, His will, and the place which Jesus plays in the lives of those who desire to follow the Creator. One passage that does this is II Corinthians 8:9 when the apostle Paul writes, "though [Jesus Christ] was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich." Not that we need further "evidence" of the incredible grace of Lord, but what a testimony to God's masterful plan for men and women!
To say that Jesus was rich is in many ways a gross understatement. The New Testament teaches that He has authority over all creation (Colossians1:16-18). He gave up the riches of heaven in so that He could then live among us and be the "bondservant" who would ultimately give His life so that we could live (Philippians 2:7). The amazing thing about Jesus' "becoming" poor is that it was a voluntary decision. Instead of being thrown into poverty because of a failed business or losing a job or being the victim of a horrible, natural disaster, the Son of God choose to give up all His wealth and instead live in poverty. Indeed, Jesus became poor for our sakes!
As with all things from God, there was a distinct, thought-out process that led to the Father's decision to send His only Son to the earth which would hate Him, despise Him, and kill Him. Paul sums up that purpose with his statement that it's through Jesus' poverty you and I can be made rich. Worldly people who are divorced from God and from His righteous principles have great difficulty comprehending this idea. Even most Christians will, from time to time, struggle to keep their focus on the fact that true riches aren't found in worldly wealth but a faithful obedience to our Father.
Each person has to decide for himself what roles poverty and riches will play in his life. Too often, men and women strive for earthly riches and, in doing so, sacrifice their convictions for right and wrong. In the pursuit of riches, people often bankrupt themselves of all that's right, good, and pure. Instead, each Christian needs to keep his focus on the riches that come from service to God and which ultimately lead us to the eternal home where we will live in riches with our God for all time. Indeed, better to live in poverty now and riches later than riches now and poverty forever!